Past Screenings
The Brother from Another Planet
April 14, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: John Sayles (1984), 108 minutes
Acclaimed filmmaker John Sayles wrote and directed this off-beat story of an alien (Joe Morton), who just so happens to resemble an African-American male, who crash-lands on Ellis Island and ends working as a mechanic in Harlem. The Brother (as the film calls him) begins to integrate into his new life in Harlem until intergalactic bounty hunters arrive looking for him. Sayles’s deft direction and insightful script, coupled with Morton’s wonderful performance, make The Brother from Another Planet a potent immigration allegory.
The Sadist
April 7, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: James Landis (1963), 92 minutes
Ten years before director Terrance Malick adapted the story of spree killer Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, into his lyrical film Badlands, B-director James Landis adapted the Starkweather story in The Sadist. If Malick’s Badlands is poetry, The Sadist is, by contrast, hardboiled, dime-store prose: when their car breaks down on a trip to Los Angeles, a group of school teachers are terrorized at gunpoint by Starkweather-stand-in, Charlie Tibbs (Arch Hall, Jr.), and his girlfriend, Judy (Marilyn Manning). The hostages will have to become as brutal as their tormentors if they want to survive.
The Terror of Tiny Town
March 31, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: Sam Newfield (1938), 62 minutes
Poverty Row director Sam Newfield amazingly made over twenty-five ultra-low-budget Westerns in 1938 and 1939 alone! One of these films is this oddity, a Western that features an entire cast of little people. All is well in the sleepy hamlet of Tiny Town until an evil gunslinger named Bat Haines (“Little Billy” Rhodes) arrives to terrorize its inhabitants, and it is all up to Tiny Town’s fearless sheriff, Buck Lawson (Billy Curtis) to defeat Bat and restore peace and order. Is The Terror of Tiny Town exploitation or empowerment? It’s up to the viewer to decide.
Freaks
March 24, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: Tod Browning (1932), 64 minutes
When it was first released in 1932, Freaks was a disaster: audiences were shocked that MGM, Hollywood’s most prestigious studio, would release such a distasteful picture that featured carnival sideshow “freaks” in prominent roles, and the film was pulled from release shortly thereafter. However, Browning’s film later reemerged on the midnight movie circuit in the 1960s and became a cult hit. The tale of what happens to greedy circus performers (Olga Baclanova and Henry Victor) when they cross a community of “freaks,” this film has been touted by critic J. Hoberman as one of the most subversive films ever made.
American Astronaut
February 24, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: Cory McAbee (2001), 91 minutes
This space western musical uses flinty black-and-white photography, rugged Lo-Fi sets and the spirit of the final frontier to bring the film, set in the dirty, isolated vastness of outer space, to life. The American Astronaut follows the adventures of an interplanetary trader (McAbee) through his Homeric intergalactic journey to provide the all-female population of Venus with a suitable singular male, all the while being pursued by the cold-blooded and childish killer, Professor Hess (Rocco Sisto), an enigmatic figure from his past. The film features an original soundtrack by The Billy Nayer Show.
A Boy and His Dog
February 17, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: L. Q. Jones (1975), 91 minutes
Based on a novella by legendary, infamous science-fiction author Harlan Ellison, this film is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear war and focuses on two survivors: Vic (Don Johnson), an 18-year-old boy, and Blood, his telepathic dog (voiced by Tim McIntire). Vic and Blood have a good working relationship: Vic keeps Blood supplied with food, and Blood tracks down women to satiate Vic’s sexual needs. However, when the duo happen upon a bizarre group of survivors who live underground, Vic is forced to make some tough decisions that may adversely affect his relationship with Blood.
The Films of Sarah Jacobson
February 10, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: Sarah Jacobson (1993-2004), 90 minutes
Before her untimely death in 2004, Sarah Jacobson was an independent filmmaker with a do-it-yourself ethic and a distinctly underground sensibility. Working with her producer and mom, Ruth Ellen Jacobson, Sarah produced and distributed a feature-length film, Mary Jane’s Not a Virgin Anymore, and a number of shorts. On this evening, we will celebrate Sarah’s life by screening a sampling of her films and hosting a fundraiser for the Sarah Jacobson Film Grant, an annual film grant established by her mother that awards independent female filmmaker.
