SECRET MOVIE CLUB presents
Part of our HOME GROWN HORROR Series, Thursday, October 27, 2022
LOCATION: The Secret Movie Club Theater, 1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90021
*Please note entrance/parking is actually in the back of the building. Make a right on Wilson Street, then a right behind the building. We’re the first set of black steps after the big gate.
7:30pm GANJA & HESS (1973, dir. Bill Gunn, Kino Lorber, USA, 110mns, DCP)
9:45pm BLACULA (1972, dir. William Crain, USA, 92mns, 35mm)
Tonight, we’re proud to show two seminal African-American horror movies from the 1970’s. First up is the experimental, satirical, horrific, sexual, wildly cinematic Ganja and Hess. Starring Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) as Dr. Hess Green who suddenly finds himself blessed (or cursed) with vampiric immortality after being stabbed with an ancient dagger by his unstable assistant (the writer/director Bill Gunn). When the Assistant’s proud and independent wife, Ganja (Marlene Clark) shows up, the two form a strange, sexual, and hypnotic partnership. Ganja and Hess, made in the heady early days of 70’s American cinema, boldly put a critical eye on how systemic materialism, greed, and hypocrisy can affect oppressed minorities and their connection to spirituality. Spike Lee was so transfixed by this movie that he re-made it in the 2010’s as Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.
We follow this up with THE seminal Blacksploitation horror movie of the 1970’s: Blacula. Here African Prince Mamuwalde (William Marshall) is turned into a vampire by Count Dracula in 1780 when Dracula refuses to help suppress the slave trade. Cut to the 1970’s and Mamuwalde’s coffin gets shipped from Transylvania to Los Angeles where Mamuwalde or ‘Blacula’ now wrecks havoc on the black community in Watts and South Central.
A fascinating snapshot of the confluence of a number of cinematic imperatives: from drive in horror and exploitation to social consciousness (lead actor Marshall insisted on a noble back story for the vampire based in oppression). Plus, Blacula pulses with a 1970’s funk score to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable of all the 70’s horror exploitation movies. And we’re showing it on 35mm.
Best always,
Craig Hammill
Secret Movie Club Founder.Programmer
*Please note that though we strive to always show titles on 35mm film if advertised, we may have to screen digitally if the print we receive is in such bad shape or if we don't receive the print in time because of a shipping delay. We will do our best to alert the audience. When this does occur, we will offer each ticket holder who chooses not to attend a complimentary ticket to a future event in exchange. (Disclaimer: Good for 90 days – Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFUNDS:
We can offer refunds up to 24 hours before showtime. Please request a refund through Eventbrite and we will process ASAP. After that, no refunds. Sorry.
However if something last minute comes up and you can’t make the screening, for whatever reason, just write to us before showtime: community@secretmovieclub.com and we’ll offer you complimentary tickets to a future screening, good for 90 days. (Disclaimer: Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
HELPFUL SECRET MOVIE CLUB (1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, LA, CA 90021) THEATER PARKING TIPS:
We recommend that you park just outside our theater. Remember our theater is actually in a beautiful street art alleyway in the back of the 1917 Bay Street building. You get to our entrance by taking a right on Wilson, then a right behind the building. We are the first set of black steps on the right after the big gate.
There is also a parking lot at the corner of Mateo and Violet Street, just 2 blocks from our theater, which costs $7 per car.
HOW CAN WE STAY ON TOP OF NEWLY ANNOUNCED 35MM SCREENINGS, EVENTS, ETC?
You can follow us on Instagram/Twitter: @secretmovieclub or Facebook: @secretmovieclub35mm
You can also subscribe to our weekly email newsletter at secretmovieclub.com or by writing to us at community@secretmovieclub.com and using the header “SUBSCRIBE ME TO NEWSLETTER”.
HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:
You can always email us at community@secretmovieclub.com with any other questions, concerns, thoughts, recommendations.