Welcome back to the Shock-O-Rama Poster Show! It's April 15th, a special day around here... It's my (Gasp!) birthday. Because of that, this is a big blow out celebration. Instead of a mere 10 posters (as per my usual posts), this is everything I've gotten since my last post in March. (Yes, there's the usual junk/crap ...but also some not-so-bad and some pretty nifty stuff as well.)
OKIE: Zowie! It is always sooooo nice to see you here. Yes, Weissmuller did "girth out". No jungle elastic waistbands...or LYCRA leopard prints. So sad. At least he found a job... Welcome to the party today. CHEERS!
Now, without further ado, let's let the party begin!
GIRLS NITE OUT (25x38)
: Wow! One of the more obscure 80s slasher posters fell into my lap. This one measures 25x38, but it hasn't been trimmed, nor is it a video poster. There actually was a 27x41 poster printed (also very elusive) with different art (just some girls fleeing in terror on a dull white background). Neither poster is that interesting (but this one---with the photo and the letter beneath it--is the better of the two), but I am glad to have one.
WENDY (Advance)
:I had never heard of this movie (but have since looked it up and it seems to be a modern twist/take on PETER PAN) when I got this. It was a freebie at a local theater that had recently re-opened. Poster whore that I am, I took it. Thank you, Maya Theater.
GALLOWS 2:I didn't really need this--at all. However, I had a chance to meet the creative team behind it and they had a poster and...why not? They signed it...but I kind of wish they hadn't. Oh well. (Full story below...)
HELD:You may not have heard of HELD. It's a smaller film and it is debuting right when theaters are just starting to re-open. Instead of GODZILLA VS KONG or THE UNHOLY, this is the film I was seeing when I got the WENDY poster above. HELD was from the same company that gave us THE GALLOWS and its sequel--such as they are. THE GALLOWS films and HELD were produced and made in the area where I live. Since HELD is not a well-known blockbuster, it will probably disappear quickly--so I wanted to give the "local guys" some support and see their flick. Seeing how it is a locally produced movie, I wondered if I could also score a copy of its poster. I looked up the production company, found their website and sent them this note a few days before going to see the film:
"Dear Tremendum Pictures,
CONGRATULATIONS! I recently saw an article about you and your locally filmed feature HELD. I am planning on seeing the film (hopefully) this coming Tuesday at the Maya Cinema in Fresno.
The reason for my note, in addition to congratulating you all, is to inquire about the movie poster. I am a collector of movie posters. I have thousands of them--literally. Although I was fortunate to get to attend a screening of THE GALLOWS and receive an autographed mini-poster from the film (signed by Mr. Lofing and Mr. T. Cluff, I believe), I still sought out and purchased a full-sized (27x40) theatrical-sized poster. I missed GALLOWS 2 altogether. It came and went in a week--while I was out of town. (I have it on BluRay, but sadly have not seen it as of yet.) I am writing to find out if it would be possible toy buy a theatrical size one sheet for HELD. Even though I have yet to see it (but plan to Tuesday), I really would love a poster to add to my collection and to show support to the local guy. If a poster is available, please just let me know how much it is (including postage) and I would be more than happy to send it your way.
Thank you so much."
I didn't hear back from them. So, on Tuesday before we went to the movie, I sent this second note off with a copy of the digital Fandango receipt:
"Hello again. Just so you know I was not kidding. Here is my receipt for my HELD tickets for this afternoon's showing. Wishing you the best with this endeavor.
Cheers!"
When I got home, I found this note waiting for me:
"Hi Shawn, yeah we have a poster you can grab. Got a Gallows 2 as well. $20 work? If you can come grab it, that'd be great - don't have a lot of time to get to the mailbox. Thanks Shawn, appreciate the support!
- Chris and Travis"
Hmm. I was HOPING they'd give me a poster for free (and I really don't need the GALLOWS 2 poster, but...). However, I had already offered, so I sent this note:
"Yes, $20 would be great. Where would I go to get it? Thank you."
I had a response...but the poster deal began to sound more like a drug deal:
"Can you meet you at the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center Park area. 85 N Temperance Ave Clovis 93611. Just let us know when you’re planning to stop by
Thanks"
I understand that they don't know me and there is a pandemic going on, but really... I expected to go to some production office or something, but to meet at the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center park is rather bizarre-o. Still, I responded and we had a back and forth a few times, before we finally met yesterday at the appointed time and appointed place. It may have seemed like the most illicit poster deal ever. I wonder if they thought I might be a (Gasp!) poster NARC? Ha!
