In 1984, amid the fears of nuclear war and the rise of consumerism, teen-centric films flourished. One often-overlooked gem stands out for its darker tone, mixing themes of consumerism, alien threats, mutation, and sinister scientists. "Night of the Comet" follows two sisters who survive a comet-induced apocalypse that turns most people into dust and some into zombies. As they navigate the desolate city, meet a fellow survivor, and face the dangers of this new world, they quickly realize that survival isn't as easy as it seems. So, grab your Mac-10, hop on a motorcycle, and join us as Chris Adams and I, along with special guest Catherine Mary Stewart, dive into the 1984 cult classic "Night of the Comet" on this special bonus episode of the 80s Flick Flashback podcast!

This is an abbreviated replay of an episode of the "Retro Life 4 You" Podcast with Chris Adams. If you would like to watch or listen to the full, unedited episode you can find it here - https://retrolife4u.com/episode/night-of-the-comet-apocalypse-80s-style

We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support!

• https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback

Say his name three times and he will appear. With his unruly green hair, pinstripe suit and unusual mannerisms, the malicious spirit became a film icon. But before the dark comedy premiered the studio and half of the cast weren't exactly convinced that audiences would be willing to take the wild ride about a bio-exorcist. The original script was vastly different, offering a darker and more deadly take before humor was eventually (and successfully) sprinkled in during production. The unique blend of absurdity and alarm proved to be the perfect mix, with this 80s Flick becoming a surprise hit at the box office, spawning a hit animated series, winning an Oscar, and becoming a Broadway musical. So take a trip with us back to Winter River Connecticut, grab your copy of the “Handbook for the Recently Deceased”, and watch out for the Sandworms as Tim Williams and guest co-hosts Laramy Wells & Bethany Wells discuss “Beetlejuice” from 1988 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast.

Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode:

• Tom Duffield said "The scene with Alec Baldwin, where Geena’s standing with his head in her hand, he was just kneeling behind a black show card that was cut around his chin. Look closely, it’s all done on camera. It was real quick cut, but that’s all it was."
• The epilogue featuring Beetlejuice and the witch doctor was added during post-production. Another version of the ending showed Beetlejuice in the waiting room with the barber who welcomed Adam at the beginning of the movie (supposedly after he had died), and the barber's rambling drove Beetlejuice crazy.

Sources:

Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo

https://www.ranker.com/list/beetlejuice-behind-the-scenes/jacob-shelton

https://www.eonline.com/news/1369754/20-strange-and-unusual-secrets-about-beetlejuice-revealed

Some sections were composed by ChatGPT

We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support!

• https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback

Imagine pitching this to a movie studio in the 80s: two clueless slackers travel through time in a phone booth, rounding up historical figures for their high school history project. Not exactly an easy sell, right? But what started as a quirky stand-up routine from college pals Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon turned into a surprise hit. The film didn’t just make money—it inspired a sequel, an animated series, a comic book, and even its own breakfast cereal!

After a challenging production—complete with budget issues, a rewritten ending, and hundreds of auditions—Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure finally hit theaters. While initial reviews were most heinous, it steadily won over audiences, and the rest is, well, history.

So, jump into the time-traveling phone booth, practice your air guitar skills, and don’t forget to wind your watch as Nicholas Pepin, Chad Sheppard, Laramy Wells, and I discuss Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure from 1989 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast!

Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode:

Many of the historical figures that Bill and Ted brought back died in tragic ways. Several, including Socrates, Joan of Arc, Billy the Kid, and Abraham Lincoln, were either executed or assassinated. Sigmund Freud died by assisted suicide. Some people believe Napoleon Bonaparte's death under house arrest was the result of arsenic poisoning. Historically, Genghis Khan and Ludwig van Beethoven died of natural causes.

Bill's "philosophy" to Socrates, "All we are is dust in the wind, dude," is a line from "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas. Socrates' response is, "Like sands of the hourglass, such are the days of our lives." For decades, that was the opening credits voiceover for "Days of Our Lives". Amy Stoch (Missy) appeared in 26 episodes of Days of Our Lives in 1986, while Tony Steedman (Socrates) appeared in 15 episodes in 1990.

Sources:

Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/alex-winter-bill-ted-excellent-adventure-lost-scene-interview-955329/

https://screenrant.com/bill-ted-excellent-adventure-behind-scenes-facts/

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2551533/bill-and-teds-excellent-adventure-non-heinous-behind-the-scenes-facts-about-the-time-travel-movie

https://keithandthemovies.com/2020/04/22/retro-review-bill-teds-excellent-adventure-1989/

Some sections were composed by ChatGPT

We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support!

• https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback