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FEATURES - SCTV FILM FESTIVAL When ordinary film won't do |
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SCTV Film Festival SCTV's film parodies run the gamut from American classics, French new wave and English kitchen sink, to campy 50s B movies and monster flicks. If you're wondering what to watch tonight, look no further - we've gathered together the subjects of some of SCTV's finest parodies, organized into handy topics for discussion.
You can't go wrong with any of the following films. Ben Hur (1959, William Wyler) [Ben Hur 1-13]The subject of SCTV's first longform movie parody, Ben Hur stars Charleton Heston, Stephen Boyd, a story of biblical proportions, plenty of extras, and one heckuva chariot race. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Rocky (1976, John G. Avildsen) [The Hefty Neil Story 1-14]The classic underdog film, as a small time boxer gets the chance to go against the heavyweight champ. And howabout that soundtrack? The Grapes of Wrath (1940, John Ford) [The Grapes of Mud 1-23]John Ford's adaptation of Steinbeck's novel, starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad with a fine supporting cast of character actors. Moulin Rouge (1952, John Huston) [Lust For Paint 1-26]John Huston's biopic of the diminutive French post-impressionist painter Toulouse-Lautrec. Jose Ferrer stars as the tormented painter, hobbling around fin-de-siecle Montmartre, capturing the life of the streets in paint. The Miracle Worker (1962, Arthur Penn) [Gangway For Miracles 4/2-4]Fine performances from the two leading actresses as Anne Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) teaches the blind and deaf Helen Keller (Patty Duke) how to communicate. The Godfather (1972, Francis Ford Coppola) [The Godfather 4/2-6]The subject of perhaps SCTV's most finely detailed parody, what can you say about The Godfather except go watch it again. Jerry Lewis, the Rat Pack, Sidney Poitier, hep cats, cocktails, classy looking dames - what's not to like. The Oscar (1966, Russell Rouse) [The Nobel 4/1-8]Stephen Boyd ruthlessly climbs to the top of 60s Hollywood in pursuit of an Oscar. Also featuring Tony Bennett, Jill St John (va-voom), Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Bob Hope, Joseph Cotten, and Elke Sommer. Must be seen to be believed. To Sir With Love (1967, James Clavell) [Teacher's Pet 4/2-8]Sidney Poitier takes on undisciplined British toughs in 60s Britain. Ocean's Eleven (1960, Lewis Milestone) [Maudlin's Eleven 4/3-2]Another of SCTV's exacting parodies. Let's face it, Clooney, Pitt and those other guys are just a bunch of pretenders. The original Ocean's Eleven starred the Rat Pack - Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Bishop, Lawford - as Johnny Ocean reassembles his old airborne buddies to pull a heist in Vegas. Cool would never be this cool again. The Nutty Professor (1963, Jerry Lewis) [The Nutty Lab Assistant 5/4-2]A nerdy professor concocts a potion that turns him into the coolest, hippest cat in town. Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens (va-va-voom). Sixties Coda: Counterculture Crash Explore the rise and fall of the 60s counterculture. Easy Rider (1969, Dennis Hopper) [Merv Griffin: The 60s 4/2-4]Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda ride their choppers through the south to Mardi Gras in an attempt to find freedom. Also featuring Jack Nicholson. Gimme Shelter (1969, Albert and David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin) [Gimme Jackie 6-2]Documentary follows the Stones on tour in 1969 America, culminating in the free concert at Altamont and the end of the hippie dream. Aliens, werewolves, and plenty of babes. Low budget maybe, but set your controls for high excitement! Zontar, the Thing From Venus (1966, Larry Buchanan) [Zontar 4/2-3]A misguided scientist prepares the way for Zontar's conquest of the Earth! I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957, Gene Fowler Jr.) [I Was a Teenage Communist 4/3-7]Short-tempered teenager Tony Rivers (a young Michael Landon) is unwittingly subjected to regression experiments by a ruthless doctor, revealing the beast just below the surface! South Sea Sinner (1950, H. Bruce Humberstone) [South Sea Sinner 5/5-5]A sailor washes up (figuratively speaking) on a Pacific island where Coral, a lounge singer of low moral character, works in Cognac's saloon. (Added bonus - Liberace!) 
Queen of Outer Space (1958, Edward Bernds) [2009 Jupiter and Beyond 6-13]Sets, props and costumes from Forbidden Planet are imaginatively reused in this sci-fi epic, as an Earth spaceship is waylaid to Venus, the planet of hot 50s babes! Series 3 sketch My Factory, My Self (3-4) cleverly strings together scenes from four late-70s movies featuring four different yet similarly plucky, Oscar-nominated leading ladies. Check out these flicks to find out just what makes Sally Jane Clayburgh-Streep tick. Norma Rae (1979, Martin Ritt)Single mother and blue collar textile worker Norma Rae (Sally Field) battles the odds to get her factory unionized. Coming Home (1978, Hal Ashby)A traditional army wife (Jane Fonda), whose husband is in 'nam, volunteers at an army hospital, where she meets a soldier crippled in that same war, discovers the counterculture, and takes control of her life. An Unmarried Woman (1978, Paul Mazursky)Manhattan mother (Jill Clayburgh) has to reevaluate her life when her husband unexpectedly leaves her for another woman. Kramer Vs Kramer (1979, Robert Benton)Manhatten father (Dustin Hoffman) has to reevaluate his life when his wife (Meryl Streep) unexpectedly leaves him for another woman. Both these films were shot in Toronto in the early 70s and provide a glimpse of another era. Face-Off (1971, George McCowan) [Power Play 4/2-2]Hockey star Billy Duke falls for a hippy folk singer in a story of clashing cultures. Goin' Down The Road (1970, Donald Shebib) [Garth, Gord, Fiona and Alice 5/4-1]Shot with gritty realism, Goin' Down The Road tells the story of a couple of Maritimers who head to the big city (Toronto) for a shot at a better life. Co-starring Jayne Eastwood. Geoff Pevere, who provided commentary for the DVD release, writes about Goin' Down the Road and films shot in Toronto here. 
In the mood for music? SCTV parodied three remakes with a musical bent. The Jazz Singer (1980, Richard Fleischer) [The Jazz Singer 4/2-1]Ambitious young singer Jess Robin (Neil Diamond) defies his traditional father to rise to the top. Humoresque (1946, Jean Negulesco) [New York Rhapsody 4/2-5]A tough musical prodigy from the slums of New York (John Garfield) rises to the top with the help of a wealthy socialite (Joan Crawford). A Star Is Born (1976, Frank Pierson) [A Star Is Born 5/5-1]Ambitious young singer (Barbara Streisand) rises to the top with the help of fading rock star John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson). In a holiday mood? SCTV's third Christmas show, It's a Wonderful Film (6-3), weaves together elements of a number of classic Christmas films. Mucho inspirational. It's a Wonderful Life (1946, Frank Capra)Ordinary man George Bailey discovers what the world would be like if he never lived. Going My Way (1944, Leo McCarey)A young modern priest (Bing Crosby) helps the aging and somewhat crusty older Father Fitzgibbon in his parish in the slums of New York. A Christmas Carol (1951, Brian Desmond Hurst)Alastair Sim stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge in the definitive adaptation of the Dickens classic. Miracle on 34th Street (1947, George Seaton)Kindly old man Kris Cringle (Edmund Gwenn) claims he really is Santa Claus. Suffice to say it'll take a miracle to keep him out of the asylum. |
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