Re: The Mask

[Elliott Swanson <elliott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim, et al.

You got the name right... Slavko Vorkapich, who is probably better
remembered for his work on films like "The Good Earth" (1937). I agree
with you... anyone who would lump the Menzies film "Invaders From Mars" in
with "Reefer Madness" or Ed Wood, Jr. films is film illiterate. I would
also add incompetent to run a film festival. Menzies, who made "Things to
Come" among others, created a low budget masterpiece in "Invaders From
Mars." The film was originally designed to be shot in 3D, but it was not
done. Rumors that a 3D print exists are just that... rumors. There is a
surviving color print-- most people remember "Invaders..." as a b/w film,
but it was originally released in color in 1953. It's a classy little
piece of psychological horror from a child's pov. 

Elliott Swanson (co-author Video Movies: A Core Collection for Libraries 
by Randy Pitman & Elliott Swanson, ABC-CLIO, 1990, 266p)

> From: abrohams@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tim Onosko)
> 
> RE: 3-D Movie: The Mask
> 
> >The series is
> >called "Mondo Trasho-The Worst Films Ever Made," and includes such
> >"classics" as Reefer Madness, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Death Race 2000
> >("How many points is that fisherman worth?")and Invaders From Mars.
> 
> Obviously, "worst" is relative, isn't it?  For example, "Invaders from
> Mars" has a decent cult and critical following, and gets some attention for
> its art direction.  (Menzies?)  I won't defend "The Mask," except to note
> that the 3-D stuff was made by Slavko Vorkapich (I hope I've spelled that
> correctly), who was a master of montage, having virtually established what
> we now think of as the Hollywood montage while at Warners.  (The tearing
> calendar pages, multiple dissolves, etc.)  He was also highly respected in
> later years as a film theorist.  His talks about the psychological
> underpinnings of composition and camera are legendary, and Wm. Friedkin,
> the director, cited SV's theories when "The Exocist" was made.
> 
> So tell THAT to the guys at Eastman House.
> 
> -- Tim Onosko
> (Still here and reading you every day.  Just not responding much.)


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