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Favorite Radio Movies?

R

radiomojo1

Inactive
Inactive User
Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What other radio movies can you add to the list?

1. Airheads
2. FM
3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey, Jr. in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
 
> Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
> mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What other
> radio movies can you add to the list?
>
> 1. Airheads
> 2. FM
> 3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey, Jr.
> in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
>

I like "Pump Up The Volume" and "Airheads" ok. But I'd have to say "Good Morning Vietnam" is my favorite. Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer was outstanding.


<P ID="signature">______________
"I Believe In The Power Of Love."
Luther Vandross 1951-2005</P>
 
Lets not forget about the classic "Play Misty For Me"

Trackman


> > Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
> > mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What
> other
> > radio movies can you add to the list?
> >
> > 1. Airheads
> > 2. FM
> > 3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey,
> Jr.
> > in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
> >
>
> I like "Pump Up The Volume" and "Airheads" ok. But I'd have
> to say "Good Morning Vietnam" is my favorite. Robin
> Williams as Adrian Cronauer was outstanding.
>
 
> Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
> mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What other
> radio movies can you add to the list?
>


I'm not the biggest fan of his show, but I did like Howard Stern's movie "Private Parts"...I guess we can consider that a radio movie.

Off topic, I also liked the "Simpsons" episode "Bart Gets an Elephant" (Bart calls in a radio station to win "$10,000 or a really stttuuuuuppppid prize" - which turns out to be an elephant...Bart decides to go for the elephant, and the station decides they have to honor that.

It includes some funny scenes about their corny morning (?) show and station automation (they consider installing a 'DJ 3000' computer to avoid mistakes like that). I know it's a TV show...but I think this episode fits on the list.

JB
 
Let's not forget that "American Graffiti" was loosely based around one nightly broadcast from a radio station. Remember the scene with Wolfman Jack?

I don't have any favorite flicks about radio, but I can add a few more "radio based" movies to the list.

There was the little seen Oliver Stone movie, "Talk Radio" which starred Eric Bogosian. It was based on the life of murdered Denver talk show host Alan Berg, who in his time, was considered quite controversial.

Most of the movies made about radio haven't been that good or complimantary and most were about people who worked in the biz. For example...I never saw it, but Dolly Parton did some movie a decade ago about being a radio talk show host. Can't remember the title.

There was "The Truth About Cats and Dogs"...about another radio talk show host this time, featuring a veterinarian who gave health and behavorial advice to listeners about pets. It starred Uma Thurman and Janine Garafalo. Then Eric Roberts starred in a horrible movie about two overnight FM jocks who murdered people in order to have something to talk about OR something stupid like that. I can't remember the exact premise because I flipped the channel after a few minutes.

Those movies sucked and so did "FM". I've never been a DJ, but even so, I thought it seemed unrealistic.

For that matter, I was never a fan of the TV show "WKRP IN Cincinnati". Johnny Fever always talked over the intro of records WITHOUT his headphnes on. In fact, neither he or Venus Flytrap (the name of the other DJ --I think)--EVER had on headphones while on-air. And why were they the only two DJ's at that station??? That always bothered me.
 
> Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
> mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What other
> radio movies can you add to the list?
>
> 1. Airheads
> 2. FM
> 3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey, Jr.
> in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
>

1. Talk Radio - A truly frightening essay in self-destruction.
2. FM - Even though it's before my time, I hear that's kinda what it used to be like.
3. Good Morning Vietnam - Proof that we have a real effect on people.
4. Airheads - Probably my generation's "FM"
5. Pump Up The Volume - Hopefully inspired some people to get in to the game.

PS...Lemmy Is God.
 
> > Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
> > mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What
> other
> > radio movies can you add to the list?
> >
> > 1. Airheads
> > 2. FM
> > 3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey,
> Jr.
> > in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
> >
>
> I like "Pump Up The Volume" and "Airheads" ok. But I'd have
> to say "Good Morning Vietnam" is my favorite. Robin
> Williams as Adrian Cronauer was outstanding.

Agreed! Some years back I interviewed at a station that had, only a couple of days prior, had Adrian Cronauer on as a guest of the morning show. The morning guy had asked Mr. Cronauer to do his trademark "Good mooooooooooooooooooorning!" Mr. Cronauer had apologized because he was a little under the weather that day and felt unable to give the phrase the full lungpower he would have liked, but he gamely went for it and gave a short one, anyway.

The word "morning" only lasted 32 seconds or so. :)




>
 
Great additions to the list. As you mentioned, many "radio movies" aren't about the biz per se so much as someone who works there. Your additions to the list all work very well. Other movies that are about something else but include radio scenes could be "Do The Right Thing" (and that's the truth, Ruth), and "The Warriors" (featuring the sexy red lips and Fontella Bass's "Nowhere To Run.")

Thanks, folks. Keep 'em coming!


