Camp Classic Movie Night

Sean says...

Last night Stefan and I hung out with our friend Joe and Matt in a spontaneously arranged camp classic movie night!  On our list were the modern horror Showgirls... think of it as the raunchy A Star Is Born without Norman Main... and Valley of The Dolls.  Stefan had never seen Showgirls and Matt had only seen portions of Valley. I of course argued that if I were in the gay version of Valley, I would be the Barbara Parkins character of corrupted innocence... that woman has such a great voice!

Stefan says...

So, my question is, if Sean would be the Barbara Parkins character (or, more accurately, views himself as that character, which is debatable...but I digress...), what character would that make me?  Would I be Sharon Tate (which wouldn't be bad)?  With my luck, it would probably be either Lee Grant or Susan Hayward, both of whom sported awful wigs (you have my persmission to insert a joke here re: my receding hairline).  :-)

Sean says...

Showgirls is just bad film making all around. What makes it delicious is the cat fight quality between Gina Gershon (who steals the movie) and Elizabeth Berkley (who is so dull she couldn't excite a frat boy at spring break). Gershon is the only one who came out of the movie with devoted fans. She alone makes the film watchable and quotable, darlin'. Berkley just faded into nothing and no one remembers the men in it. But what makes this movie shine is that it was done with such vigor and a huge budget that it instantly turns into camp 13 years later we all enjoy... well those who can get passed all the attempts at nudity and soft-core sex that is truly dull. An example of the bad dialog.. the BEST quote is inappropriate since our Moms and my Dad read this blog:

Nomi Malone: Don't they have brown rice and vegetables?
Cristal Connors: Do you like brown rice and vegetables?
Nomi Malone: Yeah.
Cristal Connors: You do?
Nomi Malone: Sort of.
Cristal Connors: Really?
Nomi Malone: It's worse than dog food.
[Cristal laughs]
Nomi Malone: It is!
Cristal Connors: I've had dog food.
Nomi Malone: You have?
Cristal Connors: Mmm-hmmm. Long time ago. Doggy Chow. I used to love Doggy Chow. 
Nomi Malone: I used to love Doggy Chow, too!
[Cristal and Nomi touch their chips together]

The trailer is the only thing that really can be shown on a family blog like this, but not for children's eyes really.

Stefan says...

In my opinion, Elizabeth Berkley does the best she can with a lousy script and poor direction.  Overall, I believe she is better than the material (not unlike Lindsay Wagner in the original "Bionic Woman" series).

Sean says...

Valley of The Dolls has to be the pent-ultimate in camp though. A women's picture with great cat fights and quotable dialog done with all seriousness but camp in execution.  Patty Duke's career took a huge dive after the film. Sharon ("You know how bitchy fags can be!") Tate is only remembered in this film because of her grisly death a couple years later. And Barbara Parkins sadly walked off into the woods like her character only to be seen as the devoted champion of this film in later revivals. Check out the commentary she does on the dvd set, it is very enjoyable!

Here is some priceless dialog:

 
Neely O'Hara: Who are ya hiding from, Helen? The notices couldn't have been that bad.
Helen Lawson: The show just needs a little fine tuning.
Neely O'Hara: Don't worry, sweetheart. If the show folds I can always get a part as understudy for my grandmother.
Helen Lawson: Thanks. I already turned down the part you're playing.
Neely O'Hara: Bull! Merrick isn't that crazy.
Helen Lawson: You oughta know, honey, you just came out of the nuthouse.
Neely O'Hara: It was not a nuthouse!
Helen Lawson: Look. They drummed you right outta Hollywood! So ya come crawlin' back to Broadway. Well, Broadway doesn't go for booze and dope. Now you get outta my way, I got a guy waitin' for me.
Neely O'Hara: That's a switch from the fags you're usually stuck with!
Helen Lawson: At least I never had to MARRY one!
Neely O'Hara: YOU TAKE THAT BACK...
[pulls off Helen's wig while scuffling]
Neely O'Hara: ... oh my God, it's a wig! HER HAIR'S AS PHONY AS SHE IS!

The great trailer is below... Sean took the blue pills by the way... benedryl :

Below is an interview of Patty ("I'm Neely! Neely O'Hara!") Duke, Barbara ("Because I loved you!") Parkins, and Lee ("I'm going to heat up the lasagna!") Grant on The View in 2000 with Star Jones and Joy Behar. The interview was part of promotion for a revival showing of the film at a theatre in New York City. This interview is significant because after the revival Patty Duke has refused to do any other promotion of the film, including on the incredible dvd release in 2006.  

We had a great time!  There was an aborted attempt to watch The Apple but Matt and Stefan violently protested that it was unwatchable!  The Apple has to be the WORST musical I have ever seen... and I haven't seen much of it! Joe and I will have to watch it together sometime and cackle... Joe has to be my best cackle friend I think. LOL!  

What a great night of campy fun, friendship, Chinese food, and red wine!  Stefan even fixed a light fixture for Joe and Matt!  

Stefan says...

Plus, Charlie the cat, became my BFF (and I'm not even a cat person)!  We (the four humans) even fit in a great game of Scrabble before hitting the road.  Thanks, Joe & Matt, for a great night at your casa!