Where Forgotten Films Dwell

Welcome to this site! It exists for one reason: to preserve the memory of films that have been forgotten about or under-appreciated throughout the ages. Take a seat, read an entry, leave a comment. You might discover your new favorite movie!

Friday, May 20, 2011

ANNOUNCING: FCY BLOGATHON


Get ready, folks! Today I'm unveiling Forgotten Classics of Yesteryear's very first blogathon! The topic is none other than the king of B-movies himself, Roger Corman!

Recipient of an Honorary Academy Award for his work, Roger Corman has been a tireless producer and director of films for over 50 years! Known for directing exploitation and B-movies, Corman pioneered techniques of shooting on a shoe-string budget and completing films in record times (his film Little Shop of Horrors was completely filmed over two days and one night). His most famous films were a cycle of films that he made with Vincent Price based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe in the early 60s, including the cult classic The Masque of the Red Death.

But more important than his own films was his role as teacher in the lives of many of the greatest filmmakers who ever worked in Hollywood. His students and apprentices include Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Nicolas Roeg, Ron Howard, and James Cameron. He would also go on to produce many of their very first films, giving them a foot in the industry to become some of the most influential directors who ever lived.

So this blogathon, lasting from June 17-19, will be a celebration of the man who transformed Hollywood with the power of highly stylized B-movies.

Anyone can participate. The Classic Movie Blog Association has graciously agreed to advertise the blogathon. However, being a CMBA member is NOT a prerequisite for entry. Anyone who has a passion for film is welcome to join.

There will be four awards given out:
1) First Place Prize for Best Review/Article
2) Second Place Prize for Best Review/Article
3) Third Place Prize for Best Review/Article
4) Blogger's Choice Award for Best Article

The first three awards will be handed out by myself based on the inherent quality of the submitted articles. The fourth award will be decided based on votes from the participant bloggers. Each participating blogger will get one vote to be cast at the conclusion of the blogathon once every article has been posted. The articles and/or reviews can be in any form, be of any length, and be on any topic as long as it pertains to Roger Corman, his work, or work that he influenced.

Please note that I am only allowing one person to write for each film directed by Corman. Please contact me at nahood@ursinus.edu or nch257@nyu.edu to claim your film. Films will be assigned based on a strict first-come, first serve basis.

Already several films have been claimed:

Frankenstein Unbound – Chris Michael
A Bucket of Blood - Ivan G Shreve Jr (http://www.thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com)
The Day the World Ended – Stacia (http://www.shebloggedbynight.com/)
Five Guns West – Toby (fiftieswesterns.com)
The Intruder- Jack Lunt (http://jacklfilmreviews.blogspot.com/)
X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes- Team Bartilucci (http://doriantb.blogspot.com/)
The House of Usher- ClassicBecky
Tomb of Ligeia- Rick (Classic Film & TV Cafe)
Little Shop of Horrors- Page (My Love Of Old Hollywood)
The Masque of the Red Death- S.M. Rana (Onlyne)
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre-Tom (http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com)
Tales of Terror- Jaime Grijalba (http://Exodus8-2.blogspot.com)
The Wild Angels- Ivan Lerner (http://ivanlandia1.blogspot.com/)
The Haunted Palace- Rachel (http://thegirlwiththewhiteparasol.blogspot.com/)
Boxcar Bertha- Michaël Parent (http://cinephiliaque.blogspot.com/)
The Raven- Michael Troutman (Jump_Raven)
Bloody Mama- John Greco (24 Frames)
Sorority Girl- Thomas Duke (Cinema Gonzo)
Creature From the Haunted Sea- (W.B. Kelso)


So hurry up and claim your film fast before they're all gone!

I'll post more updates as the date approaches!

Thank you, and good luck!!

Editor-in-Chief
Nathanael Hood

44 comments:

  1. Very interesting idea for a blogathon, I'm definitely participating.

    I'll send you a mail right now!

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  2. Oh and I'll put that banner up in my blog as well, to get a bit more exposure for the event!

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  3. Please do! It will help get the word out!

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  4. ok, it up!

    Did you get my mail ?

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  5. Yup!

    You're officially signed up! Looking forward to your article!

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  6. Nate, we're thrilled about your upcoming Roger Corman Blogathon! We of Team Bartilucci beg and plead to be allowed to review X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES for your Corman Blogathon! In fact, Vinnie kept yelling "X! X! X!" I thought he was choking on a peach pit! :-)

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  7. Hooray! Thanks for saving Team Bartilucci's place in your Corman Blogathon with X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES, Nate! We're rarin' to go!

