James Cameron's Titanic (1997), the two battling studios, and drugs in the chowder
James Cameron knew as he pitched Titanic to 20th Century Fox that it wasn't likely to be as commercial a film as the one he'd just done, Tru...
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Film Stories with Simon Brew
Film Stories with Simon Brew is a podcast that looks to dig into the stories behind popular movies. From troubled productions, to rights issues, to difficulties with release to films nearly...
Episodes
20 of 485 episodesInterview special with Oscar winner Susanne Bier (Practical Magic 2) and producer Ken Petrie (Sunny Dancer and more)
Two different creatives share their film stories in this special episode of the podcast! First up, Oscar-winner Susanne Bier talked to Simon...
Parenthood, the plane trip that led to the film, plus a lovely chat with Robert Carlyle
1989's Parenthood started life on a long haul flight. Director Ron Howard would tell of how 'testing' it was to do such a journey with kids...
In conversation with Michael Sarnoski - The Death Of Robin Hood, Death Stranding, Pig, and videogames
In UK cinemas now is the third film from writer/director Michael Sarnoski, The Death Of Robin Hood. Headlined by Hugh Jackman and Jodie Come...
Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey, the title that had to change, plus a chat with William Sadler and Alex Winter too
With Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure already playing in cinemas, plans moved quickly for a sequel. Originally entitled Bill & Ted Go To Hel...
Speed (1994), the lack of Speed 3, plus director Dave Green on the Coyote Vs Acme saga
1994's Speed may now be regarded as an action classic, but the original idea was a bus that didn't go above 20mph, in a film called Minimum...
In conversation with Adam Shankman - Stop That Train, the Oscars, Hairspray and more
Director Adam Shankman shot the joyously entertaining Stop! That! Train! in under three weeks, and it arrives in cinemas this very weekend i...
Licence To Kill (1989), plus Toby Kebbell on Dead Man's Shoes and more
James Bond 007 took a grittier turn with 1989's Licence To Kill, an adventure that was the first and only Bond film very specifically writte...
Film Stories Live: with Mark Kermode in Cornwall
Up front, you can find Simon's tour dates at www.filmstories.co.uk/live. Simon Brew has been touring the UK with Film Stories in 2026, and i...
Carlito's Way, a film it took ten attempts to make
Brian De Palma's 1993 movie Carlito's Way was not a box office success. De Palma managed to predict the critical reaction to the film, react...
Dances With Wolves (1990), plus its three different cuts...
Kevin Costner gambled hard on making a three hour western, a third of which wasn't in the English language. He turned down roles in The Hunt...
Howard The Duck (1986) and the first Marvel movie, plus Terri White
I hear you, folks! Do more Marvel films? Gotcha! Let's go back to 1986, and Howard The Duck, the stunning-ish George Lucas-produced film of...
Gladiator (2000) and its journey to the screen, plus director Morgan Matthews
2000's Gladiator might be regarded as a classic now, but heck, did it have some bumps on its way to the screen. A script that was a long way...
American Made (2017), and the Tom Cruise film that's fallen through the cracks
Just as Tom Cruise embarked on his run of Mission: Impossible and Top Gun sequels, he slipped in one of bolder choices too: an R-rated crime...
In conversation with Sam Campbell - Make That Movie, bananas, VHS tapes, cinema and more
Sam Campbell - he of Taskmaster and Last One Laughing - has made a comedy series about films. In Make That Movie, he and his crew face a fil...
Fight Club (1999), plus the dig against Rupert Murdoch at the end
Outside of the very well known rules, there's a whole load of other stuff about 1999's Fight Club. There's the director who turned the book...
In conversation with Paul Mercurio - Strictly Ballroom, Exit To Eden, and, er, homebrew beer
Over 30 years since its original release, Strictly Ballroom - the debut feature from Baz Luhrmann - is back in cinemas with a 4K remaster. I...
Jurassic Park (1993), and the struggle to bring dinosaurs to the screen
The original Jurassic Park movie was set to land a few years earlier than it did. Announce in 1990, director Steven Spielberg would move on...
The New Mutants (2020), and a big missed opportunity
The idea wasn't a bad one. With the cost of X-Men movies spiralling, 20th Century Fox was interested in a lower cost, slightly more niche fi...
In conversation with director Alicia MacDonald - Finding Emily, Mike Leigh, short films, romantic comedies, Kickstarter
Alicia MacDonald first feature film as director, Finding Emily, turns out to be a Working Title-backed romantic comedy, the kind that used t...