Bonus Episode: Ranking the Rapiers and the Ruffles

In a dystopian Milan, a failed revolution has left the Fascists in charge and the streets littered with dead rebels. Antigone (Britt Ekland) seems to be the only sane person left, determined to defy the authorities and her parents to retreive the body of her brother and give him a proper burial. When she meets a mysterious man who has great hair but speaks an unknown language (played by Pierre Clementi), their destinies in this strange tyrannical world become entwined. Oh, and also her boyfriend is Tomas Milian. In this episode we are exploring the early work of the important and often controversial director Liliana Cavani, and although we have not started a cannibal film mini-season (as has been frequently requested by some listeners), this is still a fascinating and important piece of work which was neglected at the time but is hopefully becoming reappraised, at least by us. Join us for some serious discussion about the impact Cavani's early television documentary work had on her subsequent cinema career, the often unsung but heroic work of background extras, and whether or not that really is Britt Ekland running naked through the streets of Milan. We would love to hear from you about your favourite Italian female filmmakers, or your recommendations for other late 1960s revolutionary films. You can get in touch with us, follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Italian star Rita Pavone is a mischevious schoolgirl with a confusing crush on her sleepy music teacher, who is living a double-life as a singer in a beat band. Can she stop pranking him long enough to make it as a new ye-ye pop sensation whilst navigating the exclusive private school life and these new romantic feelings? And sing loads of songs as she goes along? After a brief break we are back with a new mini-season focusing on female filmmakers in Italian cinema. In this episode Adrian tricks Rod into watching a musical, directed by one of Italy's most commercially successful female directors of all time, Lina Wertmüller. Will Rod ever forgive him? Will the podcast ever be the same again? Tune in to find out. We would love to hear from you about your favourite Italian female filmmakers, or if you are a fan of Rita Pavone and her brand of powerhouse 1960s pop. You can get in touch with us, follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Rod and Adrian as they agonise over how to rank the films from the Rapiers and Ruffles season. Will they agree, or will there be rapiers at dawn? If you have been watching along throughout the season, do contact us and let us know which have been your favourites. The podcast is also open to suggestions for future seasons! You can get in touch with us, follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They seek him there, they seek him there, they seek the mysterious masked hero everywhere - but they will never find him thanks to his cunning use of a luxurious moustache! We've reached the final film in our Rapiers and Ruffles season, and the good news is that you can find Zorro in the Court of England on YouTube with excellent English subtitles, if you need them. You can get in touch with us (and we would especially love to hear which flms you've enjoyed this season), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our ⁠Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild, Wild Podcast have jumped forwards in time from the safe, family-friendly adventures of the early 1960s to the hedonistic, anything goes year of 1969 to meet Zenabel, sometimes known as "The Naked General." Here we reach almost the end of our Rapiers and Ruffles season, and also perhaps Rod's tether, with this Italian sex comedy from the director of House at the Edge of the Park, Phantom of Death and Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man. You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Zorro doing in Spain, thousands of miles away from home? Why are they called the Three Musketeers when there's actually four of them? Why does the King of Spain sound like he was voiced by Paul Frees? Some of these questions may or may not get answered in this thrilling installment of Wild, Wild Podcast! You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is that mysterious masked hero? Sarge? No. Rosemary, the telephone operator? No. Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? Could be! Then again, it could also be Robin Hood, so don't be too sure. Join us once again as we huddle together inside the nearest large castle for protection against the plague whilst doing our best to unmask the eponymous hero. We also discuss Weird Worcester, the UK's newest and best Italian-themed festival where Adrian had the time of his life as a disappointing Italian translator. You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our ⁠Linktree⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's adventure on land and on sea as we chart a course to Devil's Island! It's the time of the French Revolution and tempers are running high, quite literally, as we visit those poor female prisoners of Devil's Island, who are forced to pan for gold by day in the hot South American sun, and then entertain the prison guards in improvised brothels by night. If only there was a dashing young captain who could come and save them? And perhaps punch a crocodile whilst he's at it? We are now halfway through our Rapiers & Ruffles season now, so hitch up your skirts and wade into the croc-infested waters in search of cinematic gold with us, your piratical hosts Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith. If you want to watch the film (and you should) you can find it on YouTube. You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your carnival mask, strap on your rapier and jump into a passing gondola, so that you can travel with us through 17th century Venezia, where evil schemes are afoot, pious nuns need rescuing from wicked pirates, and strong men swing big choppers with abandon. The Executioner of Venice is another fine example of the Rapiers & Ruffles sub-genre of Italian costume adventure films, and a great-quality copy can be found in English on YouTube. You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our ⁠Linktree⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild, Wild Podcast is back from the commentary track-induced wilderness to talk about another fine film in our Rapiers and Ruffles season. This time we're in France as we go on a non-canonical adventure with D'Artagnan and Porthos, two of the legendary Musketeers. No one knows where the other two are. If you want to watch the film (and you should) you can find it on YouTube. You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our Linktree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices