Cutthroat Island
Summary
Hosts Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer examine the 1995 swashbuckler Cutthroat Island, challenging its reputation as an unmitigated disaster. They explore the film’s surprising fun, Geena Davis’s performance, and its clear influence on Pirates of the Caribbean. The episode also details the financial excesses of producer Mario Kassar and the Karolco studio, which nearly collapsed under the weight of inflated budgets and tax schemes.
Topics discussed
Intro, giveaways, and Surfshark sponsorship
Initial impressions of Cutthroat Island
Director Renny Harlan and producer Mario Kassar
Karolko's business model and tax shelters
Article and Quince sponsorships
Geena Davis's career and casting
Script origins and Michael Douglas's exit
Production chaos and Matthew Modine's casting
Filming stunts, injuries, and Oliver Reed
Editing, score, and release date delays
Box office failure and critical reception
Legacy, Geena Davis's later career, and outro
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