THE BOY AND THE PIRATES:This is a nothing little poster that I got in the hopes of padding out shipping costs for other items I was bidding on---and lost. (My life's story...) I had never heard of this flick before, despite it having been directed by Bert I. Gordon ("Mr. B.I.G."). What caught my eye was the claim that it was in something called PERCEPTOVISION. gimmick whore that I am, I couldn't pass it up. Perceptovision was later also used in Gordon's VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS, so I have some idea what it was like. I also found this brief description on the TCM informational page for the film:
"Although no process is listed in the onscreen credits, this film's pressbook indicates that it was shot using 'Perceptovision-The Newest Marvel of the Motion Picture.' Perceptovision was described as 'a patented dimensional matte process which combines travelling mattes and split screen effects.' The Filmfacts review adds that the process 'was utilized in the film to show the foot-tall genie in a bottle floating in the ocean, and an erupting volcano rising out of the sea.' "
It's also interesting to note that Joe Turkel, who played the creepy ghost bartender in THE SHINING plays a genie in this flick. Timothy Carey, who was in a lot of stuff, was also apparently fired from the film for throwing an actor across the set! Zowie! "See! See! See! The Amazing Genie! The Growing Sea-Mountain! The Fantastic Journey Into Time! The Magic Fog!" How did I ever miss this? Ha!
CUT AND RUN (video)
:Ruggero Deodato made a name for himself with the cannibal genre epics JUNGLE HOLOCAUST and then the more controversial CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. After HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE PARK and something called ATLANTIS INTERCEPTORS (?), his producers wanted him to make a follow up to CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. He didn't want to. Instead, the film is loosely based on an abandoned screenplay by Wes Craven. I have been aware of the movie for years and have recently ordered the BluRay that features the R-Rated theatrical cut and the 3-minute longer/gorier international cut. And there's an interesting cast: Willie Aames, Richard Lynch, Michael Berryman, Karen Black and John Steiner. I have not gotten to see it yet, but then this poster popped up. It's a video poster, but I didn't think I had ever seen any posters for the film---so I bid on it and won.
CUT AND RUN:After finding and bidding on the video poster for CUT AND RUN, I happened on a theatrical poster for the flick. I snapped it up, thinking I'd surely be outbid on the video poster. I wasn't...and so ended up with BOTH. Ha! That is soooooo typical of me. Oh well...
EARTH 2 (International)
:EARTH 2 is a TV movie from 1971. As was the case with many TV movies, especially during the 70s, international audiences had to PAY to see some of these flicks in theaters...and one sheets were created for them. I have a few of these posters, such as the one sheets for Irwin Allen's TV disaster duo FIRE and FLOOD. I wasn't that interested in this poster, but I have the Warner Brothers MOD DVD of it (purchased during one of their 4 for $44 sales). I haven't seen the flick yet, but decided that, when I eventually do, just in case I might actually like it, I might as well get the poster since it wasn't too expensive. They aren't all that common anyway... (Does anyone know if their were one sheets created for the TV movies LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY, or A SHORT WALK TO DAYLIGHT?)
THE MAMDALORIN (TV promo?)
:I'm not sure what a double-sided movie poster-sized poster promoting a TV series is called, but I thought I should snatch one up while it was still cheap-ish as it is a STAR WARS-related thing and could be worth some cash down the road. I've never seen the show though. I'm, not a SYAR WARS fan.
THE GODFATHER PART II:There is no denying that THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II are great movies...but (in my opinion) they have crappy posters. Sure... Over the years I have half-heartedly bid on them--but never that earnestly. The posters just don't do it for me. I saw this at auction along with other things. I bid on it and forgot about it. Imagine my surprise when I got an invoice for it. (The other items I lost, of course. Ha!) Now I suppose I should seek out the original GODFATHER one sheet. Bother...
THE LOST EMPIRE:I have never seen this movie, but I do like the art on this poster. I thought I already had a copy of this, but when I came across this I did a search of my blog but didn't see it listed. That doesn't mean that I don't have one. But just in case I don't have one, I snagged this inexpensive jewel. Of the cast, I am only familiar with Angus (PHANTASM) Scrimm. Alan (HALLOWEEN 4 & 5) Howarth did the music and it was written, produced and directed by Jim (CHOPPING MALL, SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE 2) Wynorski. This looks like campy fun.
Zowie! This is apparently TOO LONG! Stay tuned for Part 2 of my birthday poster bash! CHEERS!