Join hosts Carl Wonders and Thad Hait as they discuss movies in and around the James Bond franchise, as well as anything else that pops into their heads.
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Apologies for the delay, but we somehow lost our luggage in Heathrow Airport. In this episode, Columbo inexplicably finds himself in London, England and has to navigate every British cliché the writers can throw at him and find out whether or not it’s true that “the butler did it.” Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net
“What’d you pay for those shoes?” We are back along with Robert Culp’s mustache as we discuss “The Most Crucial Game” and a whole lot of things that barely exist anymore. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net
We navigate “The Greenhouse Jungle” which is replete with fraud, fake kidnapping, murder, and really bad wigs. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Signed Photo Dime Store Fabio White Jacket Coffee Table Decor Outdoor Late-Night Chili Counter
We begin season 2 of Columbo with “Étude in Black,” a special, extended (or is that padded?) episode featuring Peter Falk’s friend John Cassavetes as the Murderer-of-the Week. Does this episode merit an extra 30 minutes of runtime? Did Cassavetes do any research at all on how to conduct an orchestra? Was every actor from the 70s in at least one episode of “The Virginian?” And what’s up with the sudden appearance of Adolf Hitler? Listen and find out! Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on
We take a one-episode break from Columbo to revisit the final latest entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—THE FINAL RECKONING. Just like the first time we watched it, we found it to be too long. In our (hopefully not too long) discussion, we ask why the filmmakers have suddenly decided their audience is full of idiots; question the inflammability of Alaskan cabins; and lose track of the number of times Ethan Hunt should die in this film. Speaking of not dying, we have a hard time believing that this is the last film in the series… Other episodes mentioned: Clip Shows
We close out the first season of Columbo with “Blueprint for Murder,” which is also the first and only episode of the show directed by Peter Falk. Join us as we discuss after-market Cadillac modding, really cheap bourbon, and what might just be the most expensive murder investigation in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Markham’s Tie Wool Jacket Reflected Astigmatism at Night Goldie’
Carl and Thad are joined by special guest Ryan Riddle to discuss “Short Fuse,” starring Roddy McDowall as the murderer of the week. We had a fun and extensive conversation with Ryan that even touched on the episode at times. Follow us on social media Ryan Riddle – @ryanthomasriddle.com Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Darkroom Bomb-making Denim Suit Portraits of Yourself “I was not prepared for all the ass shots” Cigar Storage Roddy McDowall: Freaking Tool
In this episode, Thad and Carl discuss “Lady in Waiting,” the fifth of the first season of Columbo. While we would never condone murder, we both agree that Bryce Chadwick is the most murderable victim we have seen to date. We also get incredibly distracted by the usual things, including the inexplicable “Webster” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” crossover episode. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) “Webtrek” Bryce’s Keych
Thad and Carl recently went to see MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — THE FINAL RECKONING. Hear our immediate thoughts on the movie, including our takes on some dubious UX decisions and some of the incredible stunts. WARNING: We mention being spoiler-free to start, but that goes out the window in about 5 minutes, so please, if you haven’t seen the movie yet, hold off until you do. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.net
Thad and Carl discuss “Suitable for Framing,” the fourth episode of the first season of Columbo. Famous art critic (if that’s a thing) Dale Kingston murders his uncle to inherit his considerable art collection. But we are more focused on his fashion sense, the propensity of people in the 70s to have bars in their homes, and yet another television set. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Blue Velvet Tuxedo Comb-Forward
In this episode, we discuss episode three of Columbo’s first season, “Dead Weight,” which had some behind-the-scenes drama that might be more interesting than the episode itself. We also get a bit hung up on issues related to Convoluted Body-Removal in murder mysteries. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Undershirt with a Bathrobe Sailing Outfits Bad Crate-Packing Gen. Hollister’s House Gen. Hollister’s House, Part 2
We discuss “Death Lends a Hand”, which introduces another future-repeat murder: Robert Culp. We also take issue with some of Columbo’s ethics this time (or lack thereof), and we reminisce about taking our driving exams. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Redressed Office Shag Carpet in a Beach House Glasses Reflection The Cost of Golf Balls See-Through Map Columbo Being a Dick State of the Art Computer Topher Grace Gu
We officially kick off the first season of Columbo with “Murder by the Book,” which hits the ground running with a great first appearance by Jack Cassidy as the Murderer of the Week. The episode was also directed and written by nobodies Steven Spielberg and Steven Bochco. I wonder whatever happened to them… Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Bookshelf Corduroy Blazer Bookshelf Again Ferris’s Shirt Fire Pit/Coffee Tabl
