Haji (1946-2013)

Ruby

Here's a re-post from 2009... My friend Jeff came by recently to treat me to a movie called RUBY (1977, directed by the late great, underrated Curtis Harrington). This is a film that I've been dying to see for ages, but for some reason or another I never did. Well, I'm glad to say, RUBY was worth the wait!

RUBY stars the awesome Piper Laurie (best known as CARRIE's mother and a star of David Lynch's TV classic TWIN PEAKS) in the role of a lifetime. Marketed as a horror film to capitalize on Laurie's CARRIE success, RUBY is more of a "slightly less than grand" guignol melodrama with some thrilling and hysterical twists. Harrington's other big films, the Shelley Winters double feature WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN? and WHOEVER SLEW AUNTIE ROO? are camp classics and his TV films HOW AWFUL ABOUT ALLAN  and DEVIL DOG: HOUND FROM HELL are also fun. I also recently watched THE KILLING KIND and look forward to seeing the rest of his work. I'm never disappointed by Curtis Harrington!

In RUBY, Harrington blends elements of SUNSET BOULEVARD, BONNIE & CLYDE and THE EXORCIST and it somehow all works! As Ruby, a former moll who runs a dying drive-in theater, Laurie not only chews the scenery - she practically digests it!!! This woman is having a great time onscreen, and you can't help but love her.

I don't want to give too much away because I think people need to see RUBY, but take a gander at the trailer and I'm sure you'll be seeking out RUBY before too long.

Seeing that just made me just wanna watch it again...and again. This is what movies should be like.

I'm Just Wild About Harry Novak

A flashback post from 2009 when I watched a exploitation classic called AXE (1974). AXE was basically THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT meets THE LEGEND OF LZZIE BORDEN with a small dose of John Waters. What was most intriguing is that the dvd featured trailers from the same original distributor Harry Novak and his Box Office International schlockhouse. Harry Novak has been dubbed "The Sultan of Sexploitation" and "The King of Camp," but his films ran the gamut of the exploitation genres - including monster films  like PLEASE DON'T EAT MY MOTHER (1973)...as well as documentaries (MONDO MOD, 1967) and horror films (THE CHILD, 1977).
His signature logo elevated him to the distinction of being the Walt Disney or Louie B. Mayer of exploitation - with the exception that Harry stressed quantity over quality. Harry was notorious for not spending one nickel more than was needed to get a film made. He would watch industry trends and create a dirtier and more violent knock-off of whatever was selling tickets at the time. These include MIDNIGHT PLOWBOY (1971)...plus THE LAST TANGO IN ACAPULCO (1975), EROTIC ENCOUNTERS OF THE FOURTH KIND (1975) and THE BLACK CONNECTION (1974). Harry once said "When I was a kid, my Daddy told me, 'There's a buyer for everything' and I lived to find out that he was right."  Novak's began his career in showbiz at Howard Hughes' RKO Studios - by booking and selling films as well as designing ads and marketing campaigns, ironically, for the Disney films that RKO was distributing! It must have been Hughes' admiration for full-figured women that inspired Novak to set out on his own after RKO's collaspse. After taking a crash course in distribution, by selling re-dubbed foreign "art films" that featured partially clad women. He soon formed Box Office International in 1964.

Harry had now started producing and distributing a string of his own films - all lowbrow, crude and very violent - this made sense since violence was allowed to be screened even where sex wasn't. KISS ME QUICK! - a sci-fi parody of DR. STRANGELOVE about strippers - was his first big drive-in success. Over 200 entertainingly trashy features followed. Some great titles include MANTIS IN LACE (1968)...as well as TOYS ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN (1972), WILBUR & THE BABY FACTORY (1970) and BOOBY TRAP (1970).As standards continued to relax, Novak's films began to resemble softcore pornography- as full frontal nudity by both women and men and simulated sex scenes became the norm. A string of lurid sexy crime thrillers  like THE GODSON (1971)...and dirty martial arts romps (SEXUAL KUNG FU IN HONG KONG,1974), white trash hillbilly sex comedies (COUNTRY CUZZINS, 1970)...and ambitious period sex farces (like THE SECRET SEX LIVES OF ROMEO & JULIET,1969) followed...all with tantalizing ad campaigns.By the late 70s - hardcore porn became the norm and Box Office International transformed into Valiant Pictures International in 1978. Harry's last film was 1983's MOMENTS IN LOVE. Lucky for us most of his films are available on dvd via Something Weird.

The Abductors

Here's a "review" I first ran back in 2008. Warning: This movie review contains shocking female nudity! Imagine watching THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - and after it's over you realize there's another film called STAR WARS that you didn't even  know about. Well, my friends, this has sadly happened to me. THE ABDUCTORS (1972, directed by Don Schain) is the sequel to GINGER (1971) and the prequel to GIRLS ARE FOR LOVING (1973)! If I only knew this going in, I would have preferred to watch the trilogy in order-but since I didn't, I'll ignore the first one (for now) and tell you all about Episode 2 in the adventures of Ginger Cartwright, secret agent. One part James Bond, two parts Russ Meyer, THE ABDUCTORS is soft-core porn at its best. While there is plenty of nudity (full frontal for every female character and a few of the unnattractive males) and plenty of simulated sex acts - there is actually a semi-coherent plot going on in this movie. Like Jackie Collins, I will italicize all the naughty parts. So here's the story: three cheerleaders are abducted and sold into white slavery. The End. Alright, there's a little more to it than that. First we see a naked beauty-pageant contestant getting tied up and put in a cage - and we know immediately what kind of a movie we are in for. Next, the aforementioned cheerleaders are ambushed by a trio of thugs and forced to strip to their panties while one of the thugs sets their convertible on fire. We notice how odd it is to see topless women with natural, un-altered breasts. A local investigator calls on the ever-braless Ginger to help crack the case of the missing girls. He gives her a stylish briefcase filled with all sorts of gadgets including tracking devices that can be swallowed! After deducing that all the kidnapped women were also featured in the local newspaper, Ginger (Cheri Caffaro, the best actress in the film - which isn't saying much) teams up with a stylish advertising exec (Richard Smedley) who agrees to help her in her investigation. Ginger introduces him to a sexy up-and-coming model named Carter Winston (Jennifer Brooks), who is really going undercover as a potential abductee.

