Every October, the Reference Department gets to let its hair down a little and share its taste for lame B-movies with the public. Of course, the best B-movies are monster/horror/sci-fi films from the 1950s and 1960s (and maybe the 70s now and then), so we show those. This year is no different.
Starting October 13th at 6:30pm, MONSTER MOVIE MADNESS 2008 begins with the obscure non-hit 1962 film This is Not a Test. It's the paranoid, Cold War era story of some folks stuck out in the open when a nuclear war is about to begin and their having to figure out what to do. Now, you may be thinking, "Hey! That's not a monster movie!" And, technically, you're right. This year, we've expanded our horizons a bit to include more science fiction and "suspense" films, provided they still stink. But I argue that the monster in This Is Not A Test is multi-faceted: paranoia, panic and human stupidity. And, of course, stiff delivery and bad acting.
And, being a reference nerd, I couldn't help myself. This movie is a tie-in to the 46th anniversary of The Cuban Missile Crisis. Between October 8th and October 14th of the same year this movie came out, we found out that the big, bad Soviets were putting big, bad missiles is crazy little Cuba, and we had a collective national experience very similar to the one in This Is Not a Test. So there is an element of education, maybe. Maybe.
Also being shown this year will be Killers From Space, a movie so bad descriptions don't do it justice. This is a rival to Plan 9 From Outer Space, our traditional final film, considered the worst ever made by many critics. They both stink so bad that we'll call it a tie.
Anyway, the movie schedule is like this:
OCTOBER 13, 2008, 6:30-8PM--This Is Not A Test
OCTOBER 20, 2008, 6:30-8PM--Killers From Space
OCTOBER 27, 2008, 6:30-8PM--Plan 9 From Outer Space
All films will be shown in the Distance Education classroom of the second floor of the Main Library at 151 Civic Center Blvd.
To bribe those with otherwise good taste in films, we offer free drinks and fresh popcorn.
Call me, Darryl, at 985-876-1733 with any questions.
2 comments:
Darryl,
Thanks so much for bringing us Monster Movie Madness 2008 as well as the series in the past. A few technical problems are to be expected along the way. Keep up the good work!
Really enjoyed the recent "This is Not a Test". Came across this viewer comment on that movie which I thought I'd share, "Not many nuclear war dramas are filled with hideous chicken abuse, poodle violence, and mink fur lust in the soon to be radioactive dust. Alcohol fueled T-bird convertible drifting and Vespa non-sequitirs make this one crazed and beat-filled ode to Atomic lounge.
- milsfran"
Keep Up the Good Work
- Rob
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