Film Stories with Simon Brew

• Rocky IV (1985) and Rocky IV Rocky vs Drago The Ultimate Director's Cut (2021)

  You want a Christmas movie? Look no further than Rocky IV, surely the raging highlight of the Rocky saga. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, and with montages coming out of its armpits, the movie was not without a few challenges (and injuries.) Not least: how do you follow up the relentlessness of Mr T's Clubber Lang from Rocky III? The answer arrived in the sizeable shape of Dolph Lundgren, a one-time guest on this very show. But then, decades later, Sylvester Stallone decided that he had problems with Rocky IV. And a very different cut was born... The stories are told in this very episode.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Fackham Hall | Writing a spoof, the bizarre CG pig sex, and the Dawson Brothers tell us their story

  Now in UK cinemas is the spoof movie Fackham Hall, which crosses the likes of Airplane! with Downton Abbey. But how do you write a spoof movie? And what are the challenges? We've brought together 66.6% of the writing team The Dawson Brothers to tell us more, and explain why a CG house was required to make a sex scene involving pigs... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Polar Express (2004) and its initial box office stumble, plus James L Brooks

  There was originally a plan to bring the much-loved Christmas book The Polar Express to the big screen in live action, with Rob Reiner potentially directing. But eventually, the project ended up with Robert Zemeckis. Looking for something between live action and animation, a different kind of technology was to be used for the film - but would audiences respond to it? Especially when they tried to look the characters in the eye... The second part of this episode is a return to the podcast for writer/producer/director James L Brooks, chatting about his new film, Ella McCay. Plus, getting films for grown-ups made, Mike Nichols, previewing his movies and a whole lot more. Ella McCay is in UK cinemas from 12th December 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• In conversation with filmmaker Dan Cadan. Including how much he got paid for one line in Die Another Day

  Dan Cadan may not be a name familiar to too many, but he's had quite the career. In this special Film Stories episode, he tells his tale of how the lad growing up in Huddersfield went on to work with Guy Ritchie (including writing a remake of The Wild Geese), Stephen Graham, Madonna and more. Then, getting a film made, the sole UK release from the Fox International label, Walk Like A Panther. He takes us into the highs and lows of that, his letter about it to Kermode & Mayo, and what mischief he's up to now. Quite the story this... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - from the 45th most popular film of 1992 to Xmas favourite

  Go down the box office charts for 1992, and you need to look a long way before you find The Muppet Christmas Carol. Directed by Brian Henson, the movie was in 45th place at the box office that year, with surprisingly few choosing to check it out on its initial cinema release. The film had come together following the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson, and there'd been some difficulty cracking what the next Muppet film should be. Even when they settled on an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, there were a few different choices that were nearly made. The story of the film is told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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