In this episode, Thad and Carl discuss “Ransom for a Dead Man,” the second Columbo pilot produced by NBC. In addition to dissecting the seemingly perfect murder plan, we also comment on an overuse of green in Lee Grant’s office and spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about a television. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Camera Astigmatism Margaret’s Television So Much Green
Join Licence to Spiel this episode as we leave the world of spies and espionage to start a new series that we admit will take us a while. We are going to be covering the entirety of “Columbo,” the fictional TV police detective who solves crimes that we have already seen be committed. And we are, of course, starting at the beginning with the 1968 television movie that started it all: “Prescription: Murder,” in which we see Gene Barry as Dr. Ray Flemming play the role of the first in a long line of famous murderers on the show. Peter Falk hits the ground running as the titular detective, despite
We close out the Robert Langdon Cinematic Universe with a discussion of 2016’s INFERNO—a perfectly adequate action thriller…unless you’ve read the book. Hear Thad and Carl lament what Hollywood’s Dumb-it-down-extraordinaire David Koepp does with Dan Brown’s most daring novel. Meanwhile, friend of the show and actual historian Chrissie De Clerck-Szilagyi explains all the things the film gets wrong about the plague. We also go on all the side tangents you’ve come to expect from this show and even equate this film to the mess on an adaptation that is 1997’s THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (also wri
Thad and Carl are joined once again by Chrissie De Clerck-Szilagyi for a discussion of ANGELS & DEMONS (2009), the second film in the Robert Langdon Cinematic Universe. While there are still some things that Dan Brown gets blatantly wrong (e.g., the Illuminati), we all felt that this was a much better effort by all involved. That doesn’t mean we don’t critique things like stupid airtight rooms and spend way too much time debating whether priests are allowed to “beat the bishop.”* Editor’s Warning: For whatever reason, Thad decided to let loose that most terrifying of creatures, the Moopsy, dur
FACT: Dan Brown’s penchant for historical inaccuracies inspired us to invite an actual historian to join us for a discussion of THE DA VINCI CODE (2006). Both the Priory of Scion and Opus Dei are real organizations. Neither is how they are described by Dan Brown, nor are the Crusades, the Knights Templar, and a whole lot of other things.
Delayed almost as long as the film we are talking about, Licence to Spiel finally returns with a full discussion of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—DEAD RECKONING PART 1. While we both agree that this is an overlong setup for the upcoming sequel, it’s still a fun movie that we enjoyed talking about again. Of course, we still managed to find time to rant about the lack of 3D home releases and some other ratholes (while still coming in at under half of the movie’s runtime). Note: if you are interested to hear our “fresh from the theater” takes on this film, check out our previous episode from July 2023: “Ac
We come full circle this episode by discussing the television miniseries version of The Bourne Identity (1988) starring Richard Chamberlain, Jaclyn Smith, and a whole slew of “that guys.” Despite the low expectations that typically come with a made-for-tv movie from the 80s, we both enjoyed this one a lot. We do still find time to do our usual things like quibble over things like the complete lack of any police response in Europe and reminisce about microfiche. We also read a bit of feedback!
The Jason Bourne franchise concludes, at least for now, with the appropriately named JASON BOURNE (2016), a movie that we both enjoyed a lot more than we remembered. Of course, we still find time to poke fun at laptop choices, a hacktivist with the worst internet security we have ever seen, and the most amazing jacket ever committed to (19th century) film.
We’re back! After a long and unexpected hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns with a discussion of 2012’s THE BOURNE LEGACY (a.k.a. the Bourne film that doesn’t have Bourne in it). We would have returned sooner, but we got too distracted by the ins and outs of Rachel Weisz’s telephone.
The Jason Bourne story concludes with 2007’s THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, but that didn’t stop Universal Pictures from making two more films after this one. For now though, we discuss Motorola RAZR screen resolutions, the fat content of goat’s cheese, and whether John McAfee murdered anyone. Thad makes a prediction about Kevin McCarthy that turned out to be correct, and we also talk about the movie a little.
Thad and Carl talk about The Bourne Supremacy (2004), a film that added depth to the already-excellent story begun with the previous installment but also inflicted countless Paul Greengrass imitations on the movie world for years to come.
After a bit of a hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns to take a look at one of the best and most influential action film franchises of the 2000s—which continued to be one of the action franchises of the 2010s (but more on that in a few episodes). Today, we tackle the film that started it all: The Bourne Identity (2002), featuring a surprising (for the time) turn for Matt Damon, the villain du jour of the time in Chris Cooper, and Walton Goggins as a guy with a lot of push pins.
