IMDb > Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) More at IMDbPro »

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   229 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ray Greene
Writer:
Ray Greene (writer)
Genre:
Documentary | History more
Plot:
You've heard of Hollywood, a town of tinsel and glamour, the town of Paramount, Columbia and MGM.  But there is another Hollywood... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
Combination of archival footage and interviews with key figures makes it into an ideal introduction more (11 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Forrest J Ackerman ... Himself

Samuel Z. Arkoff ... Himself

Peter Bogdanovich ... Himself
Roger Corman ... Himself
David F. Friedman ... Himself
Dick Miller ... Himself
Harry H. Novak ... Himself
Vampira ... Herself (as Maila Nurmi)
Doris Wishman ... Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pat Barrington ... Barbara Thomas (archive footage)
Michael Copner ... Himself
Adolf Hitler ... Himself (archive footage)

Boris Karloff ... Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe (archive footage)

John F. Kennedy ... Himself (archive footage)
Robert F. Kennedy ... Himself (archive footage)

Martin Luther King ... Himself (archive footage)
Benito Mussolini ... Himself (archive footage)

Jack Nicholson ... Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage)
Lee Harvey Oswald ... Himself (archive footage)

Elvis Presley ... Himself (archive footage)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
89 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White | Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Certification:
USA:Not Rated
Filming Locations:
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA more

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Features Boin-n-g (1963) more
Soundtrack:
Your One and Only Original Lizard Brain more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Combination of archival footage and interviews with key figures makes it into an ideal introduction, 4 November 2006
8/10
Author: TimothyFarrell from Worcester, MA

For longtime exploitation buffs, "Schlock" may not tell you anything you weren't already aware of, but its highly entertaining nonetheless. The interviews with many legends in the field will be interesting. For novices interested in the cult genre, it is highly recommended. By covering the basics, "Schlock" provides everything you need to know to become interested in the topic of vintage exploitation films.

The main reason why this documentary works so well is ts explanation of just why these films are so important to American cinema and pop culture. While viewed as simple exploitation, they often reflect the more morbid fascinations of America and broke new ground in discussing taboo subject matter before Hollywood would even dare. The release of "Easy Rider" in 1969 proved that these films could be more than just exploitation. The interviews with Michael Bowen explains this.

Some may complain that this documentary only skims the surface. It is true that there is much more to the topic than is documented in this film. Scanning through the video catalog of Something Weird will prove this. However, its combination of archival footage and interviews with key figures makes it into an ideal introduction. (8/10)

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (11 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Sex and Buttered Popcorn Mau Mau Sex Sex Factory Girl Stoned Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew External reviews IMDb Documentary section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.