THE SIMPSONS’ Dan Castellaneta & Deb Lacusta Talk “The Long Goodbye” on Tom Needham’s SOUNDS OF FILM

On this “Classic”episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM PODCAST, Tom Needham welcomes Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta, the creative team behind The Long Goodbye, a witty and haunting noir that reimagines 1940s Los Angeles through a pandemic-era lens. Castellaneta, best known as the voice of Homer Simpson, stars as Marlowe Phillips, a Jewish detective and reluctant caterer drawn into a tangled mystery involving a missing man, femme fatales, and the Polish Mob.

Inspired by the classic film Lady in the Lake, the film is told entirely from the detective’s point of view. Phillips’ inner turmoil is just as gripping as the case itself, as he grapples with post-war trauma and a looming marriage he’s not sure he wants. What makes this noir stand out, though, is its innovative production—each actor filmed separately during the darkest days of COVID, using remote technology, green screens, and meticulous editing to craft a cohesive and visually striking story.

The Long Goodbye is both a tribute to and a reinvention of the noir genre, blending deadpan humor with emotional depth and technical creativity. Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta join Tom to discuss the challenges of making a feature-length film in isolation, their love of noir, and how the constraints of the pandemic led to bold artistic choices.

Learn more about the SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast at soundsoffilm.com