SECRET MOVIE CLUB presents

Part of our LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE & HALLOWEEN-O-THON 2023 Series, Friday, October 20, 2023

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 1917 Bay St building. Our entrance is NOT on Bay Street. You access our entrance from Wilson Street by turning into the street art alleyway/corridor in the back of the building. Look for our signs which are always posted on Wilson and in the corridor to guide the audience.

IMPORTANT NOTE (PLEASE READ): NO ONE UNDER 18 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE SCREENING. ID WILL BE CHECKED. Secondly we will have a panel discussion after the screening with Christar Damiano & Gerard Damiano Jr, the children of director Gerard Damiano. We may also have 1-2 more panelists with informed distinct points of view so we can have an in-depth discussion on sex in American cinema. We encourage questions and participation from the audience.

8pm THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES (1973, wri & dir by Gerard Damiano, USA, 63mns) WORLD PREMIERE 4K RESTORATION

One of the stranger ebbs and flows of American cinema of the last 50 years has been in the 1970's it appeared as if movies with intense sexual content were headed for the mainstream. Now, 50 years later, there is almost a complete absence of sex, the one thing that gives us all existence, from almost all American moviemaking.

America has gotten much more comfortable watching horrific violence and gore than anything that is essential to our survival.

This seems like something we should talk about.

So we're excited to announce the launching of our new series "LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE" with the 4K restoration premiere of Gerard Damiano's 1973 THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES with a panel to follow the movie that includes Mr. Damiano's children-Gerard Damiano Jr & Christar Damiano as well as 1-2 panelists from across the spectrum of thought on this subject to have an in-depth conversation on sex in American cinema.

We highly encourage the audience to come ready to ask questions and share their views.

THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES is often considered the high water mark in the "Porno Chic" 70's era of adult-moviemaking which also includes titles like DEEP THROAT (also directed by Damiano) and BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR. It tells the story of Justine Jones (Georgina Spelvin) who commits suicide out of boredom only to be told by Angel Abaca that she has to go hell even though she otherwise led a pure life.

Miss Jones asks to be returned to earth so she can "earn" her trip to hell and embarks on an odyssey of lust and sex. Filmmaker Damiano brings high production values to the movie and Ms. Spelvin's performance is often considered the "gold standard" for X-rated movies.

What may be hard to believe is that MISS JONES was a huge mainstream breakout US success. It was the 10th highest grossing movie of 1973 (just behind Peter Bogdonavich's PAPER MOON!) and received glowing reviews from Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, Judith Christ, even William Friedkin.

This was during a moment in US culture where it looked like adult movies could be considered mainstream, even "art house" if the filmmakers involved took everything seriously from a narrative point of view.

Since the 1970's however, movies with intense sexual scenes or content have gotten fewer and fewer until, in 2023, they are almost non-existent in the mainstream and have created an entirely different problem: a vacuum for discussion about sex and its role in our lives.

Join us for this movie and a conversation about its moment and where we are now.

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.