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News & ArtsMonday, December 22, 2008
Film / Conflict of Interest You Literally Cannot Stop the Music
Posted by David Schmader on Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Neither rain nor hail nor snow nor sleet (especially not sleet) shall interrupt tonight's screening of the horrendous Village People musical/"bio pic" Can't Stop the Music at the Central Cinema, which begins at 7pm and will be hosted and casually annotated by me, as part of the ongoing series From Bad to Worse... (Here's a nice write-up on the series from the Seattle Times.)
I may be the only one there, but it will be happening.
In other conflict-of-interest crap-film news: As attendees can attest, the From Bad to Worse...series exists in the shadow of Showgirls, Paul Verhoeven's magically atrocious stripper drama, whose singular awfulness hovers over the FBTW series like glittery smog. And so the end of the series will be followed by a one-night-only screening of Showgirls at the Showbox. (Wed Jan 14, 8 pm, info and tickets here.)
2
A musical "bio pic" starring the Village People would be bad enough, but as a youngster who was rather heavily into the Village People for some reason, even I was disappointed by the movie...their later-crazy lead singer, who had good pipes if you remember any of their wacky hits, had quit at the start of filming and they got a replacement with a pretty unimpressive voice (who's still with them, I think I read)... and disco had recently started dying off...so this movie was out two years too late and was DOA. And hey! Bruce Jenner! Valerie Perrine! The '80s were weird.
3
Totally. I eventually decided the film that was directed by a Bounty paper-towel spokeswoman should get the nod.
Also, the tough-call choice between CSTM and Xanadu was an actual fact of life for Olivia Newton-John, who was offered the lead in both films. Lucky lady.
Also, the tough-call choice between CSTM and Xanadu was an actual fact of life for Olivia Newton-John, who was offered the lead in both films. Lucky lady.
5
"Leathermen don't get nervous! Leathermen don't get nervous!"
Confidential to @2--CSTM was made in the 1970s.
Confidential to @2--CSTM was made in the 1970s.
6
#5 - IMDB says 1980. So, technically, yes, *made* in the '70s. But it feels like the '80s to me. If it had come out in the '70s it might have actually made a few bucks!
7
Well, it was made in the final minutes of the '70s, but released in 1980, and self-identified fiercely as "the first major event of the '80s!" (It said so on a billboard.)
11
Schmader, thanks to you and your screening of Battlefield Earth, I see 'dutch angles' everywhere now. Doubt was full of 'em.
12
Oh man, if I still lived in Seattle I would definitely brave the elements to hear you annotate this.
Is it too much to hope that "Valley of the Dolls" is also part of this series? Talk about classic lines ("You know how bitchy fags can be." "Well at least I didn't MARRY one!"), followed by perhaps the greatest scene in cinematic history involving a toilet.
Have fun! I'm with you in glittery smog spirit.
Is it too much to hope that "Valley of the Dolls" is also part of this series? Talk about classic lines ("You know how bitchy fags can be." "Well at least I didn't MARRY one!"), followed by perhaps the greatest scene in cinematic history involving a toilet.
Have fun! I'm with you in glittery smog spirit.
13
Damn, @10 made me all fuzzy inside. If i weren't 822 miles too far south i would totally be there for the awesomeness of CSTM and to collect my prize.
14
I'm there - 'cause I can drink beer & eat pizza.
CC being right around the corner is also a factor.
CC being right around the corner is also a factor.
15
@6 & 7, yes, dearest David and Greg--which was the reason it was so tonally out of step with the times. As I'm sure you are aware, David, as you've clearly done your research, the project was originally titled DISCOLAND. It was always designed with the fads and music of the 1970s in mind. Hence it was anything BUT a 1980s project, and that helped contribute to its disastrous debut. It's not just a horrendous movie--it was a horrendous flop because it was so out of style. Therefore, it is still very much a product of the 70s rather than the 80s.
16
@3 Yes, Olivia was spared. Bruce Jenner was not. He turned down doing SUPERMAN: The Movie to do CSTM.
18
Alan Carr is interviewed by Tom Snyder about this film in the New Wave & Punk DVD set. Alan Carr appeared on the same episode of the Tom Synder show as Public Image Limited, in June of 1980.
19
This film features the song "Ready for The 80's". I can't think of a song with more profoundly sad irony.
Everything is gonna work out fine
I have faith in this old world of mine
We'll be loving in the bright sunshine
Around the corner were Reagan and AIDS. The producer who created the band and wrote all the music died, along with a legion of leathermen, urban cowboys and soldiers in the West Village club scene.
The world of gay disco was most certainly not ready for the 80's. And you really can stop the music.
Everything is gonna work out fine
I have faith in this old world of mine
We'll be loving in the bright sunshine
Around the corner were Reagan and AIDS. The producer who created the band and wrote all the music died, along with a legion of leathermen, urban cowboys and soldiers in the West Village club scene.
The world of gay disco was most certainly not ready for the 80's. And you really can stop the music.
21
bah! old man winter and my fella both say not to risk the journey via car. You should do an encore of this one after the thaw for those of us stuck in the hinterlands. :-(
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