Hardly Working (1980)

To commemorate the recent passing of 

Jerry Lewis, presented here is Hardly Working. 

 

Filmed in 1979, it was released to Europe 

and South America in 1980 

and then throughout the U.S. in 1981.

the trailer

the feature

Black Flag - Target Video

Black Flag

Target Video

Footage from 1979, 1980, and 1981

Caveman (1981)

Carl Gottlieb is best known as a screenwriter for films such as Jaws or Which Way Is Up? and it was the success of his screenplay for The Jerk that allowed him the opportunity to direct and write the 1981 feature Caveman.

Aside from all dialogue being spoken in a form of a caveman language two other factors make this film notable: the stunt casting of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr and the special effects dinosaurs. Also filling out the cast are: former football player John Matuszak, Barbara Bach (who would begin an on-set romance with Ringo Starr which continues to this day),  Dennis Quaid, and Shelley Long in her first major role in a motion picture. 

Special effects artist Jim Danforth began work creating the dinosaurs as well as making other contributions but according to IMDb trivia after two thirds of the film was finished, Danforth had to leave the production because "the Directors Guild of America allegedly disallowed his already contracted co-director credit alongside director Carl Gottlieb. As such, Danforth is not credited as a director on this picture, only for special effects and second unit director."

the trailer

the feature

Thief (1981)

1981s Thief is Michael Mann's directorial debut. He also served as the screenwriter and producer. The film was based on the book The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar by Frank Hohimer aka real-life jewel thief John Seybold.

The stylishly filmed story follows James Caan as the title thief. He operates a very lucrative, high end burglar operation (with Jim Belushi as his assistant and Willie Nelson as his incarcerated mentor) that includes a used car dealership and a bar as fronts for his activities. After his middleman to the fence is killed while returning from the meeting with his sizable portion of the proceeds, his life is turned upside down in a series of trying and troubling encounters with the heavy hitters who have been fencing his stolen goods, unbeknownst to him, for years.

Curious to note that Thief was the film debut for actors James Belushi, William Petersen, Dennis Farina, John Kapelos, as well as Robert Prosky.

the trailer

the feature

Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981)

I have multiple airings on early eighties cable television to thank for turning me on to Fort Apache, The Bronx, a modern age noir, crime drama. Paul Newman stars as a veteran cop, trying to do good and keep on the straight and narrow while policing a very active section of New York City. Ken Wahl makes the scene as his equally minded partner with Ed Anser amping up his stern glares and barely checked anger as the newly installed captain. Exploitation favorite Pam Grier vies for a lions share of viewers attention in a too slim role as a malevolent junkie hooker.

During filming local resident groups protested the movies negative depiction of both the area and those living within and threatened to file lawsuits against the production.  

In 1982 director Daniel Petrie followed up Fort Apache, The Bronx with the oddly hypnotically watchable but poorly received Kenny Rogers vehicle Six Pack.

the trailer

the feature

Deadly Blessing (1981) - Repost

A repost, now with a functioning feature, sorry it's got Greek subtitles.

I first viewed Deadly Blessing (1981) during the onslaught of movies that were newly available to me through the wonders of vhs. While Wes Cravens' film output during this period is somewhat spotty, I've always dug this messy but atmospheric film.

After her husband is killed in a farming accident, pregnant Martha (Maren Jenson) has her two best friends (Sharon Stone and Susan Buckner) come to console her. Things quickly get creepy with a secretive Amish-like sect (which includes Ernest Borgnine and Michael Berryman) who think Martha is an "Incubus", recurring nightmares, and more unexplained deaths playing into the scenario.

the trailer

 

  the feature 

 

Under the Rainbow (1981)

While this 1981 feature tanked quickly at the box office, it soon after found a receptive and enthusiastic audience when Under the Rainbow played repeatedly on cable television in the early 80s; and that's where I first became acquainted with this film.

Set in 1938, the plot is an odd one involving the chaotic scenes inside and around a Los Angeles hotel which quickly becomes overbooked and full of rambunctious folks; such as a multitude of little people working on the filming of The Wizard of Oz, Japanese tourists, and even a few secret agents and highly trained assassins. Many great character actors and notable faces round out the cast and include Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, Billy Barty, Pat McCormick, Adam Arkin, Robert Donner, Joseph Maher, Zelda Rubinstein, Tony Cox, and Mako.

the trailer

the feature

Urban Struggle: Battle Of The Cuckoos Nest (1981)

Urban Struggle: The Battle Of The Cuckoos Nest is a documentary focusing on Jerry Roach's music venue around the year 1981. Facing ongoing pressure from both a nearby "cowboy" bar and the police, the film includes interviews with hardcore punk fans and bands such as: Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and T.S.O.L., who are also shown performing at the Cuckoos Nest.

