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!