"Daisies" (1966): Anarchic Czech Lasses & Vern from Cinema Recall
Vern from "Cinema Recall" asked CatBusRuss, "Is "Daisies" was the most "off-the-wall" feature he has ever discussed on "I Dig Crazy Flicks"?". The answer will be provided by the end of the episode.
Vera Chytilova's "Daisies" is an experience and may be suitable for the "How Did This Get Made?" podcast. Not because it is a bad film. (With the exception of "Kpop Demon Hunters", The Criterion Collection does not put subpar features into their library.) It is amazing that this film got made in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, 25 years before the Iron Curtain fell. We are very fortunate that this film ended up being well preserved because once the Commies paid attention to this film after its success, it was banned.
This is a sly satire and protest film that seems like something that would have difficulty with the American Hayes Code, and it plays out like that. If the satire is not enough for you, the mise en scene and psychedelic color choices should sell you on "Daisies".
The only thing that CatBus could immediately compare the nature of the girls in "Daisies" to is Tom Green in his film "Freddy Got Fingered". Our host knows that film has its supporters, but if you watch Chytilova's classic, you will realize that the critics in 2001 knew what a bad feature is.
Raw. Baked. Ridiculously Good.
3X the Protein, 50% the Sugar, 20% the Carbs.
“I Dig Crazy Flicks” was founded as “Ninety For Chill”. It is Russ Stevens’s blog dedicated to movies with runtimes between 70 to 100 minutes. This runtime was the standard for horror movies and goofball comedies. Without the time for drawn out narratives, throwing everything at the wall and seeing what would stick was the rule. Thus, craziness ensues, and cinephiles like CatBusRuss want to preach the greatness of embracing the insanity.
Recent Episodes
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Episode 264
Vern from the “Cinema Recall” comes on the show to offer what he considers to be the most off-the-wall, sub 100-minute movie ever made, “Daisies”. It is a Czechoslovakian, new wave satire about exploiting those in power via feminine wiles.
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Bonus
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CatBusRuss needed a great day to kickoff #IndianaComicConvention after enduring “Deathstalker (1983)”. Thankfully the reps from the @raybradburycenter.bsky.social gave us four great panels. Fembots, Censorship, & more.
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Episode 272
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Episode 271
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Bonus
It’s been a busy weekend for CatBusRuss. He had to catch the first showing of #Mandalorian & #Grogu Thursday. Friday was the drive to #QuadCitiesComicCon and #Pokemon Concierge binge. And then two panels in East Moline.
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Episode 270
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Episode 269
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Episode 268
CatBusRuss and ThePoeticCritic try their best to honor Japan during Ani-May by discussing their other great influence to cinema, kaijus. They chat about “Mothra vs. Godzilla”. Russ also reviews giant robot anime film, “Martian Successor Nadesico: The Motion Picture”.
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Russ was exhausted, he was a week late for #EbertFest. This led to a binge of offbeat cinema concluding with festival film, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”, the perfect balance of laughs & intensity. “Ready or Not 2” has its intense moments.
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Episode 266
CatBusRuss and Andrew Tiede bring the “1985 Action Movie Triple-Threat Match” to UI-Con 2026. Is Champaign ready for Sho Kosugi and Sho’Nuff to try and take the action hero crown?
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Episode 265
CatBusRuss concludes his panels at #MissouriComicCon. How did he fair against a competing #StarTrekTNG cast panel? A preview of his chat with @ccinemapodcast.bsky.social about #MST3k. A movie review for a God in a Glory Hole film from @rebekahmckendry.bsky.social.
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Episode 146
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Meet the Host
Follow along with our host, CatBusRuss as he is supervised by Eva the Queen Kitty. He discusses a broad range of cinema and interviews fellow movie fanatics.