The Intruder
February 3, 2009, 7:30 pm
Director: Roger Corman (1963), 84 minutes
Legendary B-movie director and producer Roger Corman has often bragged that he never lost money on a single film that he made . . . except for this one. Indeed, The Intruder is quite different than other low-budget exploitation pictures that made Corman famous. The film stars a pre-fame William Shatner as a vicious racist who arrives in a small Southern town to incite racial violence. The box-office failure of The Intruder may have caused Corman to swear off “message” films for the rest of his career, but not before he produced this look at racial tension at the beginnings of the Civil Rights era.
Grey Gardens
January 27, 2009, 7:30 pm
Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, and Muffie Meyer (1975), 100 minutes
This documentary, from the Maysles brothers, delves inside the strange lives of Edith “Big Edie” Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale. The aunt and first cousin to former First Lady Jackie Onassis, Big Edie and Little Edie lived in squalor throughout the 1960s and 70s in a dilapidated estate in East Hampton, New York called Grey Gardens. Amazingly, the isolated mother and daughter were nearly oblivious to their surroundings, which had been condemned by the Board of Health a few years earlier. This film captures their everyday life in a manner both haunting and unforgettable.
Plan 9 From Outer Space
October 28, 2008, 7:30 pm
Directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1959)
Celebrate Halloween at the Gish with our screening of what many have called “The Worst Movie of All Time”! From the mind of legendary “bad” movie director Ed Wood comes the unbelievable tale of invading aliens who resurrect an army of dead earthlings to aid in their conquest our planet! Terrible but certainly never boring, Plan 9 is a film that must be seen to be believed, with its amateurish acting and cardboard sets.
Shadow of a Doubt
October 21, 2008, 7:30 pm
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1943)
Young Charlie (Teresa Wright) is elated when her favorite relative, Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten), drops in on her family’s small-town home for a visit. However, Uncle Charlie’s visit takes a dark turn when Young Charlie begins to suspect that her uncle is actually a serial killer who is on the run from the police. Young Charlie’s search for the truth threatens not only the safety of herself and her family, but the validity of everything she believes in as well. Come see why legendary director Alfred Hitchcock often cited this thriller as his favorite of all his movies.
"NextFrame Film Festival"
October 14, 2008, 7:30 pm
Now in its 15th year, NextFrame, UFVA's Touring Festival of International Student Film and Video, is the official film festival for the University Film and Video Association, one of the largest organizations of academic and industry professionals in the United States. Recognized as a premiere touring festival for showcasing student work, NextFrame dedicates itself to connecting student filmmakers from all backgrounds, providing these filmmakers with a chance to share their unique vision to audiences around the world. temple.edu/nextframe
"Ann Arbor Film Festival Tour"
October 7, 2008, 7:30 pm
This year’s Ann Arbor Film Festival Tour is a collection of awarded films and highlights selected from the 46th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival held in March. The AAFF Tour provides wider exposure for independent and experimental films and filmmakers, as well as offering a representative sampling of the current state of alternative cinema. Notable participants in past tours have included Barbara Hammer, Jules Engel, Emily Hubley, Ross McLaren, Paul Winkler, Sally Cruikshank, Jay Rosenblatt, and Gus Van Sant. aafilmfest.org/tour
Nerdcore Rising - Featuring a very special Q&A with Negin Farsad
September 30, 2008, 6:00 pm (special early time)
A Film by Negin Farsad (2008)
The regional debut of this riveting documentary that recently debuted at the 2008 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. The documentary follows MC Frontalot, the "Godfather of Nerdcore," on his first national tour to reveal the roots of the genre, the dorky complexities of its artists, and one MC's fight for nerd stardom. Featuring Weird Al Yankovic, Prince Paul, Jello Biafra, Tycho & Gabe, Brian Posehn, MC Frontalot, MC Chris, MC Lars and a slew of other nerdcore artists and commentators. nerdcorerisingthemovie.com
The Business of Fancy Dancing
September 23, 2008, 7:30 pm
Directed by Sherman Alexi (2002)
Seymour Polatkin (Evan Adams) is a gay Indian poet who has created a successful life for himself outside of the reservation. However, when one of his childhood friends passes away, Seymour must return to the reservation and confront his past. This film is based on the poetry of acclaimed novelist, poet, and screenwriter Sherman Alexie, who also directed. This screening has been arranged in collaboration with BGSU’s Native American Unity Council (NAUC). fallsapart.com/fancydancing
Broken Blossoms, or The Yellow Man and the Girl
September 16, 2008, 7:30 pm
Directed by D.W. Griffith (1919)
There’s no better place to watch one of Lillian Gish’s most beloved performances than in the Gish Film Theater. Legendary director D. W. Griffith weaves a tragic tale of three individuals: Cheng Huan (Richard Barthelmess), a Chinese Buddhist missionary who travels to London and becomes an opium addict, and Lucy Burrows (Lillian Gish), a teenage girl living with her abusive father, prizefighter Battling Burrows (Donald Crisp). When Cheng Huan befriends the downtrodden Lucy, the two begin a star-crossed relationship that enrages Lucy’s father and ends in disaster, violence, and revenge.