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  8. If you suggest a specific film I might have a go at this hitherto to me unheard director.

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  9. Hooray! I'll get a post about this up Monday when people have returned from their weekends.

    I almost asked for Tomb of Ligeia, but my entire review would be "LOOK AT HOW HOT VINCENT IS IN SUNGLASSES OMG OMG". A lot of enthusiasm, but not a lot of substance there.

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  10. @Rana

    You've never heard of Roger Corman?

    All the more reason to become familiar with this man! Seriously, he was the man who taught Scorsese, Coppola, Cameron, and countless other directors all that they know.

    If you have never seen one of his films before, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend "The Masque of the Red Death." It is based off two stories by Edgar Allen Poe and stars horror legend Vincent Price.

    But first I would recommend reading up about him:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Corman

    You can't approach his work the same way you would other directors. He made cheesy, cheap exploitation films and B-movies. "The Masque of the Red Death" is probably the closest he ever came to making a genuine art film. But you NEED to understand that his films are not meant to be enjoyed intellectually...but viscerally. They are supposed to be over-the-top, ridiculous pop-corn movies. If you keep this in mind, then you should fall in love with his work.

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  11. @Stacia

    I know what you mean....

    Seriously....I don't think that Price was ever better than in his Poe films with Corman. Price and Corman was a match made in B-movie heaven!

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  12. Nathanael,
    I would love to join in if there are films available. Although I'm not sure my style of reviews are of sufficient quality or your style. This is a wonderful (and fun) topic so I can't wait to see the reviews.
    Page

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  13. @Page,

    Any and ALL of Corman's films are up for grabs.

    And as I said....the articles can be of any length or type. I think that Corman's films would especially be interesting to read given your regular review format.

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  14. Nathanael,
    I sent you an email but if The Little Shop of Horrors is still available I would love to review it.
    Thanks

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  15. No problem. If it is visceral through and through I love it. We say to enjoy Bollywood flicks you need to leave your brains outside the hall. Anyway I am a hardened Poe fan (God bless him)and the story you mentioned is a masterpiece. So there is no stopping me from seeing this, if I can lay my hands on it.

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  16. @Page

    It's yours!

    Looking forward to the review!

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  17. @Rana

    Then I eagerly await your review!

    Did you know that Corman also did a number of other adaptations of Poe's work? I've seen a number of them and they're quite good. Of course, "The Masque of the Red Death" is easily the best.

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  18. So I'll do Masque and looking forward to mouth watering visceral horror!

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  19. The banner is up at TDOY. I am so stoked about this, because Roger is one of my movie gods.

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  20. Sweet!

    Looking forward to your review!

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  21. Can't you think of one that is B through and through rather than half way arty. Ebert mentions Wild Angels as a runaway success. Just for seeing of course, because I have a feel Masque is not real Corman.

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  22. Alright. If you want a "pure" B-movie...

    Check out "It Conquered the World."

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  23. Unless I missed somebody else claiming it, I would really love to take The Raven.

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  24. It's all yours!

    I can't wait to read your review, either! I watched it for the first time last night!

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  25. I'll go ahead and do a piece on SORORITY GIRL, one of Corman's more neglected directorial efforts. Thanks!

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  26. If it's still available, I would love to contribute with "Creature from the Haunted Sea."

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  27. It's all yours! Would you please pick a particular day to post your article along with a link to your site?

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  28. Roger. Wilco. Put me down for June 18, and I'll be posting it at Micro-Brewed Reviews. (If I can find the ads, I might do a double whammy and also post at the Morgue for the same film.) I'll post the banner later tonight. Thanks!

    http://microbrewreviews.blogspot.com/
    http://scenesfromthemorgue.blogspot.com/

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  29. Nathanael,
    Stopping by to wish you a relaxing holiday weekend.
    Page

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  30. What would I do without you?

    Thanks!

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  31. I would love to do Tower of London if it is still available. If not then Teenage Doll.

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  32. @Kevyn Knox

    Consider Tower of London yours! Now you need to pick a date for your article to be posted.

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  33. Thanx!

    I will have it up 06/18.

    The Most Beautiful Fraud in the World at http://themostbeautifulfraudintheworld.blogspot.com/

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  34. Wow, I'm stunned, everyone! Thank you all for signing up!

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  35. June 17 for mine Nathanael!

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  36. Hooray! I'm not crazy. I did put the 18th down in my second comment. So, if it's cool, my entry for The Creature from the Haunted Sea will be posted on Saturday. Thanks!

    WB.

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  37. @W.B. Kelso

    *facepalm*

    My bad, man. 18th it is.

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