Urban Struggle: The Battle of the Cuckoos Nest by YorkShackleton

The Boogens (1981)

The Boogens (1981)

Here's the second part of a double feature from director James L. Conway, 1981s The Boogens. 

Thanks to Dennis Duncan for posting

In Search Of: The End of the World

 In Search Of...  

The End of the World  

Originally broadcast on 30 April 1981, 

this was Episode 22, from Season 5 of this 

"gone but not forgotten" review of weirdness, 

hosted by Leonard Nimoy. 

Thanks to TheDocumentarySite for posting this 

and many other In Search Of episodes.

Amin: The Rise and Fall (1981)

Amin: The Rise and Fall (1981) 

Presented below is director Sharad Patel's 

"historical" exploitation film concerning the 

brutal, violent, and supremely odd world of 

Ugandan dictator Idi "Big Daddy Number 1" Amin. 

Curious to note that this is the only movie Patel directed, but a few 

years later he began producing films. His first as executive 

producer was the early Tom Hanks vehicle Bachelor Party in 1984.

Thanks to horrorfan183 for uploading.

Just Before Dawn (1981)

Director Jeff Lieberman had previously created such drive-in favorites as Blue Sunshine and Squirm, when he brought his creative imprint to the cinematic world of teens in trouble with 1981s Just Before Dawn. Lieberman transcends the slasher in the woods sub-genre with taught atmospherics and well executed pacing which both add to the onscreen terror.

I first saw this movie as a vhs rental in the early/mid 80s. Good times! In fact that scan above is from my still watchable Paragon Video vhs copy, complete with great previews for fun flicks such as Boardinghouse or The Gates of Hell beforehand. Anyway I digress, please check out the trailer and the (presented again) feature below.


the trailer



the feature

Darkroom - 11 Dec. 1981 Episode

Hosted by James Coburn, Darkroom was a horror/fantasy anthology television series that ran from 1981 to 1982 on ABC. Some of the episodes created for the program were deemed too intense for broadcast television by the network, were subsequently beefed up with additional footage and released in 1983 as the film Nightmares.

My favorite episode was first aired on December 11, 1981. There were two stories, the first Needlepoint, has to do with a grandmother using voodoo to extract revenge while the second Siege Of 31 August, concerns army toys coming to life and attacking.

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) was funded by some folks usually in the business of producing porn, but director Penelope Spheeris instead created this imperfect but classic documentary of the Los Angeles hardcore/punk world of 1979/80.
Interviews and performances from the Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X all provide a fascinating look at that period in musical history.

The full movie has been removed from Youtube,
but here are a few bits...

Attention!


Penelope Spheeris, John Doe + Lee Ving interview


Circle Jerks

On the Right Track (1981)

Are you like me? Has the fact that you have not viewed Gary Coleman's set in Chicago 1981 movie On the Right Track since Ronald Reagan was in the White House been keeping you up tossing and turning. Well say so long to sleepless nights and soak up the movie once again, as it's presented below for viewing.
Thanks to jdycus for posting the clips on YouTube.


Part 1 of 11


Part 2 of 11


Part 3 of 11


Part 4 of 11


Part 5 of 11


Part 6 of 11


Part 7 of 11


Part 8 of 11


Part 9 of 11


Part 10 of 11


Part 11 of 11

Dead and Buried (1981)

I've always considered 1981s Dead and Buried an attention worthy and under rated horror flick. It's plot is widely divergent from the standard slasher fare so prevalent at the time. The film didn't fare too well at the box office and quickly made it's way to cable television which is where I had my first screening not long after theatrical release. Repeated vhs viewings confirmed it for me.

One of the film's screenwriters Dan O'Bannon is notable for his work on standout genre films such as Dark Star, Alien, Blue Thunder and Return of the Living Dead.

Among other credits, director Gary Sherman would go on to direct another vhs exploitation favorite of mine Vice Squad in 1982.

the trailer


the feature

The Funhouse (1981)

Tobe Hooper directed 1981s The Funhouse after completing the television mini-series Salem's Lot (1979) and just prior to his somewhat controversial involvement with the Steven Spielberg "produced" Poltergeist (1982). I first caught this on a cable tv viewing in 1982 or 83, and have always enjoyed it's horror stylings.

the trailer

the feature