Thursday, March 29, 2007

"I'm God's lonely man."

Just a great still found over at Back In Black.

over at the Beverly Cinema...

Wow! Great report on the goings on with the GrindhouseFest in LA over at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule. Imagine ROLLING THUNDER on the big screen! Plus Dennis talks about the beauty of seeing a pre-loved 35mm film with the scratches and splices...

My teeth are beginning to grind

And as the publicity wheels roll on, Time Out New York magazine does grindhouse in the newest issue. Next up, your mother does a grindhouse dinner for you and your friends and the old man gets out his classic stag films!


Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Botch Job

So I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is Lions Gate is putting out one of the cornerstones of the Canadian tax-shelter wave of the late seventies on DVD: Daryl Duke's The Silent Partner. Elliott Gould as an opportunistic bank teller taking advantage of a botched heist at work! Christopher Plummer as the sleazy (and incredibly violent) con man he fucks with! Santa Claus shooting people in the Eaton Centre! With an early screenplay by Curtis Hanson (now rumoured to be planning a remake), The Silent Partner worked well enough as a thriller back then, but works even better now as a time capsule of late seventies Toronto - lots of location photography.

All right, that's the good news. Here's the bad news. This is the cover art they went with.

Marquees, Continued









Tuesday, March 27, 2007

So last century

Adding to Jesse's musings about the campaign for 'Captivity', I would have to suggest that it is far too early into this green century to call for the most shocking film just yet. We'll keep this outrageous movie and its lurid advertising in our minds clear through until the 90s and then we'll just have to consider it all at that point and with all contenders given fair time to make us choke in disbelief and/or bribe us with goodies to sway our vote.

Just to jog your memory, here is the current title holder, apparently.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Publicity

Attention horror movie marketing wizards! Apparently when it comes to depicting bondage, brutality and impending death in the ads for your latest charnelhouse offering, you may go no further than this campaign, which was running on billboards in LA and on 1400 New York City taxicab tops until last week. I guess this is one way to get people to see a Roland Joffé film... The MPAA officially moved to have these ads yanked because though the film has been submitted for a rating, the ad campaign (run by the production house, not the distributor) hadn't, which is a no-no as it is, but they also privately recognize this kind of button-pushing campaign to be a clear act of defiance.

After Dark Films' CEO Courtney Solomon says the campaign doesn't really reflect the tone of the film anyway...

"This movie is certainly a horror movie and it's about abduction, but it's also about female empowerment. We reshot the ending so the main character ends up in as much of a positive situation as the situation could allow. There is no rape or nudity in it, though it should be an R-rated movie. For the audience it's made for, it's satisfying to that audience. I'm sure that's not the same audience that's complaining about the billboards."


Michael? Is this really the most shocking movie marketing campaign ever imagined?

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Bullets Bombs and Babes

Yes, let us note the passing of Andy Sidaris. He was mostly known for his Playmates with guns films with amazing titles (my favourite being Hard Ticket To Hawaii), but he won seven Emmys as a director of network sports coverage, including starting ABC's Wide World of Sports.

Sidaris also pioneered what he called "the honey shot" - the closeups of pretty girls in the stands they cutaway to throughout the game.

Here's the trailer for Picasso Trigger!

edy williams: an old issue of playboy and a blog!

Keeping on the Russ Meyer thread...

When I visit my parents on weekends, around 3 hours away from Toronto, I spend time rooting through a couple of fine antique/flea markets and usually pick up old Playboys from the 60s and 70s. Gotta have something to read in the cinema office after all... I tend to go for the Christmas issues that were packed with extras, I try not to spend over $5 on one and now I actually read them for the articles (Ray Bradbury! Gunter Grass! Alan Watts! Shel Silverstein!).

In the March 1973 issue there is a photo shoot by Russ Meyer of his wife Edy Williams (BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS) talking about an upcoming Meyer's film called FOXY that Russ describes as being about, "A sexy record-company executive who gets mixed up with a number of men in outrageous situations. They'll be involved with oceanography, boxing, World War One aircraft, wrestling, cross-country motorcycling and voyeurism (!? - did this become DR. MINX? - Hal! Help us out here and leave a comment!). There is a great shot of Edy floating speak eagle in a bluer than blue swimming pool with the following quote:
"Russ took this photo in our back yard," Edy told us. "He has a great mind, sort of erotic and classy at the same time. He's a genius, but people don't know it yet. And he's fun to live with too!"
As I look for some shots of Edy online, I have made a startling discovery! Edy has a blog!!! She likes posting in CAPITAL LETTERS AND PUTS UP PHOTOS OF HER AT MANY A HOLLYWOOD GATHERING! Good to see the star of SNATCH MASTERS 6 (only referred to as MASTERS 6 on her blog credit lisitng) still gets out to the red carpet and takes pics with other "stars". Here she is with Fabio!

