George McGhee & Charlie McGhee
Retro Ramble is a movie podcast and blog from the Brothers McGhee.
Join George and Charlie McGhee as they review the TV and Films of their youth and discuss why many are still relevant and worth revisiting today.
Warning: contains explicit language and poor impressions.
Charlie and George take a trip to Mega City One to cover cult-comic book adaptation, Judge Dredd! We discuss the production challenges, changing scripts, a novice director and big stars with big chins and bigger egos. Expect (bad) Stallone impressions and a mild sprinkling of trivia - We are the Law!
Charlie and George have found themselves trapped in The Phantom Zone as they revisit the cult curiosity that is Supergirl! As we see a new take on the superhero currently in cinemas, the brothers look back at the first big-screen attempt, which, unsurprisingly, had a few production challenges along the way. An absent Superman, extensive rewrites, an eclectic cast and last-minute distributor issues are just a few things under discussion. For additional Super-podding on the Christopher Reeve era, check out our Superman 1 & 2 special "zodcast" in episode 108!
Charlie and George mount up for a double (barrelled) bill of Young Guns and Young Guns 2: Blaze of Glory! The brothers discuss how these films injected a heavy dose of brat-pack swagger into the classic Western genre. The hosts break down Emilio Estevez's wild performance as Billy the Kid, with solid support from Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Philips. There's also General Zod vs Carl Grissom. The sequel gains Christian Slater and a Bon Jovi soundtrack, but is it a worthy follow up? Tune in to find out! Enjoy and please share! EDITOR'S NOTE For those who have already downloaded the episode before June 4th 2026, please be aware that we had some tech glitches when we initially published - if the episode sounds a little crackly, please try downloading again. Apologies for the inconvenience!
In this episode Charlie and George find themselves in the brutal Hyborian Age to revisit Conan the Barbarian! But they're not alone in this mythic quest; they're joined by special guest Dr. Tomas Rawlings, who brings an extensive knowledge of Conan canon! These three brave pod-warriors explore the literary origins of Conan (arguably starting the fantasy genre as we now know it), the film's production challenges and the casting of one Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his breakout role. With a character that's almost 100 years old, there's a lot to discuss in Suspicious Spin Offs, as well as the usual alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda and only a smattering of Arnie impressions. Tomas can be found on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/tomasrawlings.bsky.social Further reading - Some Tomas' amazing Conan research that he touches on can be found here - https://exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/conan Enjoy, please share with like-minded fans of retro movies! Warning - contains explicit language and bad impressions. COPYRIGHT NOTICE - All content used within guidelines of Creative Commons act.
Charlie and George are off to mid-90s Miami, getting hot and sweaty in the explosive and (not so) erotic action movie, The Specialist! There's a lot to unpack - Stallone and Stone's desperate search for chemistry, James Wood's acting in overdrive, Rod Steiger offending all of Latin America with that accent and Eric Roberts' amazing wardrobe - just wow. Oh, there's also John Barry on the soundtrack with some James Bond B-sides. There's all the usual alternative casting and directors, deleted scenes and bad impressions.
Charlie & George are taking a stroll down the shadowy alleys of Dark City! They are looking back at the 1998 cult-classic sci-fi noir from The Crow's Alex Proyas. They look at the film's origins, influences, philosophical themes, plus it's similarities with The Matrix, which was released a year later. There's also alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda and some breathy Kiefer Sutherland impressions.
How do you follow up a blockbuster like Top Gun? Simple, you get the same people involved and remake it, swapping out jets for race cars. What could go wrong? Turns out quite a bit. Yes, that's right it's a Retro Ramble on 1990's summer blockbuster Days Of Thunder, reuniting star Tom Cruise, director Tony Scott and uber-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. For such an event, Charlie and George are joined by a returning guest, broadcaster, good friend and fellow Tom Cruise fan, Andy Hughes.
In this episode, Charlie and George are tackling another Christmas classic, this time slightly more modern than previous festive outings, they're talking about Elf! From the films challenging production with an untested star and director in Will Ferrell and Jon Faverau, a limited budget, legal issues and some nostalgic stop motion. As per usual, there's alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda, some bad impressions as well as abandoned sequel ideas in Suspicious Spin Offs! Enjoy, and please share! Retro Ramble (2025) Note: All content copyright or otherwise is protected by the Creative Commons Act.
