R.I.P. British Sexpolitation King Stanley A. Long

Sadly, legendary film producer/writer/director Stanley Long passed away on September 10th aged 78.
As regular visitors to this blog will no doubt have gathered, I have a fondness for the type of film Stanley became famous for. His Adventures series (Taxi Driver, Plumber's Mate, Private Eye) were always trying to emulate the success of the Confessions films, but were entertaining in their own right.
His early films as producer, exploitation documentaries West End London, Primitive London and London in the Raw all courted controversy. Yet, some 40 years after they were made were gaining praise thanks to their BFI Flipside releases. Most of his 70s output (both as producer and director) are now available on DVD. I reviewed A Promise Of Bed (aka This, That and The Other) a while back, and have had others lined up to do when I had the time. His final feature film, the 1983 portmanteau horror Screamtime was a favourite of mine from the VHS era, despite its limitations.
He directed and produced a 2007 TV series, The Other Side of the Screen which paired him with legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff (The Red Shoes, and director of The Mutations) and car boot botherer Paul Martin and looked at various aspects of film making.
As a cinematographer, Stanley was behind the lens of classic British horrors The Sorcerers and The Blood Beast Terror and apparently Polanski's Repulsion, uncredited.
His autobiography, X-rated: Adventures of an Exploitation Filmmaker (co-written with Simon Sheridan) is superb and well worth picking up.
My thoughts are with his family and friends. Thank you Stanley for all the fun.

Ken Russell's The Fall Of The Louse Of Usher (2002)

Sadly, legendary director Ken Russell has passed away. A long time favourite of mine, and genuine cause celebre of the British film industry. Never one to pander to the mainstream, his films polarized audiences more than almost any other film maker in history.
So, as a tribute, I decided to watch a film I'd had in my collection for a while, and shamefully never got round to watching. Who doesn't have a whole load of them? It would also be Russell's last full length film, although he did contribute a tale in the 2006 anthology 'Trapped Ashes' (the interestingly titled The Girl With Golden Breasts) which I have yet to track down.

Set in Orange County, but filmed in Russell's own back garden on what looks like a normal home camcorder, The Fall Of The Louse Of Usher tells the story of Roddy Usher (James Johnston from band Gallon Drunk) singer of a goth rock band, who kills his wife, Annabelle Lee (Emma Millions), plucking out her eye and eating it, then bricking her up with her pet dog. He is sent to a mental institution over seen by the rather odd Dr Calahari (played with amazing relish by Russell). After watching a music video of the singer, the mad doctor becomes more than a little enamoured by Usher's sister, Madeline (Lisi  Tribble, Russell's wife from 2001 til his death). 

There is a party planned for the staff and inmates of the asylum, Trying to pursuade Usher to sing at the do,  Nurse Smith (Marie Findley) injects him with Viagra and putting his boner at risk with a swinging knife pendulum.
Alongside other 'plot twists' we have the doctor trying to sustain life at the point of death - resulting in Ernest Valdemar (Pete Mastin) being a comatose, bitter zombie. A trip to the house of Usher - actually Russell's garden shed - and it's 'fall' is beautiful staged.  A mummy, mad psychic and a gorilla all add to the fun.

Subtitled A Gothic Tale For The 21st Century,  Usher is a mix of Poe stories and a touch of The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari, Usher is everything but boring. An opening monologue paraphrased from The Tell Tale Heart, leads in to 80 mins of low rent gore, madness and musical numbers (based on Poe's poems) some  preposterous but hilarious dialogue, and the best use of everyday items you have seen - including one of those awful 'Big Mouth Billy Bass' things that were popular with the great unwashed a few years ago. DIY special effects make it feel like you're watching your mate's attempt at film making. It's a credit to Russell that this rises above what could have been an awful endurance, but his fertile imagination and glorious sense of humour and fun make it a joy to watch.

The cast and crew were all Russell's friends and acquaintances, but they do a good job, despite all the wonky accents and lack of acting ability. Russell's ruddy faced doctor is wonderfully manic and he looks like he's having a load of fun, surrounded by naughty nurses, and throwing himself into his part - even if he slips out of his 'Allo 'Allo type German accent from time to time. Watch out for classical music wenches Mediaeval Baebes romping around in the music video early on! (Sadly, they keep their kit on). At times it reminded me of a feature length version of that advert skit in Crimes Of Passion, (you know, the one with the couple that turn into skeletons?) All fast edits and surreal images. Not saying that's a bad thing though.

Despite it's low budget, the film is whole lot of fun, and shows you can make use with house hold items for effects (steam irons for a defibrillator anyone?), even if it just adds to the camp amusement rather than look realistic.

 

I'm sad that it took the great man's death for me to get round to watching this, but I'm glad to it was worth the wait. A hell of a lot of fun, but it's a shame no one would give him the finances to make something more on par with his famous works.
8 out of 10.

Richard Gordon 1925 - 2011

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of film producer Richard Gordon. While not a house hold name, his films have been enjoyed by many for years. I have been lucky enough to meet Richard several times over the years, as he was a regular visitor to the Manchester Festival of Fantastic Films, where he was due to appear this year but his health wouldn't allow it. Star of two of his films, Robin Askwith was there and spoke very highly of Richard, and they kept in touch over the years too.
For those who still can't place him, Richard produced and executive produced (often uncredited) such films as Fiend Without A Face (1958), (no one can forget the final 10mins of this with the stop motion brains complete with spinal cord tails and antenna!) The Haunted Strangler (aka Grip Of The Strangler 1958), Corridors of Blood (1958), First Man Into Space (1959) and later on Tower Of Evil (1972) and Horror Hospital (1973) both with Robin Askwith. He bowed out of the industry with Norman J. Warren's Inseminoid (1981)

Worth checking out is the brilliant book The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon which is basically a book long conversation between author Tom Weaver and Richard, going through each of his famous horror films. It's a great read (I have a copy) and fascinating. There's also a foreword by Mr Askwith! What's more to want?

It is always sad to say goodbye to someone whose work you've admired and enjoyed for so long, but at least we have that work as his legacy. Mr Gordon, we salute you, rest in peace.