The Plot Thickens
The Devil's Candy
Welcome to The Plot Thickens, a documentary podcast about the movies and the people who make them. Our second season is The Devil’s Candy, the inside story of how a star-studded movie with all the makings of a hit ended up a cautionary tale for the ages.
Onde assistir The Plot Thickens • The Devil's Candy
8 episódios
- Lighting the FireE1
Lighting the FireOne decision could make or break The Bonfire of the Vanities: who will play the female lead? It comes down to two actresses – established, expensive Melanie Griffith or an unknown, alluring 19 year-old named Uma Thurman. Suddenly the producer, Peter Guber, vanishes from the scene, departing both the movie and the studio in a whirl of bad publicity. - Reaching for the Stars - and Paying the PriceE2
Reaching for the Stars - and Paying the PriceAs Tom Hanks researches his role, nobody recognizes how wrong he is for the part. There's more immediate pushback against the casting of Bruce Willis, since his part was written as British. But the hardest decision comes when the director insists that a Jewish judge be played by a Black actor, to soften the film’s racial tensions. - The War ZoneE3
The War ZoneShooting hasn't even started and the movie is already under attack. Detailed leaks and star outbursts are reported daily by a hungry press. Bit parts, courtroom locations, snippets of dialogue, even a single shot of a plane landing at JFK – every little decision becomes a battle as the crew preps for filming. - Wire Without a NetE4
Wire Without a NetThe cast shows its true colors: some are easygoing and relatable, but not Bruce Willis. The New York shoot spirals over budget as the courtroom scene can only be shot at night, and the film’s entire opening is scrapped in favor of the most expensive Steadicam shot ever devised. Meanwhile, Bronx residents show up to throw garbage at the filmmakers, and one irate New Yorker confronts Brian De Palma directly. - The Best Movie We Ever MadeE6
The Best Movie We Ever MadeWith production now in Los Angeles, Brian De Palma feels the pressure from prying studio executives – and from Bruce Willis, who starts directing other actors on how to be funnier. De Palma gets some much-needed encouragement from his friend Steven Spielberg, who is an old pro at playing the Hollywood game. Then, as post-production ramps up, studio heads see a first cut and love the film, though they have no idea how to market it. - You’ve Got to be a Genius to Make a Movie This BadE7
You’ve Got to be a Genius to Make a Movie This BadThe Bonfire of the Vanities tanks with both critics and the moviegoing public. Brian De Palma leads the autopsy, trying to understand how all these smart people made all the wrong decisions. The only upside is for Julie Salamon, whose book on the production is instantly hailed as a modern classic. But even that success comes at a price, as not everyone is thrilled to be immortalized by the book.