The Gates Of Cimino
The dive bar of cinema podcasts! Unscripted (most of the time). All things movies. Each show is dedicated to an interesting backstory in the history of film. We'll be talking about films, actors, books on films, moments in film history, etc. So pull up a seat and join us! Warning: We spoil everything!
Episodes
112 episodes
Ep. 112 Lone Wolf McQuade
Join actor/filmmaker Chris Staviski and me as we dive into my all‑time favorite action film, Lone Wolf McQuade. We look back on the recent passing of a legend and explore why Steve Carver’s dusty, sun‑baked masterpiece still stands alo...
Ep. 111 Sleepers
Join writer‑producer Vince Cusimano and me as we dig into Barry Levinson’s 1996 film Sleepers, a bruised, morally tangled story that moves from the backstreets of Hell’s Kitchen to the cold geometry of a courtroom. We get into the film...
Ep. 110 Robert Duvall
Join me and actor/writer Vince Cusimano as we celebrate the one‑of‑a‑kind force that is Robert Duvall — a master of character, craft, and cinematic truth. We dig into the performances that shaped generations of actors, the stories behind the ro...
Ep. 109 The Top Films of the 21st Century
Join writer‑producer Armando Chapman and me as we count down our Top 10 films of the 21st century — the choices, the arguments, the surprises, all of it.Tune in and dive in. 🎙️
Ep. 108 The Ghosts Beneath the Sign: Brian Keith, Daisy Keith, and the Peg Entwistle Myth
🎬 A Cimino Confidential Today we descend into one of Hollywood’s strangest family legends — the supposed curse of the Keiths and the spectral shadow cast by David’s “stepmom,” Peg Entwistle. A tale stitched together from rumo...
Ep. 107 Blood in Babylon: A Discussion on Hollyweird Homicides
Join actor/writer Vince Cusimano and me as we journey back into Hollywood’s shadowed past. Together we revisit some of the most infamous—and some forgotten—homicides that shaped its history. 🎬 🎙️ Note: This episode was recorded sh...
Ep. 106 L.A. Confidential
Step into the shadows of 1950s Los Angeles with me and writer/producer Armando Chapman as we unravel L.A. Confidential — a tale of corruption, ambition, and betrayal in the City of Angels. 🎙️Spoilers ahead, as always. ...
Ep. 105 Silenced Star: The Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Scandal
🎬 A Cimino Confidential In the roaring twenties, Hollywood’s brightest star was suddenly cast into its darkest shadow. Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, once beloved for his slapstick genius, became the center of a scandal that shook ...
Ep. 104 The NFL Movie Draft
Quite possibly one of the most important podcast episodes ever recorded. This week, Ron, Joe, and I step into the producer’s chair to create our own blockbuster motion picture — but with a twist. Every role must be filled by former NFL players ...
Ep. 103 Walking Tall and the Legend of Buford Pusser
Buford Pusser was the larger-than-life Tennessee sheriff whose real-life crackdown on organized crime and moonshining became a 1973 cult classic film, Walking Tall, and later a 2004 remake. His image — a one-man lawman wielding a big stick and ...
Ep. 102 The Murder of Pier Paolo Pasolini and the Shadow of Salò
🎬 A Cimino Confidential Pier Paolo Pasolini was a poet, filmmaker, and political lightning rod—and his murder in 1975 remains one of Italy’s most unsettling mysteries. In this episode, we revisit the night of his death and th...
Ep. 101 The Final Act of Gig Young
🎬 A Cimino Confidential He won an Oscar for playing a man who presided over desperation. Offscreen, he lived it. Gig Young was Hollywood’s charming second fiddle, the witty drunk, the romantic rival, the man who never quite got the ...
Ep. 100 Marjoe
To mark our 100th episode, actor/writer Vince Cusimano joins me for a deep dive into the electrifying, Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe (1972). We unpack the unbelievable true story of Marjoe Gortner—a child preacher turned charismatic...
Ep. 99 Commune
🎙️ Welcome to a special episode celebrating the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking 2005 documentary Commune! Join me and its director Jonathan Berman as we revisit the film that captured the spirit, struggles, and radical dreams of t...
Ep. 98 The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Step into postwar Rome, where fading stardom meets dangerous charm in Tennessee Williams’ The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone. Join me and writer/producer Armando Chapman as we follow Vivien Leigh’s haunting descent into vulnerability and W...
Ep. 97 Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Join writer/actor Vince Cusimano and me as we ride into the wilds of 1976’s neo-western BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW!We’re peeling back the layers of this cult classic — from the rebellious spirit of Marjoe Gortner to Lynda Carter’s electric...
Ep. 96 Inserts
Join filmmaker Mark Bessenger and me as we discuss one of the most audacious cult films of the 1970s—INSERTS (1975). From taboo topics to underground Hollywood grit, we’re peeling back the layers of this bold, bizarre time capsule. ...
Ep. 95 The Day of the Locust
Step into the shadowy, surreal world of 1930s Hollywood! Join writer/producer Armando Chapman and me as we unpack John Schlesinger's haunting 1975 masterpiece, The Day of the Locust.Warning: Spoilers abound!Let's dive in....
Ep. 94 Food in Film
Today, we're diving into a topic that satisfies both the stomach and the soul: food in film! From the sizzling tension of a well-prepared meal to the quiet intimacy of a shared dinner, food isn't just a prop—it’s a storytelling powerhouse!<...
Ep. 93 Ninja Zombie
Join me and my returning guest Mark Bessenger as we discuss his 1992 8mm classic NINJA ZOMBIE! One of the most fun times you'll have watching a movie. We also discuss other 8mm films of the era. Join us! 🎙️🎧 Rent ...
Ep. 92 Chaos: The Manson Murders
Welcome to today's episode, where I'm joined by Joe Trabucco to unpack one of true crime's most underwhelming efforts—Chaos: The Manson Murders. Despite being helmed by the legendary Errol Morris, this documentary feels like an experiment in no...
Ep. 91 Gene Hackman
Join actor and writer Vince Cusimano and me as we pay tribute to one of the greatest actors and icons of 20th-century Hollywood, Gene Hackman! We'll delve into his illustrious career, discussing his most memorable roles, his unique acting style...
Ep. 90 Oscars '25
The title says it all. Join me and writer/producer Armando Chapman as we go over this year's nominee list!Date and Venue: The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.Host: Co...