Movies At Dog Farm III - Day One - Location Report For 5/23/14

     Well, folks, I was hoping to do some recording "in the field" for a podcast chronicling Movies At Dog Farm III, but logistics squashed that plan.  Maybe next time.  Instead, here are some notes and pics.

12:30 p.m. - I picked up an Epson video projector, a Yamaha sound projector, and a PSB subwoofer, all on loan for the weekend from my accommodating employer. I arrive at the Dog Farm about forty-five minutes later after a pleasant drive through some lovely Virginia countryside.  I'm nervous as always, though at least I'm not battling a raging infection this time.  I was very, very sick for the last Movies At Dog Farm.  I couldn't find any Shock Top Raspberry Wheat for the weekend, though, so I have to make a substitution.  I drink once a year, and my beer of choice has vanished from the face of the planet.  I thought I had one left in my fridge at home, but my mother beat me to it.

1:30 p.m. - Upon arriving at the Dog Farm, I'm greeted by Phil Neff - our host for the weekend - and my buddy Herb Miller, who arrived the preceding evening.  They're about to clear out the carport storage building, which has served as a what I'll politely describe as an archive of ephemera since the last Movies At Dog Farm event two Octobers ago.  Herb and I decide that Phil has only concocted this event  as a means to dispose of some unwanted clutter.  I'm not complaining, though.  In addition to some peculiar old signage, I came away from the excavation with a couple of Super 8mm film reels - Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) in a proper film tin and When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970) in an illustrated cardboard box.  Now I have to acquire a Super 8mm film projector, but I'm pretty stoked about experiencing these old flicks in about the only way movie aficionados could in their homes prior to the advent of VHS.

When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth Super 8 film reel box.

     I initially want to move the projection screen and equipment outside, but I note that several of the guests who've arrived over the course of the afternoon are already donning sweatshirts and jackets even before the sun goes down.  It's a beautiful day, but it's breezy and cooler out in the woods than in town.  We opt to keep the screen indoors rather than have everyone too uncomfortable to enjoy the movies.  I do, however, continue to harbor the notion that we'll move things outdoors tomorrow for Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970) and The Sentinel (1977).

8:30 p.m. - SHOWTIME!  Sadly, Herb and I are driving around greater metropolitan Timberville looking for the pizzas we were sent to pick up for the guests back at the Dog Farm.  The collective brain trust failed to ask where the order was placed.  Who woulda guessed such a tiny little speck on the map would have four pizza places?

9:15 p.m. - Herb and I make it back with the pizzas, and the movies commence less than an hour behind schedule.  Starship Troopers (1997) is first up, and the UK Blu-Ray I ordered looks and sounds fantastic.  It seems to be well received.  Most of the guests hang in there throughout the run of the movie, though we lose a couple to travel fatigue.

11:30 p.m. - Movie #2 begins - Saturn 3 (1980).  This is also a brand spanking new Blu-Ray copy, which looks and sounds far better than the previous no frills DVD release.  Those of us who didn't crash prior to the start of the second movie make it all the way through.  There will not, however, be an "After Midnight" selection this evening.  Tomorrow is another day.

     So over all, things go swimmingly on the first day of Movies At Dog Farm III.  Day two promises to be even better.

I'm Packing Up My 100% Guilt-Free Movies And Heading To The Dog Farm!

  I'm pretty excited, folks, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the Dog Farm this weekend!  In particular, I can't wait to see how Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls plays to an audience.  Thanks for having us, Phil!

100% Guilt-Free Movie Pick Number 3 - Saturn 3 (1980)

     Behold the majesty that is Hector the horny robot.  Sure, there's no robo-penis visible, but there's probably an optional attachment, right?  He runs on fetus brains programmed by a horny and homicidal Harvey Keitel, so what could possibly go wrong?  Maybe nothing as long as there aren't any attractive young women around.  Oh damn, is that Farrah Fawcett?   Well, at least she's not alone in this remote outpost.  There's Kirk Douglas, Farrah's lover and only companion on Saturn 3.  Douglas looks good for his age, but he's still obviously old enough for retirement.  Will Kirk and Farrah fall prey to Harvey and his randy eight foot tall science project?  Take another look at Hector, and place your bets.

     Saturn 3 (1980) is a peculiar British  production meant to capitalize on the then surging popularity of sci-fi at the box office.  It's not great, but it's pretty damn entertaining.  Saturn 3 was supposed to be the directorial debut of John Barry, the Oscar winning production designer of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).  He had a falling out with star Kirk Douglas during filming, after which he was replaced by veteran director Stanley Donen, who was already on board as a producer.

     Donen is most widely known as a director of Hollywood musicals such as Singing In The Rain (1952) and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) - fine movies, to be sure, but Saturn 3 is notably lacking in production numbers.  Shortly thereafter the movie's budget was cut when producer ITC Entertainment went over-schedule and over-budget on Raise The Titanic (1980), which ultimately proved even less financially successful than Saturn 3.  All things considered, Saturn 3 turned out pretty good.

     While researching this post, I came across Something Is Wrong On Saturn 3, a fantastic site detailing the turbulent production history of Saturn 3 written by Gregory Moss.  Mr. Moss also contributed the commentary to the Blu-ray release of Saturn 3, so he knows his stuff.  He tells the tale far better than I could.  Check it out, if only so you'll know why all of Harvey Keitel's dialog is dubbed - or how British novelist Martin Amis came to write the screenplay - or most importantly, why that snazzy uber-futuristic outfit Farrah is sporting at left didn't make the film's final US theatrical cut.  It's interesting reading, and it's sure to pique your interest in Saturn 3 before Movies At Dog Farm III commences.

     Really, though, I had you at "horny robot", right?