Drive-In Double Feature Podcast

Nathan and Ryan step into the Technicolor fantasy worlds of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), the Danny Kaye–starring comedy that turns escapist daydreaming into full-blown cinematic spectacle. Loosely inspired by the James Thurber story, the film follows a meek photo editor whose vivid imagination repeatedly whisks him away from mundane reality into swashbuckling adventures, musical numbers, and heroic alter egos. The hosts discuss Kaye’s rapid-fire performance style, the film’s playful visual inventiveness, and how Hollywood transformed a short, subtle story into a maximalist studio showcase. Is it a classic of Golden Age comedy or a fascinating case of adaptation excess? Tune in to find out.

Nathan and Ryan take a hard look at The Gunfighter (1950), one of the most introspective and tragic Westerns ever made. Gregory Peck stars as aging outlaw Jimmy Ringo, a man haunted by his reputation and trapped by a world that won’t let legends walk away quietly. The hosts discuss the film’s surprisingly modern take on fame, violence, and inevitability, its stripped-down tension, and why it stands apart from more traditional shoot-’em-up Westerns of the era. Short, sharp, and emotionally heavy, The Gunfighter proves that sometimes the deadliest weapon is a name people won’t forget.

Nathan and Ryan close out the Heisei era with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), one of the most emotional and consequential films in the entire franchise. With Godzilla undergoing a catastrophic nuclear meltdown and facing his most terrifying enemy yet—born from the Oxygen Destroyer itself—the stakes have never been higher. The hosts discuss the film’s apocalyptic tone, its brutal monster designs, the tragic fate of Junior, and how Toho deliberately framed this as a true ending for the King of the Monsters. It’s epic, grim, and surprisingly heartfelt kaiju cinema.

Nathan and Ryan piece together Jigsaw (2017), the attempt to revive the Saw franchise with a slicker look, a new timeline trick, and a fresh batch of morally questionable victims. The hosts break down the film’s dual-story structure, its polished traps, and whether this “back to basics” approach actually works after years of escalating insanity. Is Jigsaw a clever reassembly of the franchise or just another twist for twist’s sake? Either way, the games are back on.

Nathan and Ryan don their masks and capes to talk about The Mark of Zorro (1940), the definitive cinematic version of the legendary masked avenger. Starring Tyrone Power in one of classic Hollywood’s most iconic dual performances, the film blends romance, humor, and razor-sharp swordplay into a near-perfect swashbuckler. The hosts discuss Rouben Mamoulian’s energetic direction, Basil Rathbone’s unforgettable villain turn (and fencing skills), and why this film remains the gold standard for heroic adventure nearly a century later.