In this episode, Charlie & George are hitting the streets of LA to revisit cult comedy TV show adaptation, Dragnet! They delve into the production of one of 1987's biggest hits, very much a passion project for writer and star Dan Ackroyd, co-starring a then-up-and-coming actor called Tom Hanks and directed by Bond alumni, Tom Mankiewicz. There's also chat around the legacy of Dragnet, some alternative casting, and the bizarre craze of a tie-in rap song - so a whole lot more than just the facts, maam! COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL USED IN LINE WITH CREATIVE COMMONS ACT
It's time for another Halloween special! Charlie and George are heading to the dark side of Neptune in search of the Event Horizon! They will delve into Paul W.S. Anderson's cult classic sci-fi horror film, exploring its production, the tight schedule involved, and some haunting deleted scenes. They won't be alone on this adventure in terror, as they are excited to welcome special guest Chris Lackey from the "Strange Studies of Strange Stories" podcast! Horror fans can learn more at https://www.strangestudies.com/about. Enjoy, rate and please share. Happy Halloween!
In this episode, Charlie and George are rambling about retro 90s hit, Leon aka Leon: The Professional. Considering this was a film the boys have watched over the years again and again, gaining access to the fully uncut international version of the film has left them as traumatised as character Mathilda's neighbours! From scenes that should have probably remained on the cutting room floor, to the mesmerising Gary Oldman to answering the age-old question of is someone ever too old to get married. The usual bad impressions and coulda-woulda-shouldas ensue, we don't know why it took us so long to cover this on Retro Ramble but we sure are glad we did. Enjoy, review and please share!
It's down, down to wire, as Charlie and George are back in Bond territory, tackling 1987's The Living Daylights! They discuss the debut of (the very underrated) Timothy Dalton and taking Bond back to his gritty roots. There are the typical Bond tropes to cover, including memorable action sequences, dastardly henchmen, and a synth-heavy John Barry score, amongst a very convoluted plot! So set your hopes up way too high - the living's in the way we diiiiiiiie!
In this episode, Charlie and George travel to Mexico for some stylish and sexy nineties gun play, it must mean Desperado! They delve into the films origins, as well as the career of writer/director/editor/sometimes musician Robert Rodriguez. To get there, they need to discuss his ground breaking debut, El Mariachi and the third installment of the trilogy, Once Upon A Time in Mexico. Expect bad impressions, sweaty chemistry (Banderas- Hayek, less so McGhee Brothers) and film trivia!
Get ready for a deep dive into the classic film that redefined the summer blockbuster - Jaws! Charlie and George celebrate the movie's 50th anniversary, reminiscing about its enduring impact whilst exploring its challenging production, iconic moments, characters and lasting legacy, from the problematic mechanical shark "Bruce" to John Williams' unforgettable score. Join them for a light-hearted yet insightful look back at a film that became a shared experience for a generation, making us all afraid to go into the water!
In this episode, Charlie and George revisit Danny Boyle's intense 2002 horror classic, 28 Days Later! They discuss everything from the iconic desolate London setting, production tricks, the breakout performances from Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris, the atmospheric score, and its role in shaping modern zombie horror. Join us for a spoiler-filled discussion as we explore this groundbreaking post-apocalyptic thriller and its lasting legacy. #28DaysLater #DannyBoyle #CillianMurphy #ZombieMovie #HorrorPodcast #Alexgarland #RetroFilmReview
In this episode, once again its time to pay tribute to another legend. Following the recent passing of Val Kilmer, George and Charlie take a moment to look back on their favourite films of an actor taken too soon. We will be covering Kilmer's uncanny performance as Jim Morrison in The Doors in our next patreon episode. Retro Ramble 2025
In this episode, to honour the late, great Gene Hackman, Charlie and George are taking a deep dive on Crimson Tide! There's a lot to discuss, it's a Tony Scott film (so expect slick, sweaty visuals), two of the greatest actors squaring off in a confined space and a booming Hans Zimmer soundtrack, paving the formula for future Simpson/Bruckheimer productions. As usual, there's some juicy behind-the-scenes insight and some interesting alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda.
A short special episode remembering the acting legend Gene Hackman, who we sadly lost a few weeks ago. Charlie and George discuss a variety of their favourite performances, from French Connection, Superman, Get Shorty, Royal Tenenbaums and The Conversation. Their next podcast episode will be a deep dive (pun intended) on Crimson Tide! Please like, review and share with like minded retro fans! Disclaimer: ALL COPYRIGHT USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CREATIVE COMMONS ACT.
In this month's episode, Charlie and George are off to Oregon, to see if Number 5 really is alive.... That's right, they're revisiting 80's cult classic Short Circuit! All the usual topics are covered, from preproduction challenges, suspicious spin offs to controversial casting (and that's not just Steve Guttenberg)! Does Short Circuit still hold up? Where does it rank with other family favourites? Listen to find out! Please like, review and share with like minded retro fans! Disclaimer: ALL COPYRIGHT USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CREATIVE COMMONS ACT.
In this episode, it's Annual Arnie time, with Charlie and George delving into one of Schwarzenegger's biggest misfires - Last Action Hero! How can a film with the world's biggest star, a huge budget, a great concept, a successful director and the most expensive writers in Hollywood possibly fail?! Was it ahead of its time? Is it underrated? Tune in to find out!