Insomniac Theater Presents Blood and Roses (Roger Vadim, 1961)

Last night, or early this morning, since I didn't start it until after midnight, I watched Roger Vadim's 1961 vampire film, Blood and Roses, loosely based on Sheridan Le Fanu's 1875 novella, Carmilla. Carmilla has been adapted for film many times, probably the most well known and accurate adaptation of is Hammer Film's The Vampire Lovers (1970, with Ingrid Pitt).  The Vampire Lovers was the first part of Hammer's famous, sexier, lesbian-ic vampire trilogy, The Karnstein Trilogy.  I first read the story in 1977 in a pulp magazine that I bought in a bus station.  It  featured lots of shots of Ingrid Pitt, Yutte Stensgaard, the Collinson twins and their decolletage.

Elvis Costello

I want to thank Ted for reminding me what a great artist Elvis Costello is.  Elvis Costello and his music has touched my life many times, as a child, growing up and as an adult.

Beyond the Black Rainbow (Panos Cosmatos, 2010)

Psychotronic, when applied to movies, loosely means quirky and obscure  (thank you, Wikipedia)  Quirky and obscure pretty much describe all my favorite films.

Last night, or rather, early this morning, my film fan friends and I saw Beyond the Black Rainbow at one of the Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah's monthly Friday night midnight shows (I am sad to say it was the first time I had ever been to one, hopefully it won't be the last!).

The Skull (1965, Freddie Francis) Trailer

Found this today in a bargain bin; I am going to watch it tonight:

 

Vampyros Lesbos (Jesus Franco, 1971)

Jesus (Jess) Franco is an extremely frustrating film maker to appreciate.  If the trailer for his latest film, Crypt of the Condemned is any indication, his latest film is a soft core (maybe hard core?) pornographic film that takes place solely in an apartment with three naked and extremely friendly women.  But he also is responsible for for one of the greatest, modern vampire movies, 1971's Vampyros Lesbos.