Encore: Midnight Movies

[Scott]

Encore Movie Channel had a special that is promoting a Friday night Midnight Movies I guess they will be showing some on a weekly basis. I'll try to find out more.

The intro show was great as they did something called MIDNIGHT MOVIES that talked about all the best known Midnight Movie features during the 70's. The whole history of that phenomenon that kinda died in the early 80's with video.

They had great lengthy new interviews with Alejandro Jodorowsky talking about EL TOPO, David Lynch talking about ERASERHEAD, George Romero talking about NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and John Waters talking about PINK FLAMINGOS. If you get the chance check it out. You'll really appreciate this special. They also talked about ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, HARD AS THEY COME, and REEFER MADNESS.  These are films they played at special midnight showings around the country.

I'm sure they will play it again. The midnight movie phenomenon a must see for students of film history. Here's an internet new article about the show http://www.potomacnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WPN%2FMGArticle%2FWPN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784183090&path=



Post Edited (08-28-05 15:51)

[peter johnson]

Oh, yes!
Many of you won't know this, but the original "Midnight Movie" was El Topo -- years before Rocky Horror --
The whole thing started at the MOMA(Museum of Modern Art) in New York, when local theatres wouldn't show El Topo, but it had fans among the staff of the museum who had seen it in Europe.  They put together their own sponsorship, did their own advertising & showed the film at midnight when they thought it would be okay.
"Eraserhead" was a (mostly) failed attempt at a new Midnight Movie (Often double-billed with a fairly straight "art" film called Asparagus) after Rocky had crapped out, according to some theatre owners in '80/'81.  They certainly didn't think that Rocky would have the "legs" it did.
peter johnson/denny crane

[Scott]

Yea, they showed a lot of El Topo clips on the special. This is really an insane film. Couldn't believe something this great exist without haven't being on DVD. I might actually have to buy EL TOPO off Ebay or something.

I remember the Midnight Movies that played at our local art theater. It was called THE LITTLE ART THEATER here in South Jersey. It's been out of business since about 1984. They played them all from ROAD WARRIOR, ERASERHEAD, ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, POLYESTER, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. Saw a lot of strange pictures there. Like the Drive-Ins with their type of films the Midnight Movies have also vanished. Is it safe to say that the 60's and 70's were the golden age of strange films?



Post Edited (08-29-05 22:10)

[peter johnson]

So far it almost seems true -- though I've seen some very very strange films of late:  The Saddest Music in The World, by Guy Madden.  Isabella Rosalini has her legs cut off by a drunken surgeon following a car crash.  Her boyfriend gets her a pair of glass legs filled with beer . . .
Actually, that's about the most normal thing about this weirdfest.  See it -- I mean it . . .
The Cost of Milk.  Aboriginal fairy-tales cross paths with modern New Zealand.  Maori ghost spirits get jobs in the "real" world & bargain with its inhabitants for absurd things of "value".  Really beggars description.  Sort of a "G-rated" El Topo.
Both of these films are less than 5 years old --
But I do agree that you can't swing a cat without hitting a real weird one from the late '60's/early '70's
peter johnson/denny crane

[Scott]

Yep, who knows maybe it will all make some type of comeback. I thought AMERICAN ASTRONAUT was a worthy effort.

Give Scottie credit for bringing this film to our attention a few months ago.



Post Edited (08-30-05 09:19)

[Mr_Vindictive]

The Cost Of Milk....wow.  Caught this one a while back on one of the premium movie channels (don't recall which one).  Very strange flick.  The credits stick out in my mind more than anything though.