Nostalgium Arcanum - Episodes Tagged with “Rob Reiner”

Stand By Me

Doug Lief — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:15:00 -0800

Deeply personal, darkly profound, the late Rob Reiner's masterpiece "Stand By Me" is the film he said he most wanted to be remembered for. The film lays bare the pain in growing pains in the seemingly simple tale of four children trudging to see a dead body, but which explores the complex emotions on the precipice of adulthood, the traumas that shape us, in perhaps the finest coming-of-age film ever made. We're joined by filmmaker (and fellow wilderness-exploring childhood friend) Alex Sosin ("The Canyon") to celebrate this crown jewel of Reiner's career. "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"

Check out the teaser for The Canyon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFFWbNbdtKA

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, "Playing By Ear" (https://playingbyear.fireside.fm) and our limited-run Jim Henson Series, "Still Muppeting" (patreon.com/stillloadingpod).

If you have feedback, find us on the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Let the Good Times Roll - Shirley and Lee
Get A Job - The Silhouettes
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
The Ballad of Paladin - Duane Eddy
All score from Stand By Me by Jack Nitzsche

The Princess Bride

Doug Lief — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:15:00 -0700

You asked for something special for our 150th episode so all we can say is "as you wish." The Princess Bride is inconceivably perfect. The film has everything - fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles, and a superlative cast and script to bring it all together. Guest comedian and filmmaker Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis, tarikrdavis.com) joins us to revisit a storybook story that demands to be told over and over.

You can find Tarik on NBC's The Amber Ruffin Show, and on his essential podcast, Brothers From Another Planet, see him perform live with Freestyle Love Soupreme.

More importantly, Tarik's short film "Doc - Race, Revolution, Relativity, and the Confessions of a Time Travelling Terrorist" is now out and you can (and should) watch it here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-uBvVgBTIY)

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, Playing By Ear! - https://playingbyear.fireside.fm

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

The Man In Me (Bob Dylan)
Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All music from The Princess Bride by Mark Knopfler

80s Movies - Part 2

Doug Lief — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:15:00 -0800

1985 through 1989 was the best period of filmmaking, period. Each of these years produced dozens of groundbreaking, blockbusting, genre defining, and unforgettable movies, making listing our top tens nearly impossible. Our review crew of Ami Lief, Ryan Merlo, and Tania Newton join us to close out our survey course of the best, of the best, of the best.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Check out Ami's beautiful handmade earrings at https://www.etsy.com/shop/MomoBunnysmoreCo

Musical Credits:
Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Oh Yeah - Yello
Score from Cocktail – J. Peter Robinson
Score from Masters of the Universe – Bill Conti
Score from Robocop – Basil Poledouris
Score from The Princess Bride – Mark Knopfler
Score from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – John Williams
Poor Unfortunate Souls – Alan Menken / Howard Ashman
Score from Big – Howard Shore
Score from The Fly – Howard Shore
The Edge of Forever – Dream Academy
Score from Pretty In Pink – Michael Gore
Score from Labyrinth – Trevor Jones
Score from The Goonies – Dave Grusin
Score from Clue: The Movie – John Morris
Score from The Wizard – J. Peter Robinson
Score from Back to the Future: Part III – Alan Sylvestri
Score from Who Framed Roger Rabbit – Alan Sylvestri
Babysitting Blues – Albert Collins
Take My Breath Away – Berlin
Score from Big Trouble In Little China – John Carpenter and Alan Howath
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds