Demand Euphoria!
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Saturday, January 17, 2026
ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (472)
Thank you for joining us today
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1938 Porky's Naughty Nephew, directed by Bob Clampett
Introducing nephews and nieces of an established cartoon character was common at the time. It was a way around the Hayes Code, which required marriage to be shown before children appeared...even in animated features. The characters could then show their parenting skills and family values without the need of having a regular spouse featured.
You know that the staff at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour loves the holiday long form commercial format from our cousins across the sea. Two, three minutes of holiday cheer - that seems nice. Well, under the thought that more is never enough - here is a nearly 45 minute commercial about bourbon drinking:
Jim Gaffigan is the man who could carry a 45 minute commercial about drinking bourbon.
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1986 comedy The Decline of the American Empire (French: Le Déclin de l'empire Américain), directed by Denys Arcand and starring Rémy Girard, Pierre Curzi and Dorothée Berryman. The Decline of the American Empire was a critical success when it first opened. The film was a huge success in France and Canada, earning over $30 million during it's initial release. Ranking twice in the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time list (both the 1993 and 2004 lists), the film was nominated for an Academy Award and winner of nine Genie Awards.
While the story is set in the world of academia, there’s nothing bookish or stuffy about the stories that emerge. Satirical and witty, The Decline of the American Empire evolves from a comedy of manners to a poignant and moving exploration of relationship and loss. Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this intriguing comedy: The Decline of the American Empire .
Denys Arcand chose tenured university professors as the subject matter of his film as he felt that they would be less likely to have Quebecois accents. In the French speaking world, the Quebec accent is particularly noticeable and Arcand wanted his low budget film to at least have some chance of attracting an audience outside of Canada.
Demand Euphoria!
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1938 Porky's Naughty Nephew, directed by Bob Clampett
Introducing nephews and nieces of an established cartoon character was common at the time. It was a way around the Hayes Code, which required marriage to be shown before children appeared...even in animated features. The characters could then show their parenting skills and family values without the need of having a regular spouse featured.
You know that the staff at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour loves the holiday long form commercial format from our cousins across the sea. Two, three minutes of holiday cheer - that seems nice. Well, under the thought that more is never enough - here is a nearly 45 minute commercial about bourbon drinking:
Jim Gaffigan is the man who could carry a 45 minute commercial about drinking bourbon.
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1986 comedy The Decline of the American Empire (French: Le Déclin de l'empire Américain), directed by Denys Arcand and starring Rémy Girard, Pierre Curzi and Dorothée Berryman. The Decline of the American Empire was a critical success when it first opened. The film was a huge success in France and Canada, earning over $30 million during it's initial release. Ranking twice in the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time list (both the 1993 and 2004 lists), the film was nominated for an Academy Award and winner of nine Genie Awards.
While the story is set in the world of academia, there’s nothing bookish or stuffy about the stories that emerge. Satirical and witty, The Decline of the American Empire evolves from a comedy of manners to a poignant and moving exploration of relationship and loss. Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this intriguing comedy: The Decline of the American Empire .
Denys Arcand chose tenured university professors as the subject matter of his film as he felt that they would be less likely to have Quebecois accents. In the French speaking world, the Quebec accent is particularly noticeable and Arcand wanted his low budget film to at least have some chance of attracting an audience outside of Canada.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, January 16, 2026
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Monday, January 12, 2026
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Saturday, January 10, 2026
ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (471)
Thank you for joining us today
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the inspired 1938 Porky in Wackyland, directed by Bob Clampett
This short subject is celebrated for its surreal humor, such as when Porky is chasing the bird, it disappears and suddenly the Warner Bros. shield emerges from the horizon's vanishing point, as it typically did at every cartoon's beginning, and complete with the standard stretched "boing" of the steel guitar. The Do-Do comes from behind the shield to bop Porky on the head and we see the shield immediately turn to return to the horizon with the bird riding it there (with, consequently, the boing sound played in reverse).
The staff atThe ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour hope you can stomach one more holiday special. And what doesn't scream the holidays like forcing celebs to eat colon burning chicken wings. So let's all watch this year's holiday special from the folks at The Hot Ones, featuring Kristen Bell:
I have to say that she is a real trooper
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1986 comedy Down by Law, directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni. Down by Law was Jarmusch’s third feature film. His first, Permanent Vacation, was made right after he dropped out of film school, using his scholarship money instead of attending classes. He financed the film himself, taking out a bank loan he claimed was to buy a car, and using the check from his Louis B. Mayer scholarship, which was mistakenly sent to him instead of his film school. His second film, Stranger Than Paradise, followed a New York protagonist dealing with a visiting cousin from Budapest and starred (and was co-written by) Down by Law co-star John Lurie.
After Jarmusch began writing his Stranger Than Paradise follow-up - a “sketch of something” featuring Tom Waits and fellow actor-musician John Lurie; he met comedian Roberto Benigni while traveling in Italy and decided to make him the film’s “central character.” Jarmusch wrote his first treatment for the film in Rome, where he was able to confirm Benigni’s casting. Tom Waits’ record label, Island Pictures, later agreed to finance the film.
Apparently, Jim Jarmusch had never visited New Orleans or its surrounding bayous before writing the film, so he based the script on Tennessee Williams’ plays, pulp fiction, 1930s and 1940s crime films, and the Rhythm and Blues music that originated in New Orleans. While scouting locations, Jarmusch listened to Tom Waits’ songs and later claimed they influenced both the development of the script and the rhythmic tempo of the scenes. Conversely, John Lurie - known at the time for his band, the Lounge Lizards, a small jazz ensemble - composed and performed the film’s score. Jarmusch wrote detailed scripts but allowed room for improvisation.
Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this dark comedy: Down by Law.
The title Down by Law is a reference to a colloquialism used in 1920s African American culture, particularly during the Great Migration northward from the Southern states. The phrase described the assimilation of recent arrivals - when people became confident navigating their new surroundings and gained a sense of control over their lives, they were considered “down by law.” Although the term later fell out of fashion, it was adapted into prison slang, where “down by law” came to mean that an individual is trusted and accepted as part of a gang.
Demand Euphoria!
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the inspired 1938 Porky in Wackyland, directed by Bob Clampett
This short subject is celebrated for its surreal humor, such as when Porky is chasing the bird, it disappears and suddenly the Warner Bros. shield emerges from the horizon's vanishing point, as it typically did at every cartoon's beginning, and complete with the standard stretched "boing" of the steel guitar. The Do-Do comes from behind the shield to bop Porky on the head and we see the shield immediately turn to return to the horizon with the bird riding it there (with, consequently, the boing sound played in reverse).
The staff atThe ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour hope you can stomach one more holiday special. And what doesn't scream the holidays like forcing celebs to eat colon burning chicken wings. So let's all watch this year's holiday special from the folks at The Hot Ones, featuring Kristen Bell:
I have to say that she is a real trooper
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1986 comedy Down by Law, directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni. Down by Law was Jarmusch’s third feature film. His first, Permanent Vacation, was made right after he dropped out of film school, using his scholarship money instead of attending classes. He financed the film himself, taking out a bank loan he claimed was to buy a car, and using the check from his Louis B. Mayer scholarship, which was mistakenly sent to him instead of his film school. His second film, Stranger Than Paradise, followed a New York protagonist dealing with a visiting cousin from Budapest and starred (and was co-written by) Down by Law co-star John Lurie.
After Jarmusch began writing his Stranger Than Paradise follow-up - a “sketch of something” featuring Tom Waits and fellow actor-musician John Lurie; he met comedian Roberto Benigni while traveling in Italy and decided to make him the film’s “central character.” Jarmusch wrote his first treatment for the film in Rome, where he was able to confirm Benigni’s casting. Tom Waits’ record label, Island Pictures, later agreed to finance the film.
Apparently, Jim Jarmusch had never visited New Orleans or its surrounding bayous before writing the film, so he based the script on Tennessee Williams’ plays, pulp fiction, 1930s and 1940s crime films, and the Rhythm and Blues music that originated in New Orleans. While scouting locations, Jarmusch listened to Tom Waits’ songs and later claimed they influenced both the development of the script and the rhythmic tempo of the scenes. Conversely, John Lurie - known at the time for his band, the Lounge Lizards, a small jazz ensemble - composed and performed the film’s score. Jarmusch wrote detailed scripts but allowed room for improvisation.
Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this dark comedy: Down by Law.
The title Down by Law is a reference to a colloquialism used in 1920s African American culture, particularly during the Great Migration northward from the Southern states. The phrase described the assimilation of recent arrivals - when people became confident navigating their new surroundings and gained a sense of control over their lives, they were considered “down by law.” Although the term later fell out of fashion, it was adapted into prison slang, where “down by law” came to mean that an individual is trusted and accepted as part of a gang.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, January 9, 2026
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Monday, January 5, 2026
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Saturday, January 3, 2026
ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (470)
Thank you for joining us today
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1938 Wholly Smoke, directed by Frank Tashlin
This is the final Looney Tunes cartoon that Frank Tashlin directed during his first stint at the studio (and thus his old unit that would later be given to Chuck Jones), as he would shortly depart later in 1938 for Disney and later Screen Gems for five years.
We were trying to figure out what to watch on the season premiere episode of The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour, It was solved immediately when we saw this Tiny Desk Concert from NPR:
Robert Plant, as always, sounded in great voice.
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1985 drama Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Héctor Babenco, based on the novel by Manuel Puig and starring William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sônia Braga. The film was a critical success, winning several awards including a Best Actor Oscar for Hurt.
During rehearsals, the two actors had trouble finding the chemistry they needed for their scenes together. To better understand what each needed from the other's role, William Hurt suggested they try an experiment where they would switch roles, with Hurt as Valentin and Raul Julia as Molina. The role-switching rehearsal went so well that Hurt initially suggested to director Hector Babenco that they should switch parts for the film as well. Obviously, the switch did not occur, but Hurt states that it was a very useful experiment in helping them more fully understand their own characters.
Although the two lead actors worked out any difficulties they may have had with each other, tensions started early on in the process between William Hurt and Hector Babenco. Producer David Weisman later remarked that Hurt had a wonderful mastery of language and spoke in "great metaphorical ellipses that are hard to follow even if English is your native language." For Babenco it was impossible. He became frustrated by Hurt talking "for hours" and learned to just nod and pretend to agree in order to keep the conversations relatively short.
Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this powerfully beautiful film: Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Initial screenings did not go well. Raul Julia was furious after watching the first cut: "What happened to the movie? What happened to all our great work?!" After seven months of post-production, the film was sent to the New York Film Festival. The selection committee rejected it without even watching the whole movie. William Hurt wasn't too concerned about this until he saw the first cut himself and realized why they dismissed it so abruptly. The fantasy film sequences were too long and overwhelmed the story of the relationship between the two men. He wanted to buy the print and burn it so it would never be released.
Demand Euphoria!
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1938 Wholly Smoke, directed by Frank Tashlin
This is the final Looney Tunes cartoon that Frank Tashlin directed during his first stint at the studio (and thus his old unit that would later be given to Chuck Jones), as he would shortly depart later in 1938 for Disney and later Screen Gems for five years.
We were trying to figure out what to watch on the season premiere episode of The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour, It was solved immediately when we saw this Tiny Desk Concert from NPR:
Robert Plant, as always, sounded in great voice.
We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is the 1985 drama Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Héctor Babenco, based on the novel by Manuel Puig and starring William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sônia Braga. The film was a critical success, winning several awards including a Best Actor Oscar for Hurt.
During rehearsals, the two actors had trouble finding the chemistry they needed for their scenes together. To better understand what each needed from the other's role, William Hurt suggested they try an experiment where they would switch roles, with Hurt as Valentin and Raul Julia as Molina. The role-switching rehearsal went so well that Hurt initially suggested to director Hector Babenco that they should switch parts for the film as well. Obviously, the switch did not occur, but Hurt states that it was a very useful experiment in helping them more fully understand their own characters.
Although the two lead actors worked out any difficulties they may have had with each other, tensions started early on in the process between William Hurt and Hector Babenco. Producer David Weisman later remarked that Hurt had a wonderful mastery of language and spoke in "great metaphorical ellipses that are hard to follow even if English is your native language." For Babenco it was impossible. He became frustrated by Hurt talking "for hours" and learned to just nod and pretend to agree in order to keep the conversations relatively short.
Please find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this powerfully beautiful film: Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Initial screenings did not go well. Raul Julia was furious after watching the first cut: "What happened to the movie? What happened to all our great work?!" After seven months of post-production, the film was sent to the New York Film Festival. The selection committee rejected it without even watching the whole movie. William Hurt wasn't too concerned about this until he saw the first cut himself and realized why they dismissed it so abruptly. The fantasy film sequences were too long and overwhelmed the story of the relationship between the two men. He wanted to buy the print and burn it so it would never be released.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, January 2, 2026
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Life has no remote,
so wake up and change it.
Now that we have your attention - Let us all welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
- from your friends at ACME, in business for over 100 years.
Demand Euphoria!
Now that we have your attention - Let us all welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
- from your friends at ACME, in business for over 100 years.
Demand Euphoria!
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