As part of our focus on Polish director Andrzej Żuławski, we take an illustrated look at his dark and moody drama The Most Important Thing: Love. Based on the novel La Nuit américaine by Christopher Frank, the story revolves around the passionate love affair between struggling actress Nadine (Romy Schneider), who earns her money starring in cheap soft-core movies, and Servais Mont, a photographer (Fabio Testi) determined to help her get her career back.
Comic Strip Review by Daniel Fish
More information on Daniel Fish can be found on his website.
As part of our current exploration of werewolves in cinema, we take an illustrated look at Michael Wadleigh’s unusual 80s Indian shapeshifters horror Wolfen. The film is out now on Blu-ray (A/1) in the US, released by Warner Archive Collection in 2015, and on DVD in the UK.
Loosely based on the novel of the same name by Peter Straub, John Irvin’s Ghost Story (1981) follows four elderly men (Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and John Houseman) who have formed a private club to tell each other creepy tales.
Released for the first time in the UK by Second Sound, Ghost Story is out now on Blu-ray and DVD.
Comic Strip Review by Hannah Jenkins
More information on Hannah Jenkins can be found at here.
As part of our focus on John Waters, we take a look at his first feature, shot in 1969 and the first to star Divine in a lead role. Mondo Trasho screens at BFI Southbank on 4 and 9 September 2015.
Enjoy a 2-4-1 ticket offer on all events in the BFI’s John Waters season by simply quotingWaters241online, in person or over the phone 020 7928 3232. For full programme info and to book tickets online, visit theBFI website
Comic Strip Review by Douglas Noble
More information on Douglas Noble can be found on douglasnoble.com.
Following our Mothra comic strip review as part of our Butterflies theme, we now take a look at the 1964 sequel, Godzilla vs Mothra, also directed by Ishirô Honda, with special effects by the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya, co-creator of Godzilla. Godzilla vs Mothra is available on Region 1 DVD.
Comic Strip Review by Woodrow Phoenix
For more information on Woodrow Phoenix visit his website.
As part of our focus on Czech filmmaker Věra Chytilová, we take an illustrated look at her 1979 satirical comedy Panel Story (Prefab Story), set in a communist suburban housing complex.
As part of our ‘Butterflies‘ theme, we have a review of Toho Studios 1961 monster movie Mothra, directed by Ishirô Honda, with special effects by the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya, co-creator of Godzilla. Mothra (1961) is available in the Region 1 DVD box-set ‘Icons of Science Fiction: Toho Collection’, which also includes The H-Man (1958) and Battle for Outer Space (1959), all directed by Ishirô Honda.
Comic Strip Review by Claude T.C.
More information on Claude T.C. can be found on his website.
Playful and colourful, the 1970 pinky violence series Stray Cat Rock stars the great Meiko Kaji as the leader of a badass girl gang. All five films in the series have been released in a beautiful collection by Arrow Video.
Starring Vincent Price as an artist turned into a monster by the greed of those around him, House of Wax was one of the big 3D spectacles of the 1950s. It is available on 3D Blu-ray from Warner Bros.
Hayao Miyazaki’s very last film, a charming celebration of aeronautical designer Jiro Horikoshi’s big dreams and inventiveness, is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Studiocanal. The Wind Rises is also available as part of The Hayao Miyazaki Collection, released on 8 December 2014 by Studiocanal. This special Blu-ray box set brings together all 11 of his directed feature films and includes a bonus disc with the full 90 minute press conference in which Miyazaki announced his retirement, and a specially commissioned booklet with analysis, essays and commentary as well as contributions from Miyazaki himself.