> Let's not forget that "American Graffiti" was loosely based
> around one nightly broadcast from a radio station. Remember
> the scene with Wolfman Jack?
>
> I don't have any favorite flicks about radio, but I can add
> a few more "radio based" movies to the list.
>
> There was the little seen Oliver Stone movie, "Talk Radio"
> which starred Eric Bogosian. It was based on the life of
> murdered Denver talk show host Alan Berg, who in his time,
> was considered quite controversial.
>
> Most of the movies made about radio haven't been that good
> or complimantary and most were about people who worked in
> the biz. For example...I never saw it, but Dolly Parton did
> some movie a decade ago about being a radio talk show host.
> Can't remember the title.
>
> There was "The Truth About Cats and Dogs"...about another
> radio talk show host this time, featuring a veterinarian who
> gave health and behavorial advice to listeners about pets.
> It starred Uma Thurman and Janine Garafalo. Then Eric
> Roberts starred in a horrible movie about two overnight FM
> jocks who murdered people in order to have something to talk
> about OR something stupid like that. I can't remember the
> exact premise because I flipped the channel after a few
> minutes.
>
> Those movies sucked and so did "FM". I've never been a DJ,
> but even so, I thought it seemed unrealistic.
>
> For that matter, I was never a fan of the TV show "WKRP IN
> Cincinnati". Johnny Fever always talked over the intro of
> records WITHOUT his headphnes on. In fact, neither he or
> Venus Flytrap (the name of the other DJ --I think)--EVER had
> on headphones while on-air. And why were they the only two
> DJ's at that station??? That always bothered me.
>
 
This is a fun list! I do want to "second" the nomination for Good Morning Vietnam...great movie! I remember seeing it at the movie theatre. The scene where Adrian Cronauer reads the to-be-censored story about the attack at the cafe, then gets cut off the air, was really powerful in the theatre. There was silence (in the movie) for about 30 seconds when he is off. The whole auditorium I was in was completely silent also at that point...it was really quite an experience seeing that part.

I haven't seen some of the movies that have been mentioned here -including even Pump Up the Volume :eek: So I may need to make a serious trip to Blockbuster tonight!

JB



> Great additions to the list. As you mentioned, many "radio
> movies" aren't about the biz per se so much as someone who
> works there. Your additions to the list all work very well.
> Other movies that are about something else but include radio
> scenes could be "Do The Right Thing" (and that's the truth,
> Ruth), and "The Warriors" (featuring the sexy red lips and
> Fontella Bass's "Nowhere To Run.")
>
> Thanks, folks. Keep 'em coming!
>
>
> > Let's not forget that "American Graffiti" was loosely
> based
> > around one nightly broadcast from a radio station.
> Remember
> > the scene with Wolfman Jack?
> >
> > I don't have any favorite flicks about radio, but I can
> add
> > a few more "radio based" movies to the list.
> >
> > There was the little seen Oliver Stone movie, "Talk Radio"
>
> > which starred Eric Bogosian. It was based on the life of
> > murdered Denver talk show host Alan Berg, who in his time,
>
> > was considered quite controversial.
> >
> > Most of the movies made about radio haven't been that good
>
> > or complimantary and most were about people who worked in
> > the biz. For example...I never saw it, but Dolly Parton
> did
> > some movie a decade ago about being a radio talk show
> host.
> > Can't remember the title.
> >
> > There was "The Truth About Cats and Dogs"...about another
> > radio talk show host this time, featuring a veterinarian
> who
> > gave health and behavorial advice to listeners about pets.
>
> > It starred Uma Thurman and Janine Garafalo. Then Eric
> > Roberts starred in a horrible movie about two overnight FM
>
> > jocks who murdered people in order to have something to
> talk
> > about OR something stupid like that. I can't remember the
> > exact premise because I flipped the channel after a few
> > minutes.
> >
> > Those movies sucked and so did "FM". I've never been a
> DJ,
> > but even so, I thought it seemed unrealistic.
> >
> > For that matter, I was never a fan of the TV show "WKRP IN
>
> > Cincinnati". Johnny Fever always talked over the intro of
>
> > records WITHOUT his headphnes on. In fact, neither he or
> > Venus Flytrap (the name of the other DJ --I think)--EVER
> had
> > on headphones while on-air. And why were they the only
> two
> > DJ's at that station??? That always bothered me.
> >
>
 
I need to see Airheads and FM...

My rankings would be:

1. Pump Up The Volume
2. Private Parts
3. Good Morning Vietnam
4. Talk Radio
5. Straight Talk
 
I thought Pump Up the Volume was really good.
I never saw FM or Air America though.

As for other movies mentioned in other replies, I bought Talk Radio at a cheap price once having never heard of it and had mixed feelings.
I may watch it again sometime, but I think it may have been sold to Half Price Books when I was getting rid of things.
I'm not a fan of Howard stern, but did really like the movie.
I saw Airheads once a long time ago and found it entertaining, but don't remember it too well.
I've always wanted to see Straight Talk 9the Dolly Parton movie that was brought up I think without mentioning its name), but never have.
I also agree with Good Morning Vietnam.

To add to the list that involve radio as a part of the movie but not as the focus, the radio segments from Reservoir Dogs were a nice touch to the movie.
 
