Nostalgium Arcanum - Episodes Tagged with “Steven Spielberg”

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Doug Lief — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:15:00 -0700

Anything goes in Indiana Jones' second (but technically first) outing. The film is flawed, but relentlessly entertaining, buoyed by engaging performances from future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan and villain expert Amrish Puri. We make a meal out of this classic with filmmaker Alex Sosin (The Canyon) and fondly reminisce about a movie that has its heart in the right place - Mola Ram's fist.

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

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Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Anything Goes - Cole Porter, as sung by Kate Capshaw
All score from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom by John Williams

Back to the Future

Doug Lief — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:15:00 -0700

What is a nostalgia podcast if not a time machine? We're firing up the flux capacitor and setting the time circuits to Back to the Future for the 40th anniversary of this seminal temporal comedy. We're joined by guest Darren Lanning (darrenlanning.com) to celebrate a film so heavy that its success was practically density.

Be sure to also check out our new 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:
Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
All score from Back to the Future - Alan Sylvestri
Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry (or is it?)
Back in Time - Huey Lewis and the News

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Doug Lief — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:15:00 -0700

If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones. The first film in the franchise pits archaeology against the Third Reich as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams, and of course, Harrison Ford unearth an icon. We're joined by "top men" comedian Dan Oster (MadTV, A Podcast But Evil) and filmmaker Alex Sosin (The Canyon) to excavate the origins of a cinematic legend, whip cracking dialogue, and just plain whip cracking.

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

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)
All score from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams
I Am The Monarch of the Sea - Gilbert & Sullivan

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

Hook

Doug Lief — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:15:00 -0700

On this podcast we generally refuse to grow up, but this time we're thinking especially happy thoughts as we head back to Neverland for Hook with filmmaker Ken Cole. Steven Spielberg and Robin Williams' love letter to Peter Pan remains forever young, buoyed by John Williams' inimitable score, and best-in-class character work from Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins.

Find more of Ken's fantastic content at https://www.youtube.com/@KenCole

Also, I was honored to be a guest on KenCast. You can subscribe to KenCast to hear it, or watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc8eh4010YA

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:
Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All songs and score from Hook by John Williams
Hook - Blues Traveler

Jaws

Doug Lief — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:15:00 -0700

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the podcast, writer/director of horror short "The Canyon" Alex Sosin joins us to swim with sharks as we celebrate Steven Spielberg's aquatic horror blockbuster, Jaws. The film elevates a b-horror premise to an all-time maritime masterpiece.

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

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)
All score from Jaws by John Williams
Show Me The Way To Go Home (Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, performed by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw)

Jurassic Park

Doug Lief — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 01:00:00 -0700

We spared no expense for Jurassic Park's 30th anniversary. Guests Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) and clever girl Ami Lief (etsy.com/shop/MomoBunnysmoreCo) hold onto their butts to gush over an adventure 65,000,000 years in the making. I

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All Jurassic Park score by John Williams
Jurassic Park (Weird Al Yankovic, parodying MacArthur Park by Jimmy Webb)