Sleazoid Express

Moderator Posts : 147 Join date : 2008-04-10

Sleazoid Express, by Bill Landis and Michelle Clifford is a great little book about the grindhouse culture of the 42nd street-Times Square theater area. The book is organized into chapters that each focus on the specialty of a certain theater in the area, giving a brief history of the theater, what it was notorious for, and then jumping into the genre most readily associated with said house.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it really digs into some pretty obscure stuff. The only thing I was unhappy with was the fact that it sort of ignored a lot of what (at least in my mind) are pretty big names in the cycle, in favor of the lesser knowns. It could be that I just have a different perspective, only being aware of this stuff after the fact, and that different films have a big reputation today than the films that were popular at the time... but really, there are a few that I was shocked were just flat out excluded.

Either way, check this book out. It's interesting stuff.

Admin Posts : 393 Join date : 2008-04-10

I just read the introduction chapter of this and I like their approach so far and where they're going with it. It seems as though they leave a lot of the bullshit snobby critic stuff behind and just go straight in to it.

It's one hell of a refreshing book to read after having to read through a pretentious film theory book for uni. Laughing

Admin Posts : 528 Join date : 2008-04-10

What are some of "the big names" they left out and "lesser knowns" they included?

Moderator Posts : 147 Join date : 2008-04-10

dolemike wrote:: What are some of "the big names" they left out and "lesser knowns" they included?

Well, Russ Meyer and Larry Cohen really get no mention, other than in passing for the purpose of comparison. The Blaxploitation chapter spends a fair amount of time on Rudy Ray Moore (Which has really made me want to get some Dolemite stuff), but ignores Pam Grier's non-WIP stuff.

Admin Posts : 528 Join date : 2008-04-10

BurtonOblivion wrote:

dolemike wrote:: What are some of "the big names" they left out and "lesser knowns" they included?

Well, Russ Meyer and Larry Cohen really get no mention, other than in passing for the purpose of comparison. The Blaxploitation chapter spends a fair amount of time on Rudy Ray Moore (Which has really made me want to get some Dolemite stuff), but ignores Pam Grier's non-WIP stuff.

Weird, since Grier's WIP stuff really shouldn't count as blaxploit.

There's only 2 original DOLEMITE flicks- DOLEMITE & HUMAN TORNADO, but he's made a couple of more recent sequels.

I probably don't need to say that I think they're worth a look! afro

Moderator Posts : 147 Join date : 2008-04-10

dolemike wrote:

BurtonOblivion wrote:

dolemike wrote:: What are some of "the big names" they left out and "lesser knowns" they included?

Well, Russ Meyer and Larry Cohen really get no mention, other than in passing for the purpose of comparison. The Blaxploitation chapter spends a fair amount of time on Rudy Ray Moore (Which has really made me want to get some Dolemite stuff), but ignores Pam Grier's non-WIP stuff.

Weird, since Grier's WIP stuff really shouldn't count as blaxploit.

There's only 2 original DOLEMITE flicks- DOLEMITE & HUMAN TORNADO, but he's made a couple of more recent sequels.

I probably don't need to say that I think they're worth a look! afro

Sorry, I should have clarified. Grier's Blax stuff is not discussed. The WIP stuff is, in the chapter that discusses WIP films. Black Mama, White Mama is discussed in that chapter.

Admin Posts : 528 Join date : 2008-04-10

BurtonOblivion wrote:: Sorry, I should have clarified. Grier's Blax stuff is not discussed. The WIP stuff is, in the chapter that discusses WIP films. Black Mama, White Mama is discussed in that chapter.

Oh. I get you.

BLACK MAMA is a weird one in that it really doesn't fall into any one category.

WIP? A little bit.

Blax? Not really. Even though I included it in my top 20 list because I'd rather have included it than some others I've seen that aren't top 20 material.

Phillipino revolution flick might be more appropriate?

Chicks on the run?

But then something like THE BIG BIRD CAGE would fit that as well...

Christ, a guy could slice and dice these things into a million subgenres that haven't even been given names yet! Shocked

Posts : 203 Join date : 2008-09-04

Does this book have good pictures?

Admin Posts : 393 Join date : 2008-04-10

I don't remember too many pictures. Pick up Nightmare USA or something, that has tonnes. But it's only about horror unfortunately.

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EddieDingle wrote:: Does this book have good pictures?

No. It has great text though... you know, the stuff in books?

Posts : 203 Join date : 2008-09-04

BurtonOblivion wrote:

EddieDingle wrote:: Does this book have good pictures?

No. It has great text though... you know, the stuff in books?

Your sarcasm is hilarious. As I said in my other post...

"Isn't one of the most important aspects of a film its visual appeal? So in that case, I think it would be nice to see some cool pictures while reading a book about films."

Admin Posts : 127 Join date : 2008-04-11 Age : 45

Just found out Bill Landis died last week.

Bummer.

Posts : 203 Join date : 2008-09-04

anyone know what movie that is on the front?