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PODCAST

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies / SpyMovieNavigator.com

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies podcast - your premiere source for decoding spy movies from classisc to James Bond and current! Your field operatives Dan and Tom dig deep and analyze key scenes, uncover key connections, present detailed reviews, interview cast and crew, host special guests so that you discover something new in every episode and enhance your viewing experience of any spy movie covered. Discover something new in every episode! "If you"re a spy movie fan, you"re going to really

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

37:54

Pre-Title Sequences Before James Bond and Beyond!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/12/02

In this episode of Cracking the Code of Spy Movies, Dan and Tom uncover the hidden history of pre-title sequences long before James Bond ever ordered a martini. We look at pre-title sequences – before James Bond and Beyond. Although the 007 franchise made the pre-title or "cold open" world-famous, it certainly didn't invent the idea. Today, we take you on a deep, cinematic journey exploring when pre-title sequences really began, how filmmakers used them, and why they evolved into one of the most

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28:43

20 Things You Missed in DR. NO!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/11/18

In this episode, Dan and Tom show you 20 things you missed in DR. NO! You'll be surprised by how many of these you missed. Watch to find out! You'll certainly learn something new. Every movie has questionable sequences and stuff that you miss, especially on your first time viewing the movie, and maybe your 5th time as well. Well, in this episode, we're going to the beautiful Jamaica (and a few other places) to find out what we've been missing. Some of the questions we answer include:

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01:06:33

Killing James Bond: Bold Move or Betrayal?

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/11/11

NO TIME TO DIE shocked audiences around the globe by doing what no Bond movie had ever dared to do — killing James Bond. After decades of near-death escapes, 007 finally met his end in Daniel Craig's last outing as the iconic British spy. But was it the bold, emotional conclusion the franchise needed, or an unforgivable betrayal of everything James Bond stands for? Now that the shock value has worn off, it's time to reexamine this. Was it bold storytelling, betrayal, or a cop out? In this episode

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23:34

10 Things You Did Not Know About THE 39 STEPS

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/11/04

Step into the shadows of cinematic history with this thrilling episode of Cracking the Code of Spy Movies, where Dan and Tom uncover 10 things you did not know about THE 39 STEPS (1935) This 1935 Alfred Hitchock classic didn't just entertain—it laid the groundwork for the entire spy genre, influencing everything from James Bond to Mission: Impossible. In this episode, we explore how Hitchcock transformed John Buchan's novel into a suspenseful masterpiece, inventing iconic tropes like the "innocent

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01:04:14

James Bond's Guns - What's Real? Walther PPK, Colt,...

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/10/28

James Bond Guns – What Is Real? Walther PPK, Colt, SIG 226? with Caleb Daniels, Author of Licensed Troubleshooter. In this explosive episode, we're joined by firearms historian and author Caleb Daniels to dive deep into the iconic—and often misunderstood—guns of James Bond. Caleb's new book, Licensed Troubleshooter: The Guns of James Bond, is a meticulously researched, visually stunning tribute to 007's cinematic and literary arsenal. From the Walther PPK to the elusive WA2000 sniper rifle, we

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26:12

SPY BITS: The James Bond Gun Barrel Sequence

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/10/21

“Spy Bits: The James Bond Gun Barrel Sequence” is a sharp, focused deep dive into the James Bond gun barrel sequence. And it is brought to you by Cracking the Code of Spy Movies. Dan and Tom trace the sequence’s origin with Maurice Binder. They then look at its evolution from pinhole-camera shots and optical compositing to CGI, and how each Bond actor reshaped the pose, timing, and tone. The episode explains the visual language—Bond as hunter, not hunted. Similarly, we dive into the

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01:10:49

James Bond Movie Posters of the 1970s with Bill Koenig

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/10/14

Join Dan and Tom as they welcome Bill Koenig of The Spy Command to help decode the James Bond movie posters from the 1970s. These are the posters and lobby cards used to promote DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, LIVE AND LET DIE, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, and MOONRAKER. We are very happy that Bill was able to join us. His decades of knowledge of spy movies, TV shows, and novels, and his helmsmanship of The Spy Command have brought great insight, without a lot of hype, to the

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29:01

20 Things You Missed in THUNDERBALL

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/10/07

In this episode, Dan and Tom show you 20 things you missed in THUNDERBALL! You’ll be surprised by how many of these you missed. Watch to find out! You'll certainly learn something new. Every movie has questionable sequences and stuff that you miss, especially on your first time viewing the movie, and maybe your 5th time as well. Well, in this episode, we’re going to the beautiful Bahamas (and a few other places) to find out what we’ve been missing. Some of the things we cover include: ·

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35:34

THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN - Is it any good?