She also likes to check out how many pics of her are currently selling on Ebay and what the highest bids go for. And some of the photos of her are REALLY BIG! Every sexy wrinkle... It doesn't look like she gets many comments on her blog, so go show Edy some love and leave a few. Some of her recent entries:
2007 OSCAR Ellen all glowing in white!..

BEST FILM “A GOOD YEAR”by RID. SCOTT

WHAT EDY EATS FOR LOOKIN’ GOOD ?

OUR ANNA N. SMITH TO REST IN PEACE! ITS YOUR BODY…

INTERNATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHERS GUILD AWARDS!..

GOUGED FOR GAS! OH YUK!

RYAN O’ NEAL, YOUR GOODWILL IS PROOF FOR YOU!

BARBARO, A HORSE OR WAS HE? OUR INSPIRATION!.

2007 is HERE!..NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
ie: good films to relax the mind, ERAGON, HAAAAPPY FEET! Merry xmas to all white, green, black orange, yellow, brown, purple people!

BEING A ONE WOMAN “PRODUCTION”..

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!..GOBBLE, GOBBLE.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Mr. Sidaris has left the building

Director Andy Sidaris passed away on the 7th of March 2007 in Beverly Hills, California from throat cancer. Think we'll have a memorial matinee tomorrow...

burning questions....

So over at Reel Distraction, they pose the question:
So here's the question: You're in Winnipeg, Canada 30 years ago today and you want to see a movie. You've got a bunch of choices... what do you see?

again, can't help myself... but then again, it IS Lili St. Cyr...


Found over at the always inspirational image blog, if charlie parker was a gunslinger,
there'd be a whole lot of dead copycats
.

And click here for a NSFW pic of Jane Birkin aslo found at the site, filed under Sex Education.

quarantine in effect...

found over at Tolerated Vandalism...

uhhhh... thats it?

Found a copy of Entertainment Weekly stuck to the floor of one of the cubicles in the mens room. All the pics of Rose McGowan were ripped out and stuck to the wall with bubblegum. I think we have a serial crime on our hands because last week, in the "Ladies" room, we found pics from another copy of EW of Gerard Butler from 300 up on the wall, but someone had stuck (again with bubblegum that smelt like Big Red) pics of Sid Haig's mug over Gerard's face. However the disturbing fact is that it was Haig circa 1970... Mr. Greenwood (our janitor) might have other details about that clean-up.


One of the things left in the mag was this selection of favourite movie posters from Grindhouse directors Tarantino and Rodriguez. Reads more like a top ten of movies rather than any merit of the poster design... Come on guys!

Meanwhile, industry tracking on Grindhouse is sounding weak, but then when do true movie fans pay attention to bean-counters. Found some interesting observations and predictions on the film from The Badger Herald, by a writer who does own an autographed poster of MS. 45... I think we all know that GRINDHOUSE is:
...the most anticipated film of the spring among the all-important demographics of 15-year-old boys, movie store clerks and anti-social, basement-dwelling shut-ins.
And good serve on this one (go rent CHERRY FALLS!):
It’s a lot easier to riff on the cultural mores of 1970s filmmaking than it is go out and make an honest-to-goodness incarnation of grindhouse cinema in the modern movie market. This is why the likes of “Cherry Falls,” “Jack Frost,” and “Ginger Snaps 2”— the three best direct-to-video exploitation movies of the last decade — are infinitely more impressive than anything Tarantino or Rodriguez could come up with for “Grindhouse.”
We eagerly wait for opening day...

International Wonder

US poster for original Swedish upsetter and banned 'art film' from 1967.




The sequel's advertising is here represented by a tatekan, the larger of the Japanese paper with two standard B2 panels joining to measure a beautiful tapestry at 20" x 58" or 50cm X 147cm.




I'm not sure but I am curious, green(wood).




Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

i just can't help myself...

Had to share this pic I found over at Dead Channels from Star Crash. Oh Caroline!

Meyer's Smoked Turkey Breast

And this is one of the first images that you see on a google search of "breast meyer". At least they ship from Texas...

But to the matter at hand (or abreast...)... I was so happy to finally have a chance to post the six youtube links for the British doc on Russ Meyers that I bookmarked sometime ago after reading about it on the Positive Ape Index blog done by hotrod and CARtoon artist Coop, but sadly the the links have been shot down by some copyright monkey sitting at a desk...

