Publishing Date: May 2002

In Memoriam - Harry Nadler 1941 - 2002.

It was with stunned disbelief and a sinking heart that I was informed of the death of Harry Nadler on the 1st of March.

I had known Harry for over 40 years, but you only needed to know Harry for 40 minutes to love him.
Our thoughts are with his wife Marie, his son Steven, his daughter Lindsey and all of Harry's family.

Harry lived and breathed movies, he had a large collection of 16mm prints and needed only the slightest pretext to offer to project them for you. He never really took to the new fangled video and DVD, 1950's fantastic movies were his favourite along with musicals.
He started his beloved Festival in 1990 along with Gil Lane-Young, Dave Trengove and myself.
We will all miss him greatly.

Although my heart is heavy with his loss, my spirit soars with the many happy memories I have of Harry.

Tony Edwards.

It is with a great deal of sadness that I write this entry for our progress report, because no matter what we do or say about this year's event, we will all miss the hustle and bustle that was Harry Nadler.

I had only known Harry for about 13 years (albeit seemed longer) but he became like Tony Edwards and originally Dave Trengove, part of my current life, we all spoke and argued regularly, but like all like-minded people we remained friends, and it is as a friend that I will miss Harry most.

Sure we were heavily involved as a trio in the Festival but even that was often a pleasure because after all the effort of organising the event and the frequent discussions, and even more frequent differences of opinion we got on well.

I shall miss Harry, but knowing him I believe he will be watching us and giving us his pennyworth (even though we may not be able to hear it) Enjoy yourself Harry wherever you are.

Gil Lane-Young.

We should like to take this this opportunity, along with Harry's family of thanking all those who turned up at his funeral to give him such a well attended and memorable send off.

The Festival will continue, as we believe it is what Harry would have wanted, and it will be a fitting tribute to him and his love of cinema and people. He got no greater pleasure than seeing friends enjoying a movie, or just talking about fantastic films.

We would also like to thank all those who have offered to help with this year's Festival, and will be calling on you to help fill the chasm.

GUESTS OF HONOUR.

Mel Welles.

Prior to his Hollywood career, New York born Mel Welles held a variety of jobs, including work as a clinical psychologist, writer and radio deejay. After some stage work, he wound up in Hollywood, where he made his first film 'Appointment in Honduras', in 1953. He appeared as Jules Deveroux in Roger Corman's 1957 movie 'Attack of the Crab Monsters'.
His best and favourite role, as flower shop owner Gravis Mushnick in Corman's horror comedy 'Little Shop of Horrors', was one of his last before leaving the U.S. in the early '60s and forging a long acting, producing and directing career in Europe.
A U.S. resident again, Mel still acts, does voiceovers and appears at autograph shows.

John Scott.

John hopes to be with us for the 13th Festival. John's work has of course not been confined to genres in which we specifically celebrate - but he has written the music for some notable movies of the Fantastic type - 'Tell Tale Heart' - 'Horror at Party Beach' - 'Study in Terror' - 'Doomwatch' - 'Satan's Slave' - People that Time Forgot' - 'Greystoke: Legend of Tarzan' - 'The Final Countdown' - King Kong Lives' - 'Inseminoid' etc.

Frederick Smith.

Some time ago our good friend Richard Gordon suggested that we invite Frederick to the Festival and
take the opportunity to run the 1963 movie "Devil Doll" which both were involved in.
Frederick wrote the war novel on which the movie "633 Squadron" was based (great musical theme also).

Udo Kier.

We have asked Udo to attend this year's Festival. He has said he would be delighted, but cannot at the moment give us a definite commitment as he has much work in the pipeline. He has said he will contact us nearer the date. Here's hoping, Udo has had a fantastic career in the genre. He has appeared in 'Mark of the Devil', 'Flesh for Frankenstein', 'Blood for Dracula', 'Suspiria' and of course 'Blade'.
More details in our next PR.

Other Guests.

We hope to announce other guests as we approach the Festival dates, keep an eye on our website for the latest information:

PR3 will contain more info and is due out end of June/early July.

Programme Thoughts.

Gerald Price.

After Gerald's great reception at last years Festival, he will be back with at least two programme spots.
The first will be "Fantasy Films of the 1920's", a look and talk about four great silent classics: 'The Lost World', 'Phantom of the Opera', 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', and the 'Thief of Bagdad.

