Morally Offensive
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Podcast Overview
<p>Morally Offensive is a weekly film podcast about the movies the Catholic Church tried to warn you about. We revisit films “Condemned” by the Legion of Decency, unpacking the outrage, the censorship, and the cultural shifts behind them. </p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/1/2024
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Recent Episodes
July 29, 2026
Dressed to Kill (1980): Catholics Condemning Sexism, Acting Sexist | Part 1 (American Giallo)
Bill and Jess are joined by filmmaker and actor Ava Davis to kick off their discussion of Brian De Palma’s highly controversial film Dressed to Kill (1980). Starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, and Keith Gordon, Dressed to Kill blends Hitchcockian suspense with the stylish murder mysteries of Italian giallo, helping define the American Giallo movement while becoming one of the most influential psychological thrillers of the 1980s. Upon its release, the film ignited fierce debate over violence, sexuality, gender, artistic freedom, and censorship, and more than four decades later it remains one of Brian De Palma’s most celebrated and polarizing films.
July 17, 2026
American Gigolo (1980): Paul Schrader's Naked Man in a Room | Part 2 (American Giallo)
Bill and Kevin are joined once again by Milwaukee journalist Michail Takach to conclude their discussion of American Gigolo (1980), the first film in the American Giallo series. The conversation covers the film’s second half, from Julian Kaye’s downfall to its quietly redemptive ending. Bill argues that Paul Schrader’s screenplay, informed by the filmmaker’s strict Calvinist upbringing in rural Michigan and the spiritual questions that run throughout his work, ultimately tells a deeply Christian—and even distinctly Catholic—story of grace, redemption, and transformation. Drawing comparisons to Robert Bresson’s Pickpocket, the hosts revisit the Catholic reviews discussed in Part One and make the case that the film’s theological undercurrents are richer than its Catholic critics gave it credit for. Along the way, they discuss Richard Gere’s star-making performance, Lauren Hutton, Héctor Elizondo, and the supporting cast, examining the performances and creative choices that have helped American Gigolo endure.
July 7, 2026
American Gigolo (1981) Part One (American Giallo)
Bill and Kevin kick off a brand new season of Morally Offensive with American Giallo, a series exploring American thrillers from the 1970s through the 1990s that borrow the style, themes, and visual language of Italy’s legendary giallo films. Their first stop is American Gigolo (1980), Paul Schrader’s sleek and controversial neo-noir starring Richard Gere in the role that transformed him into an international star. Joining them is Milwaukee journalist and LGBTQ historian Michail Takach to examine how the film blends erotic thriller, crime drama, psychological character study, and high fashion into one of the defining American films of the early 1980s. The conversation explores Schrader’s Calvinist worldview, Giorgio Moroder’s groundbreaking electronic score, Dan Perri’s iconic title sequence, and the turbulent behind the scenes behind Blondie’s ”Call Me.” Along the way, Bill, Kevin, and Michail discuss how this film announced the style of the 1980s, the influence of Italian giallo on American filmmaking, masculinity, rampant consumerism, the cocaine hangover from the sexual revolution and the disco era homophobia in film, and why American Gigolo remains one of the most stylish, influential, and misunderstood neo-noirs ever made. Diversions include Giorgio Moroder eating chicken, Chevy Chase almost being offered the lead role, the worst Catholic review we’ve found so far, and the man who got rich off a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. Whether you’re a fan of Paul Schrader, Richard Gere, Italian giallo, neo-noir, erotic thrillers, film history, cult cinema, or classic 1980s movies, this episode launches our American Giallo series by tracing the DNA between European genre cinema and the American thrillers it inspired.
53 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Morally Offensive?
<p>Morally Offensive is a weekly film podcast about the movies the Catholic Church tried to warn you about. We revisit films “Condemned” by the Legion of Decency, unpacking the outrage, the censorship, and the cultural shifts behind them. </p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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