Oddball Films presents Strange
Sinema 65: Oddities From the Archives, an evening of newly discovered and
choice rarities from the stacks of Oddball Films’ 50,000 reel film archive. This
installment of the strangest show in San Francisco - Strange Sinema 65: Strange Stunts
features a horde of adrenaline junkies, High Wire Daredevils, Dust Eating
Drivers, Human Boomerangs, and Strait-Jacket Escapes. The hair-raising feats include High
Wire (1984), an early profile of high wire artist Philippe Petit
(subject of the 2008 film Man On Wire)
teetering between a skyscraper and the NYC Cathedral of St. John Divine, with
sound score by Philip Glass; Dust Eaters (1955), rocking rebels
in the stock car racing subculture of the early 50s; Houdini Never Died (1978),
a doc featuring Harry Houdini’s strait-jacket escape over Niagara Falls
achieved by magician and psychic debunker James Randi; Stunt Crazy (1930s), an assortment of fantastically foolhardy
leaps, dives, and the like; excerpts from Niagara Falls (1985), an
award-winning doc shot by Ken Burns serves as a background for the magnificent
marvels of American stuntsmanship; and Rendezvous (1976), director Claude
LeLouche’s one take high speed dash through the streets of Paris. All this and
more with selected live electronic accompaniment by Indonesian musician Iman Fattah. |
| Philippe Petit on High |
Date: Thursday, June 20th, 2013 at 8:00PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco
Admission: $10.00 Limited Seating RSVP to: 415-558-8117
or programming@oddballfilm.com
Featuring:
High Wire (Color, 1984) Directed by
Sandi Sissel. Philippe Petit (the recent subject of the doc “Man on Wire”) is a
French high wire artist who gained fame for his spectacular walk between the
Twin Towers in New York City on August 7, 1974. Here he metaphorically bridges
the ancient and modern as he walks a high wire suspended between the towers at
New York City’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine and a sixteen story high-rise
building across the street. With sound score by composer Phillip Glass.
 |
| A Day at the Jalopy Races! |
Dust Eaters
(B+W, 1955)
Hot rods mean hot girls! In this expose into the
underbelly of the stock car racing subculture, learn how NASCAR wasn’t the
first instance of yokels slavering over car crashes. But in the 50s, we didn’t
have things like airbags and anti-lock brakes, so when these cars crash, things
get really hairy! Get an insider’s lesson on the terminology and styles of car racing
elites, and witness some of the most dangerous driving (and flaming accidents) you’ll
see this side of Indianapolis.
 |
| Mr. Houdini is All Tied Up at the Moment... |
Houdini Never
Died
(Color, 1978) A insightful documentary about child vaudevillian, trapeze artist
and legendary escape artist Harry Houdini (Born Erich Weiss in Budapest,
Hungary (1874-1926) narrated by Burgess Meredith. Houdini… includes rare archival footage of Houdini, famed magicians
Doug Henning and the magician Shimada. The film culminates with a escape from a
strait jacket over Niagara Falls by famed psychic debunker James Randi.
 |
| Just a couple of Wing-Nuts! |
Stunt Crazy (B&W, 1930s)
We
see here: one nutcase setting a table on a tightrope high above the Alps,
another one who lives to joke about his dive off of the Seattle Bridge, and yet
another who just barrel-y survives Niagara Falls.
 |
| Over a Barrel for Niagara Falls |
Niagara Falls (Excerpts) (Color, 1985)
There
is only one place in the Western Hemisphere that has figured in the American
imagination since its discovery -- Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls: The Changing
Nature of a New World Symbol is a fast-paced, archival footage laced
documentary that tackles the fundamental question of what a nation does with
its symbols. The film incorporates newsreels, crazy “barrel over-the-falls”
stunts, vacationers and honeymooners, interviews with an Iroquois native
American, high wire aerialist Philippe Petit (“Man on Wire”) and archival and
historical stills and moving images.
In
the 17th century, the Falls were seen as the quintessential wilderness symbol,
vast and terrifying. In the 18th and 19th centuries, this symbol changed to
represent the moral and national strength of the new world.
The
Falls have been written about, painted, and photographed more than any other
site in the Americas. Hypnotic, overpowering, and magnificent, the Falls and
their rainbows draw in the viewer. With civilization in the background, this
film allows the viewer to see Niagara with the eye of the artist, the explorer,
and the Iroquois. Directed by Diane Grey and Lawrence Holt with camerawork by
Ken Burns. Blue Ribbon winner of the 1985 American Film Festival.
 |
| Lelouch sets up the shot of a lifetime |
Rendezvous (Color, 1976)
In
1976, at the end of a film shoot, Director Claude LeLouch (A Man and a Woman) found himself in possession of four things: a camera with ten minutes of film left, a
gyroscopically stabilized camera mount, a sports car, and an idea: to film a
mad dash (at speeds up to 140 mph) through the early morning streets of Paris. Denied the necessary permits, he shot the film
guerrilla-style, in one take, with no special effects and no street
closures. No one was hurt, his
subsequent arrest was brief, and the film has become a legend. One take, no
film tricks- you won’t believe your eyes.
Plus!
Thrills
on Wheels (B+W, c. 1950s)
Wild
homemade vehicles, stupid stunts and crashes galore.
About Jakarta
Musician Iman Fattah
Iman
Fattah is a musician, sound designer and producer from Jakarta, Indonesia. His
father is a legendary Indonesian musician Donny Fattah. Fattah has been active
in Indonesian rock and experimental music scene for the past 15 years, playing
guitar in his own band called Zeke and the Popo and RAKSASA. Additionally he
produces music for films, theater and commercials. In 2010 Iman collaborated with cutting edge
film director Joko Anwar Indonesian as sound designer in the award winning
theatrical performance Onrop.
Website:
www.imanfattah.com
Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/imanfattah
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/imanfattah