>
> Off topic, I also liked the "Simpsons" episode "Bart Gets an
> Elephant" (Bart calls in a radio station to win "$10,000 or
> a really stttuuuuuppppid prize" - which turns out to be an
> elephant...Bart decides to go for the elephant, and the
> station decides they have to honor that.
>
> It includes some funny scenes about their corny morning (?)
> show and station automation (they consider installing a 'DJ
> 3000' computer to avoid mistakes like that). I know it's a
> TV show...but I think this episode fits on the list.
>
> JB
>

DJ 3000: Those clowns in congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns.
Bill: [laughs] How does it keep up with the news like that?

and my favorite quote from that episode:
"Don't praise the machine!"


TV shows are probably another list, but as long as we're here, we can't leave out Frazier and NewsRadio.
 
> Let's not forget that "American Graffiti" was loosely based
> around one nightly broadcast from a radio station. Remember
> the scene with Wolfman Jack?
>

I liked AMERICAN GRAFFITI, too. And, in the tradition of it, how about "THE HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS". It had a radio contest and I'm not sure who played the DJ, but he sounded like Dan Ingram of WABC/WCBS-New York fame. I don't know if it was, but his voice sounded like it. "THE HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS" was a classic though.


>
> For that matter, I was never a fan of the TV show "WKRP IN
> Cincinnati". Johnny Fever always talked over the intro of
> records WITHOUT his headphnes on. In fact, neither he or
> Venus Flytrap (the name of the other DJ --I think)--EVER had
> on headphones while on-air. And why were they the only two
> DJ's at that station??? That always bothered me.

I always loved WKRP. I tried not to over analyze it. The humor was great. The "Turkeys Away" Thanksgiving episode is LOL funny. I'm in tears everytime I see it, because it is just too funny. There were many episodes of the show that weren't that good, but overall, I liked it.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
"I Believe In The Power Of Love."
Luther Vandross 1951-2005</P>
 
How about those wonderful radio scenes in O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU...
or COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER or my all-time fave THE FISHER KING with Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams.

Glad someone mentioned TALK RADIO, that was excellent albeit creepy.
 
> > > Hope this isn't a repeat topic. "Pump Up The Volume" was
>
> > > mentioned in the pirate threads (ah, a classic). What
> > other
> > > radio movies can you add to the list?
> > >
> > > 1. Airheads
> > > 2. FM
> > > 3. The first 5 minutes of "Air America" (Robert Downey,
> > Jr.
> > > in the traffic chopper scene---priceless)
> > >
> >
> > I like "Pump Up The Volume" and "Airheads" ok. But I'd
> have
> > to say "Good Morning Vietnam" is my favorite. Robin
> > Williams as Adrian Cronauer was outstanding.
>
> Agreed! Some years back I interviewed at a station that had,
> only a couple of days prior, had Adrian Cronauer on as a
> guest of the morning show. The morning guy had asked Mr.
> Cronauer to do his trademark "Good
> mooooooooooooooooooorning!" Mr. Cronauer had apologized
> because he was a little under the weather that day and felt
> unable to give the phrase the full lungpower he would have
> liked, but he gamely went for it and gave a short one,
> anyway.
>
> The word "morning" only lasted 32 seconds or so. :)
>
>
>
>
> >
> hi joanie, ya I live next to those fiesty cougars,sorry didnt answer you before........; )
 
Does anyone remember Captain Midnight?? Actually I looked it up on IMDB, and the full title apparently is On The Air Live With Captain Midnight. I remember watching that movie a couple of times when I was a kid and loving it. It was also about a pirate radio station that this kid broadcast out of the back of a van. You'd have to think it was at least of some influence to those who made Pump Up The Volume, which I'd also have to put in my top 3.

They played Captain Midnight a lot on during Night Flight on the USA Network. I wish I would have taped it. It's a 1979 teen flick, so you know it's gotta be pure cheese!

1. Captain Midnight
2. Private Parts
3. Pump Up The Volume
 
> Lets not forget about the classic "Play Misty For Me"
>
> Trackman
>
>
How could I have forgotten that one? Good call!

On the other hand, in the dumb-but-funny catagory, wasn't Joe Dirt a janitor at a radio station? Dennis Miller played the DJ who put him on the air to try and wrangle a bit out of his life story.
 
>
> DJ 3000: Those clowns in congress did it again. What a
> bunch of clowns.
> Bill: [laughs] How does it keep up with the news like
> that?
>
> and my favorite quote from that episode:
> "Don't praise the machine!"
>
>

Joanie,

That is the exact scene I was thinking of when I posted originally!
I got a kick out of it...

JB
 
>
> Those movies sucked and so did "FM". I've never been a DJ,
> but even so, I thought it seemed unrealistic.
>
> For that matter, I was never a fan of the TV show "WKRP IN
> Cincinnati". Johnny Fever always talked over the intro of
> records WITHOUT his headphnes on. In fact, neither he or
> Venus Flytrap (the name of the other DJ --I think)--EVER had
> on headphones while on-air. And why were they the only two
> DJ's at that station??? That always bothered me.
>


FWIW, some air studios used a cue speaker that acted as headphones. When the Mic was on, cue speakers came on. It was to help with the DJ to act more naturally (allegedly).

Davery
 
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