When I moved to Toronto for college, away from my parent's watchful eye (which was liberal, but this might not be a comfortable thing to watch with them...), one of the first things I rented were the various works of Meyers. Never had a chance to watch them in the cinema, but Russ had a hard time with his films being screened in Ontario back in the day. No web info to back that up, but the Ontario Film Review Board has always been snip happy with his films.


I can kind of blame my parents for the Meyer interest since they did give me Danny Peary's "Cult Movies" as a Christmas present in my early teenage years and I read and re-read the synopsis and essay on BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (and BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR, EMANUELLE, CAGED HEAT and others...).


Now if I can get my parents to buy the various volumes of this series for me this Christmas as a 37-year old...

Rolling Thunder Revue

Oh, to be at that Grindhouse festival in LA...

Why the fuck isn't this movie on DVD?

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Meyer, The Master of Montage

I second that emotion.

One reason why we're here.

Happy 85th birthday, Russ Meyer! I only wish you were alive to enjoy it. You truly helped define us and made some damn fun movies.


Here's a nice, early piece during the nudie cutie craze that he helped invent. 'Eve and the Handyman' from 1961.




And the superior (in my opinion) UK poster for 'Lorna'. This one sheet style was printed in the UK for use outside of their borders.




And the terrific British quad (this is the standard size and shape poster used in British cinemas, a filmically horizontal 30" x 40" or 76cm x 101cm) for the totally endearing, but brief, 'Mondo Topless'.

at twitch... The Console Incarnate


Last night at an IMAX (!!!!!) screening of 300 (that induced many giggle fits), I motioned to Jesse a few times with a fury of thumb and finger action, as if playing a vid game console. In the spirit of that, I have found this posting over at twitchfilm.net about early movie to video game adaptations. I remember playing the Friday the 13th nintendo game with a bunch of my younger sister's stoned friends one summer night. I found playing when stoned was painful cause the other players seemed to be taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r! Plus we were in a house in the middle of the woods and exploring under the full moon seemed far more interesting, not to mention s-c-a-r-y!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

sea of perdition...


From regular cinema patron, Marc, comes this nugget. We got to see these at the Sitges film fest in Spain and I am very curiuos to see more. By the director of HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL...

Richard Stanley's amazing short film THE SEA OF PERDITION (actually, part 7 of SEA) is finally online.

The playback frame rate looks a little odd, but it's worth watching.

And if you want to see some footage from several other (unfinished) segments from Richard's massive SEA OF PERDITION project, take a look at this music video here. I think it was put together by him and features images from part 7 above, plus other stuff that's shot, but unedited as of yet. Really mesmerizing.


Sunday, March 18, 2007

And another.

I'm not trying to find these but I was watching 1967's 'The Sex Killer' tonight and this did pop up so conveniently. It's a wholly unremarkable film and bad in ways that aren't so good. In fact, most of the nicer shots are weird bits inside the mannequin factory with those frozen faces and a few decent rooftop views on NYC plus the requisite nudity.





in the funny pages

Saturday, March 17, 2007

The Original Last King of Scotland

Here's the weird trailer for Amin: The Rise and Fall.

but there IS good news

Got these dispatches in about folks who are carrying the torch and offering big screen excitement for those who realize that watching a film on your cell phone is, quite frankly, PATHETIC! Here are some events in London (Ontario!), Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Austin and Mission... any other events? 35mm ONLY!

- London (Ontario) -


- Philadelphia -

Exhumed Films Presents STREET TRASH
a Very Special Night With Writer/Director/Producer Roy Frumkes!
Saturday, March 24 - $12 - Showtime 7:30pm

STREET TRASH [Directed by Jim Muro/1987/Color/102 minutes/35mm] STREET TRASH stands as one of the most outrageous gore-comedies of the 1980s. The rotgut booze Tenafly Viper can cause much more than a hangover...drink some and you'll melt within seconds! Join a cast of screwballs and revel in the grue and gore in this subversive little gem of a cult classic. Writer/producer Roy Frumkes will be on hand to introduce the movie (projected from his rare, personal 35mm print) and take your questions. As well, he'll be presenting the never-before-seen documentary about the making of George A. Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD, DREAM OF THE DEAD (2005/Color/25 minutes/CDr). Hardcore horrorfiles will flip their lids over some footage of a certain mythical uncompleted horror anthology Mr. Frumkes plans to bring with him to screen for Exhumed Films fans only! Autographs will be signed in the lobby.

- Portland -


Grindhouse Double Feature, Saturday March 24th!
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow 7:00 pm, The Beyond 9:00 pm

Only at the Hollywood Theatre, The Grindhouse Film Festival presents a Grindhouse Double Feature! With incredibly rare 35mm prints of Yuen Woo Ping’s kung fu masterpiece Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Lucio Fulci’s gut ripping gore fest The Beyond! There will also be a multitude of rare 35mm Grindhouse trailers before each movie! Plus, exciting giveaways!