Well, before you know it, Carter is kidnapped and the ad man is screwing Ginger on shang carpeting. After the loving, Ginger is taken hostage herself, while the three cheerleaders are sold to lonely businessmen, and they seem to enjoy it. But it's not over yet - there's a big, daring rescue scene and an "eye for an eye" revenge scene involving Ginger, the ringleader, bar of soap and a hot shower.

Despite some semi-disturbing bondage moments, the film is pretty watchable. With plenty of laugh-out-loud bad dialogue and wooden acting, THE ABDUCTORS does impress with several overlong helicopter and plane sequences as well as a groovy soundtrack (which seems to stop suddenly half-way through the film). Ginger's skimpy outfits and outrageous hairdos are fun, you can totally tell where the producers put most of their money. So if you want to see some silly, poorly-lit and unsexy T & A - THE ABDUCTORS is for you.

Linda Blair Turns 50!!!

My friend and personal hero Linda Blair turns 50 years old today. Linda is not only one of the greatest teen actors and scream queens ever - but she is one of the most devoted and tireless animal rights activists and rescuers that you could ever imagine.
Following the success of her challenging Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning role in the horror classic THE EXORCIST (1973) and an appearance in the camp classic ARPORT 1975, Linda starred in several highly acclaimed, high-rated and controversial television films.BORN INNOCENT (1974) and SARA T. -PORTRAIT OF A TEENAGE ALCOHOLIC (1975) and SWEET HOSTAGE (1975) were among NBC's most memorable TV-movies of the decade.In 1977, Linda returned to theaters in the ill-conceived EXCORIST II: THE HERETIC, which was poorly recievied, though it earned her a Saturn Award Best Actress nomination for her performance.
In 1979, Linda won our hearts again in the cheesefest called ROLLER BOOGIE, a fun and ridiculous cult film which secured her in our hearts as a B-movie goddess. This lead to 1981's slasher epic HELL NIGHT, the 1983 women-in-prison film CHAINED HEAT and 1984's gang war yarn SAVAGE STREETS. Dozens of TV and film appearances followed. In 1990 she spoofed her EXORCIST fame character in the Leslie Nielson comedy REPOSSESSED and in 1996, Linda had a brief uncredited cameo appearance in the box office smash SCREAM.Always an animal lover, over the years, her passion for animals has grown, culminating in her establishing The Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation, which helps animals in need through adoption and fostering services as well as public education on the plight of homeless and abused animals.If you are a fan of Miss Blair's work–and I know you are–the best way to wish Linda a Happy 50th is not by sending her a gift, but to send a much needed donation to the her wonderful charity. In the past year, LBWF has seen donations decline dramatically due to the strained economy. Linda has worked so hard building the Wellness Center for the animals and contributions are needed now more than ever. This week we saw the beginning of what hope and change can bring. As our new President has stated, volunteering and community service can help change our country. If you are able to volunteer with LBWF, please email them by clicking here!Also, if you live in Southern California and want to adopt a wonderful rescued pet, go here. Among the many awards Linda has won, she also recently received a City of Los Angeles Proclamation for her work with abandoned and abused animals. We love you Linda Blair, Happy Birthday!

SPINE-TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY

Jeffrey Schwarz's outstanding documentary, SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY, which tells the story of the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle,will be showing at several festivals this month including L.A's Screamfest!Castle was a master of promotional gimmicks who's name became synonymous with horror movie gimmicks. Castle's films include the Joan Crawford classics STRAIGHT-JACKET and I SAW WHAT YOU DID as well as the amazing HOMICIDAL, THE TINGLER, and the original versions of 13 GHOSTS and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL. He also produced ROSEMARY'S BABY. Jeffrey's film is an entertaining and loving tribute to Castle - and a MUST SEE for fans of genre films, cult movies and exploitation lovers. 

See it in Los Angeles:
Saturday, October 12, 12:00PM
Grauman Mann's Chinese 6
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.screamfestla.com

See it in Spain:
Sitges Film Festival
Sitges, Spain
October 11
www.cinemasitges.com

See it in Pennsylvania:
Eerie Horror Film Festival
Eerie, PA
October 11
www.eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com

See it in New Orleans:
New Orleans Film Festival
New Orleans, LA
October 11
www.neworleansfilmfest.com

See it in Sacramento:
Sacramento Horror Film Festival
Sacramento, CA
October 19
www.sachorrorfilmfest.com

See it in DC:
Spooky Movie Festival
Washington, DC
October 19
www.thespookymovie.com