The second item will be 'The History of Monogram and PRC'. A look at the output of this poverty row studio from the Lugosi features such as 'Devil Bat', 'The Apeman', 'Return of the Apeman, 'Voodoo Man', 'Bowery at Midnight'; to Karloff's involvment in 'The Ape' and the 'Mr. Wong' series.
We pick up various forays by The East Side Kids into the genre; 'Ghost Busters', 'Masterminds', 'Spooks Run Wild', 'Ghosts in the Night', and finish by considering such one-offs as 'The Monster Maker'.

Movie Anniversaries.

2002 sees the 100th anniversary of Melies 'A Trip to the Moon'.
The 90th anniversary of 'The Conquest of the Pole', also by Melies.
The 80th anniversary of Lon Chaney in 'A Blind Bargain', also Fritz Lang's 'Dr. Mabuse'.
The 70th anniversary of the classic 'L'Atlantide', starring Bridget Helm, also Karloff's great performance in 'The Mask of Fu Manchu', plus Charles Laughton's 'Island of Lost Souls'.
The 60th anniversary of Lon Chaney Jnr. in 'The Ghost of Frankenstein' also the Republic serial 'King of the Mounties' starring Allen Lane.
The 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe in Howard Hawks' 'Monkey Business', the serial 'Zombies of the Stratosphere', W. Merle Connell's (shot in under a week) 'Untamed Women'.
The 40th anniversary of the first Bond movie 'Dr. No', Ray Milland's 'Panic in Year Zero', also Denmarks classic 'Reptilicus'.
The 30th anniversary of Gary Sherman's 'Deathline', our 1992 guest Robert Fuest's superior sequel 'Dr. Phibes Rises Again', and the unforgettable 'Night of the Lepus'.
The 20th anniversary of such classics as Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner', Spielberg's 'E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, and Cronenberg's 'Videodrome'.
The 10th anniversary of 'Bram Stoker's Dracula', 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Cronos', 'Freejack', 'Innocent Blood' and 'Toys'.

2002 also sees the 25th anniversary of Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Peter Hyams' 'Capricorn One', Donald Cammell's 'Demon Seed' and of course George Lucas's 'Star Wars'.

We will be showing some of the anniversary films, if you have a favourite write and let us know. You can write to Tony Edwards, 95, Meadowgate Road, Salford. M6 8EN, or Email me at [email protected]

The Weird the Wonderful and the Obscure

Ramsey Campbell will be showing and introducing many weird, wonderful and obscure movies over the weekend. Titles to be considered are 'I Vampiri' Mario Bava's 1956 debut as a director, widescreen, Italian with subtitles. 'Black Sabbath', the original Italian edit with subtitles. 'The Flesh and the Fiends', widescreen, uncut "Continental" version. 'The Curse of the Doll People' fifties Mexican, dubbed in English. 'The Screaming Skull' and 'The Giant Leeches' as a drive-in double bill complete with adverts and such. 'Godmonster of Indian Flats' and 'Bloody Pit of Horror', two jaw dropping and often hilarious seventies independents. 'Sakuya', Slayer of Monsters', Japanese fantasy, English subtitles. 'Castle of Blood', a Barbara Steele rarity, uncut.
We are also hoping to show award winners from the Stiges Festival, 'Donnie Darko', 'Session 9' and 'Inugami', plus 'Pulse' which just missed out on the awards.

Japanese Classic.

We are planning to introduce you to the 'Baby Cart' series of Japanese films.
Kenji Misumi directed the first four in the series.
In 1980 Roger Corman vandalised 'Kosure Ookami - Sanzu no Kawa Ubagurama' aka 'Baby Cart at the River Styx', by putting an electronic sound track on it, badly dubbing the lead characters, adding a stupid narration from the baby's point of view and retitling it 'Shogun Assassin'. Don't watch this Americanised version, the only to see 'Baby Cart' movies is in the original Japanese version.

Independent and Amateur Movie Competitions.

We will be holding an Independent movie competition, and an amateur movie competition. These have become quite popular over the past few years, and we expect our usual glut of entries.
If you wish to enter a movie entry forms are available on our website at

http://fantastic-films.com/festival/

Closing date for entries is strictly 31st July 2002.

Other Events.

Film Fair/Dealers Room.

This year the Dealers Room/Film Fair will be on the Saturday, that is August the 31st.
The Film Fair/Dealers Room will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission £1.50p
We hope to have over 30 tables at this years Festival.
To book a table at this years Festival ring Phil Nevitski on 0161 228 2947, or mail him at P.O. Box 364, Manchester. M60 1AL.

Auction.