This is a true double feature, two movies for the price of one: $6.00

- San Francisco -


- Austin -


EROTIC ADVENTURES OF SUPERKNIGHT
MAR 28, MIDNIGHT, FREE

KILL OR BE KILLED
APRIL 4 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. IVAN HALL, 1980, 35MM, 90 MIN, PG

MARTA
APRIL 11 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. JOSE ANTONIO NIEVES, 1971, 35MM, 96 MIN, R

CRUISIN' HIGH
APRIL 18 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. JOHN BUSHELMAN, 1976, 35MM, 102 MIN, R

DELIVER US FROM EVIL
APRIL 25 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. HORACE JACKSON, 1977, 35MM, 96 MIN, PG

BLACK COBRA
MAY 2 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. JOE D'AMATO, 1976, 35MM, 90 MIN, R

COP KILLERS
MAY 9 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. WALTER CICHY, 1973, 35MM, 93 MIN, R

DAYDREAM
MAY 16 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. TETSUJI TAKECHI, 1964, 35MM, 92 MIN, R

HELLCATS
MAY 23 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. ROBERT SLATZER, 1967, 35MM, 90 MIN, R

CHESTY ANDERSON USN
MAY 23 MIDNIGHT, FREE, DIR. ED FORSYTH, 1976, 16MM, 88 MIN, R
starring sexploitation regulars Uschi Digard, Dyanne Thorne and Shari Eubanks


THE RISE AND FALL OF IDI AMIN
MAR 29, MIDNIGHT, FREE, Director: Sharad Patel, R, 91 min

HELL NIGHT
APR 5 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Tom DeSimone, 1981, 35mm, 101 min, R

WHAT WAITS BELOW
APR 12 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Don Sharp, 1983, 35mm, 88 min, PG

DARK AUGUST
APR 19 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Martin Goldman, 1976, 35mm, 87 min, R

TERRORVISION
APR 26 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Ted Nicolaou, 1986, 35mm, 83 min, R

INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS
MAY 3 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Denis Sanders, 1973, 35mm, 85 min, R

THE STEPFATHER
MAY 10 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Joseph Ruben, 1987, 35mm, 89 min, R

CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE
MAY 17 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Joy N. Houck Jr., 1976, 35mm, 95 min, PG

NIGHT OF THE COMET
MAY 24 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Thom Eberhardt, 1984, 35mm, 95 min, PG-13

BLOOD BATH
MAY 31 MIDNIGHT, FREE, dir. Joel M. Reed, 1976, 35mm, 86 min, PG

...are you still reading this garbage? Okay, well it's not a Terror Thursday, but this is coming up too and if you've ever bothered to consider yourself a person who's enjoyed a single horror film, you're obligated to attend, without question:

ROLLING ROADSHOW: BLOOD FEAST & 2000 MANIACS
with godfather of gore Herschell Gordon Lewis live in person!!!
Sat. May 26 - sundown - check our site for location
dir. Herschell Gordon Lewis, 35mm, R

- Mission, Kansas -

www.myspace.com/thescreenlandfreakshow

Grand Slam Auto: Kinski City

An Italian heist picture with Klaus Kinski, Janet Leigh and Edward G Robinson with a score by Ennio Morricone and the Tijuana Brass? How could I have slept on this one?

across the pond...

Bookmarked the site DerelictLondon.com a number of months ago and thought the link was dead, but happy to have found it again. Cronicling run down and abandoned pubs (South of the River and North of the River), shops, houses, waterways, and other urban sites, it of course touches on cinemas whose patrons are now rats and hobos...

The Hackney Empire, The Archway Theatre, The Safari Cinema, The State Leytonstone, The Coronet Cinema and others. May you rest in peace...



Happy St. Patrick's Day!







Actually, I was lucky enough to see this Canadian film about an Irish immigrant from 1964 at the Gorge Cinema in Elora, Ontario some time back. Like, eight years ago or more. There were a couple of people present who were involved with the CBC or early Canadian film and such there to introduce it and talk about F.R 'Budge' Crawley, the producer, who was their good friend. It wasn't overly informative and I think they weren't really used to giving that type of thing but it was a pure joy to see the movie and its scenes of wintry Montreal (and Ottawa, if memory serves me) on the screen in glorious black and white. I love 60s/70s Canadian films and the acting in this one is also terrific, if you're given the chance. The older gentleman friend of Crawley fell asleep during the screening, head back and all.