Freedom of Expression
September 2, 2008, 7:30 pm
Produced by Kembrew McLeod & Jeremy Smith (2007)
Please come to help us celebrate the second season of the Tuesdays at the Gish film series with a special screening of McLeod's documentary on copyright and media ownership. The documentary explores the battles being waged in courts, classrooms, museums, film studios, and the Internet over control of our cultural commons. Based on McLeod's award-winning book of the same title. freedomofexpression.us
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
April 8, 2008, 7:30 pm
Directed by F.W. Murnau (1922)
Nosferatu is a film that is generally considered to be a hallmark of the horror genre. However, it is also a film that has been relegated to the dustbin of the public domain, a film that lacks singular or corporate ownership and can be screened, free of charge by anyone. We will screen and consider this publicly owned film as a contested space in which ownership and authorship are interrogated and questioned.
"April Fools'! You're a Fascist!" - Feat. Triumph of the Will
April 1, 2008, 7:30 pm
Director: Leni Riefenstahl (1935)
Many scholars and academics have famously worried about the connections they see between Hollywood filmmaking and the fascism of the Third Reich. Does the massive entertainment arm of the United States possess a dictatorial control over our collective consciousness? The programming on this night will examine this question by juxtaposing American cartoons and other short “educational” films with Leni Riefenstahl’s infamous Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will (1935).
"An Evening of Addiction" - Feat. A Star is Born
March 25, 2008, 7:30 pm
Director: William A. Wellman (1937)
Persons with addictions have populated a great deal of film and media, and representations of addicts have ranged from the comedic drunk to the tragic drunk, from the pot smoking funny man to the drug addled maniac. This night will showcase various representations of the addict to ponder such questions as: What does the addict represent for American culture? What energies are either released or suppressed through representations of the addict? Can experiencing the world through the addict’s perspective offer us new insights?
The Punks Are Alright - Featuring a very special Q&A with Douglas Crawford
March 18, 2008, 7:30 pm
Director: Douglas Crawford (2008)
This documentary examines the journey of punk music as it makes its way across borders to influence and motivate people to social action. Beginning with Canadian punk rockers the Forgotten Rebels, the film then shifts its focus to the Blind Pigs, a São Paulo street punk band influenced by the Forgotten Rebels. Finally, it journeys to Indonesia to show the influence of the Blind Pigs on various punks on the margins of Indonesian society. In all, The Punks Are Alright details a series of fascinating cultural exchanges between persons in the First and Third Worlds.
"An Evening of Films by Dustinn Craig"
March 11, 2008, 7:30 pm
Native Americans have been demonized, patronized and marginalized by mainstream media, especially in the world of film, where the image of the “Savage Indian” from numerous Westerns still looms large. This night will feature documentaries about Native Americans made by Native Americans who strive to make their voices heard. These films argue that better representation of Natives in media is not enough to rectify injustices of the past; rather, Native Americans must be given access to media in order to tell their own stories.
"A Short Film Festival"
February 5, 2008, 7:30 pm
This night will feature short films selected by members of The Culture Club: Cultural Studies Scholars’ Association. The theme of Culture Club’s 2008 Battleground States Conference is “The Body in Culture,” and this selection of short films will highlight the different and diverse ways the body is mediated, represented and distorted through film. The showcase will feature a short film entitled "The Scary Lewis Yell-athon"--a darkly comic satire that parodies telethons that are designed to “help” persons with disabilities, but sometimes fail to do so in any meaningful way--as well as several shot films by Jym Davis and Tyler Kinney.