Ramsey Campbell will be wielding the gavel once again in his infamous auction with his usual gusto, mad rantings and occasional pearls of wisdom, on the Saturday of the Festival.
If you have any Fantastic Film memorabilia you wish to donate to the Festival contact Gil Lane-Young at 'Penrose', 21, Winton Road, Bowdon, Cheshire. WA14 2PE, or ring him on 0161 929 1423.
If you wish to put items in the auction and want money for them we accept items but take 50% of the price realised, make sure you let Gil know if you are donating or splitting.

End of Festival Party.

We will be holding an end of Festival party on the Sunday, that is the 1st of September, starting at about 10 p.m.
There will be the usual quiz, plenty of good fun and conversation, so start arranging who you're going to have on your table.

Stockport Plaza.

The 'King Kong' trip to the Plaza at Stockport was the winner of our 'Best of the Fest' award.
The British Film Institute are in the process of having brand new prints struck of Tod Browning's 1932 film 'Freaks' and Lionel Barrymore's 1936 film 'The Devil Doll'.
They have offered to let us have first show of the new prints if we show them at the Plaza.
This would mean us having another bus trip out there on the Sunday of the Festival.
Let us know your thoughts on this as soon as possible. Would you support it?
Contact me on 0161 707 3747

The Bradford Decision.

As you probably read in PR1 we are not transferring the Festival of Fantastic Films to Bradford.
But Bradford are putting on their own show in collaboration with the Festival of Fantastic Films on May the 25th and 26th. It promises to be a very interesting and packed 48 hours.
We urge everyone interested in the genre to give it as much support as possible, even if it's only for one day or one session.

The Bradford Fantastic Films Weekend.

In collaboration with the organisers of the annual Manchester based Festival of Fantastic Films the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Bradford is proud to present its first weekend of classic chillers, over the weekend of May 25th and 26th 2002.

A Packed 48 Hours.

A packed 48 hours uses all three of the Museum's cinemas and the vaults of TV Heaven to screen the best of the filmed works of Edgar Allan Poe, M.R. James and Shirley Jackson, with stars such as Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Deborah Kerr, Dana Andrews and Peter Wyngarde battling the forces of darkness in their various forms.

Rare Screenings.

We are delighted to be able to present a collection of rare screenings, not least the old favourites 'Night of the Demon' and the "one-day version of 'The Wicker Man' - we hope to welcome Wicker Man director Robin Hardy to Pictureville to discuss the films ever growing cult status.

70 mm, 3-D and TV Heaven.

John Carpenter's magnificently frightening 'The Thing' also gets a rare outing on 70mm.
In the IMAX cinema we will be showing at 3 p.m. on the Saturday 'Haunted Castle' in 3-D.
In addition in the TV Heaven Theatre we shall be running 'The Stone Tape', 'The Quatermass Experiment' (Episode 1) and 'Quatermass II' (Episode 2).
Finally we hope to be joined by filmmaker Julian Richards, Writer/Director of 'Darklands', who will discuss the making of his acclaimed tale of paganism and death in modern Wales.

DIARY OF EVENTS

SATURDAY MAY 25th

KEY (C) = Cubby Broccoli Cinema. (TVH) = TV Heaven Theatre.
All other screenings are in Pictureville unless otherwise stated

10.15 The Stone Tape (TVH)

12.00 The Quatermass Experiment [episode 1] (TVH)

12.45 Quatermass II [episode 2] (TVH)

1.45 House of the Long Shadows

2.30 The Haunted Palace (C)

3.00 The Haunted Castle 3-D (IMAX)

4.00 The Innocents

4.30 The Abominable Dr. Phibes (C)

6.00 Night of the Eagle

6.30 Three Cases of Murder (C)

8.00 Night of the Demon

8.30 The Masque of the Red Death (C)

SUNDAY MAY 26th

10.15 The Hound of the Baskervilles (TVH)

12.30 Beasts [episode 3 - Baby] (TVH)

1.45 Dr. Phibes Rises Again

3.00 Cat People (C)

3.00 The Haunted Castle 3-D (IMAX)

3.45 The Wicker Man + Screentalk - with Robin Hardy

4.30 Curse of the Cat People (C)

6.00 Darklands + Screentalk - with the director Julian Richards

6.00 The Thing From Another World (C)

8.00 The Haunting

8.15 The Thing 70mm

Bradford National Museum of Photography, Film and Television Box Office: 01274 202030
Prices £30 weekend pass. £5.00 (£3.30 concs) for individual films
Website: www.nmpft.org.uk/film