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/09/30

🎙️ Is The Falcon and the Snowman Any Good? In this episode, we dive deep into the 1985 espionage drama The Falcon and the Snowman, starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. Based on a true story, the film explores Cold War paranoia, youthful rebellion, and the slippery slope of betrayal. But does it hold up today? 🕵️‍♂️ We break down: The film’s real-life origins and political backdrop Performances that toe the line between idealism and madness Symbolic props, thematic echoes, and narrative tension

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33:01

10 Classic Non-James Bond Spy Movies You Must See!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/09/23

Dive into a curated list of 10 Classic Non-James Bond Spy Movies. This list is handpicked by Dan and Tom of Cracking the Code of Spy Movies. We spotlight hidden gems, wartime operas, Hitchcock staples, and movies that directly influenced later Cold War movies. Listen, Watch, Discover Quick takes on ten movies you should add to your watchlist, including plot hooks, historical context, key performances, and why each movie matters to the spy movie lineage. Notes on influences linking early spy

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33:43

SPY - the movie - A Fresh Look!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/09/16

Join Dan Tom as they decode SPY – the movie from 2015. Find out if this spy comedy movie holds up. It has a great cast. But does it work as a comedy? This movie is written and directed by Paul Feig. It stars Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Allison Janney, Miranda Hart, and others. But it is a comedy spy movie and there is a hit-or-miss track record for these movies. Can this writer, director, actors and crew pull this off? Listen to find out! Some of the things we cover

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49:10

OPERATION CROSSBOW Decoded! A reality-based spy/war...

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/09/09

Join Dan and Tom as they decode the 1965 spy movie, OPERATION CROSSBOW. Find out if this spy movie, based on a real World War II operation, is worth watching. This movie, which stars George Peppard, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard, and more tells us the story of the real-life Operation Crossbow operation from World War II. This operation was created to try to stall or eliminate Germany’s efforts to create the V-1 and V-2 missiles. So, this movie is part a war movie and part a spy movie. Does that

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52:28

AVALANCHE EXPRESS Decoded!

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/09/02

Join Dan and Tom as they decode the 1979 spy movie, AVALANCHE EXPRESS. This was Robert Shaw’s last movie. Is it worth watching? Listen to find out! AVALANCHE EXPRESS is a Cold War spy thriller that was a recommendation from some of our listeners. Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Linda Evans, Maximilian Schell, Mike Connors, and Joe Namath lead the talented list of actors in this one. This movie has a Soviet general defect, a NOC-list of sorts, and, of course, an avalanche. And since this is a spy

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28:55

20 Things you missed in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/08/26

Join Dan and Tom as they decode 20 Things You Missed in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE! How many will you miss? Listen to find out! Every movie has questionable sequences and stuff that you miss, especially on your first time viewing the movie. Well, in this episode, we’re going to Russia (and a few other places) to find out what we’ve been missing. Some of the things we cover include: · A picture on the wall of an embassy · A famous chess move · It might be a Ford. However,

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01:12:17

Steve Begg, Visual Effects Master, CASINO ROYALE,...

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/08/19

Dan and Tom interview Steve Begg, who led the visual effects for CASINO ROYALE, SKYFALL, SPECTRE, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE, & more! Listen to how his magic transformed these movies! For those who don’t know the name Steve Begg, you have seen his work, usually without knowing that visual effects were used in a scene. When his work is done well, it becomes invisible. You have heard our interview with Special Effects wizard Chris Corbould (YouTube or our website) on his work with the

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36:36

GOLDFINGER - Novel vs Movie and Impact

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/08/12

Dan and Tom compare the GOLDFINGER – novel vs movie. How close is the movie to the novel, and how did the novel impact the franchise? Listen to find out! Many of the early Eon Productions James Bond movies were based on the novels written by Ian Fleming. Ian Fleming’s seventh novel, “Goldfinger,” was used as the basis for the third Eon Productions James Bond movie of the same name. In this episode, we decode the major differences between the novel and the movie. We also look at some other

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25:13

20 Things You Missed in GOLDFINGER

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/08/05

Join Dan and Tom as they decode 20 things you missed in GOLDFINGER! How many of these did you miss? You will be surprised. Listen to find out! Every movie has questionable sequences and stuff that you miss, especially on your first time viewing the movie. Well, in this episode, we’re going to put a golden hue on this topic and give you 20 things you missed in GOLDFINGER. We’re sure there are more, but these are our favorites. Some of the things we discuss have to do with: · The golf

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38:28

James Bond Influences from History and Literature

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/07/22

Join Dan and Tom as they decode some James Bond influences from History and Literature. Hint: Proust, Dostoevsky, and others may have played a part. Christopher Booker’s “Seven Basic Plots” identifies the seven main plots that literature tends to stick to. So, we look at some classic literature and its effect on the James Bond movies. Consequently, there aren’t very many different plots to contend with, and Eon Productions has retold the same plot multiple times in their movies. What we will

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56:34

james Bond Easter Egg Hunt

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/07/16

Join Dan and Tom for a James Bond Easter Egg Hunt. Throughout the 25 Eon Productions James Bond movies, what are the key Easter eggs? Can you find them? We know that movies today have Easter eggs in them with callbacks to either the real world or other movies. For James Bond, many of the Easter eggs are for other James Bond items. However, not always. What we will decode in this episode: · What's an Easter egg. · What is the Easter egg on the shelf in DIE ANOTHER DAY that Tom

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50:33

DIE ANOTHER DAY - Can this James Bond movie be defended?

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! ·

2025/07/08

Dan and Tom are joined by Vicky as they try to answer the question: DIE ANOTHER DAY - Can this James Bond movie be defended? Listen to find out! DIE ANOTHER DAY is one of the most divisive movies in the James Bond catalogue. Why is that? What about it make some people like it while many others despise it? We brought Pierce Brosnan fan, Vicky back to help us with this decoding. Vicky is a huge James Bond fan and has a YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram called THE BOND ROOM UNLOCKED. What

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