Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005)

From 1970-1977, six low budget films shown at midnight transformed the way we make and watch films.

Director:

Stuart Samuels

Writers:

Victor Kushmaniuk (additional writer), Stuart Samuels

Stars:

John Waters, Ben Barenholtz, Alejandro Jodorowsky

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Waters	...	Self
Ben Barenholtz	...	Self
Alejandro Jodorowsky	...	Self (as Alexandro Jodorowsky)
Alan Douglas	...	Self
J. Hoberman	...	Self
Robert Shaye	...	Self (as Bob Shaye)
George A. Romero	...	Self (as George Romero)
Jonathan Rosenbaum	...	Self
Bill Quigley	...	Self
Larry Jackson	...	Self
Seth Willenson	...	Self
Chuck Zlatkin	...	Self
Perry Henzell	...	Self
Richard O'Brien	...	Self
Jim Sharman	...	Self (archive footage)

Storyline

Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream tells the hidden history of these landmark films, El Topo (1970), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Harder They Come (1973), Pink Flamingos (1972), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and Eraserhead (1977). The documentary includes in-depth interviews with the directors, producers, writers and actors who were part of these low-budget, yet monumental productions, the exhibitors and distributors who played them, and the audiences who viewed them.

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Plot Keywords:

starz | night | audience | interview | 1970s | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Quotes

John Waters: [about Pink Flamingos] I was high when I wrote it. I was not high when I made it.

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Connections

References I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967)

User Reviews

Great documentary

Absorbing documentary about midnight movies--how they started, why they existed and did so well and what killed them. It deals with six key movies--El Topo; Night of the Living Dead; The Harder They Come; Pink Flamingoes; Rocky Horror Picture Show and Eraserhead. They interview the directors and distributors of all six films and they discuss how they got them out and the reactions of critics and audiences. It also explains why these movies were only successful as midnight movies (Rocky Horror was a disaster when it came out as a regular movie).

I'm old enough to remember midnight movies and how much fun they were. They're gone forever but this wonderful documentary brought it all back to me. Also there's a HUGE amount of footage from each film. Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kultfilmens mestre

Filming Locations:

Jamaica

Box Office

Budget:

CAD671,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,143

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stuart Samuels Productions, Independent Film Channel (IFC) Canada, Movie Central Network

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1