Hellbent For Letterbox

Mike and Pax discuss 1959's Rio Bravo starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, and Ricky Nelson.

Michael and Pax watch Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, and Joel Edgerton in Gavin O'Connor's film about a woman defending her home from a gang of ruthless killers. Pax also talks about Yul Brynner and George Segal in Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964), while Michael watches more Zorro and reads the collected webcomic High Moon by David Gallaher and Steve Ellis.

On this episode Michael and Pax discuss The Kid from 2019 starring Ethan Hawke and Dane Dehaan as Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

Michael and Pax revisit the '90s classic about a sharpshooting cowboy (Tom Selleck) who teams up with a troubled woman (Laura San Giacomo) to fight a ruthless land baron (Alan Rickman) over his treatment of Aboriginal Australians. There's also a quick review of the graphic novel The Grave Doug Freshley by Josh Hechinger and mpMann.

Michael and I discuss men's hand soaps and recommend two great companies, Boll Weevil Soap Co and Outlaw Soaps.

On this episode Michael and Pax talk about Gun Fury from 1953 starring Donna Reed, Rock Hudson, and Lee Marvin.

Michael and Pax check out the sequel to 1969's Sabata (which they covered three years ago; how time does fly). Lee Van Cleef's character is played by Yul Brynner this time, so the fellas talk about that and other changes between the films, and attempt to reconcile the two. Also, Michael watches Errol Flynn play General Custer in They Died With Their Boots On.

Michael and Pax discuss the Elvis Presley 1969 western, Charro!

Michael and Pax break down this Bob Hope brew co-starring Jane Russell as super spy Calamity Jane. Pax also talks about the 1952 sequel, Son of Paleface, while Michael's reconsidering Joan Crawford as a contemporary cowgirl in 1930's Montana Moon.

Michael and Pax talk a little about the podcast's third birthday, what we could see on the show in 2020, and we go through the AFI Top 10 Westerns list.

Mike and Pax are back from their winter break and in this episode are discussing River of No Return from 1954 starring Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum and Rory Calhoun.  Directed by Otto Preminger.

Michael and Pax wrap up Deadwood December with the reunion movie from earlier this year and talk about whether or not it was a fitting conclusion to the legendary TV series.

Pax and Michael finish watching David Milch's Deadwood and talk about how the show ended as well as their hopes for Deadwood: The Movie.

Part 2 of Deadwood December!  In this episode Mike and Pax discuss the second season of the HBO show Deadwood.  

Welcome to Deadwood December!  This month we are leading up to the 75th episode of the show! In this episode Mike and Pax discuss the first season of the HBO series Deadwood from 2004.

On this episode of Hellbent we are again joined by Shawn Robare to discuss Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch, widely considered to be a classic in the genre.  Only some of us agree with that.

Michael and Pax are joined by Shawn Robare (Cult Film Club) to ruminate on Richard Brooks' end-of-the-West saga starring Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Woody Strode, Robert Ryan, Claudia Cardinale, and Jack Palance.

On this episode of Hellbent, Michael and Pax discuss the 1974 East meets West spaghetti western, The Stranger and the Gunfighter, produced by the Shaw Brothers and starring Lee Van Cleef and Lo Leih.

Michael and Pax watch Liam Neeson hunt Pierce Brosnan in David Von Ancken's thriller (and probably parable) co-starring Michael Wincott and featuring cameos by Anjelica Huston, Wes Studi, Jimmi Simpson, and Xander Berkeley. Also: a podcast recommendation, Wild West magazine, a couple of silent Jesse James films with James' real-life son playing the legendary outlaw, and this excellent primer on Hong Kong cinema.

Michael and Pax are once again joined by Evan Hanson, this time to discuss the 1974 Mel Brooks western parody, Blazing Saddles.