This month at Spectacle, we salute independent auteur Ray Dennis Steckler. After working as a cameraman on b-movie classics like Timothy Carey’s WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER and Arch Hall Sr’s EEGAH, Steckler became the director and sometimes star of his own weirdo genre films. This program highlights his first two features. Both are perfect examples of early 60s drive-in fare; pairing doo-wop interludes with pulpy violence and an offbeat tone. If you squint hard enough it’s nearly Lynchian, folks!
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WILD GUITAR
dir. Ray Dennis Steckler, 1962
United States. 92 min.
In English.
THURSDAY, MAY 2 – 7:30 PM
MONDAY, MAY 13 – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 31 – 10 PM
Heartthrob Bud Eagle (played by none other than Eegah’s Arch Hall Jr.) arrives in Hollywood with a guitar and a dream. When his original songs start getting attention, will he sacrifice his principles for success? This B-picture from the dawn of commercialized rock-n-roll was restored by Nicholas Winding Refn’s production house (ByNWR) and we are proud to present Steckler’s debut feature in all its black-and-white glory.
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THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES!!?
dir. Ray Dennis Steckler, 1964
United States. 82 min.
In English.
MONDAY, MAY 6 – 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 – 10 PM
THURSDAY, MAY 23 – 10 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 31 – MIDNIGHT
Somewhere between Herschell Gordon Lewis and Beach Blanket Bingo, you’ll find The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? Originally billed as, “The First Monster Musical!” what it lacks in performances it makes up for in beautiful photography and a nightmarish carnival atmosphere. Steckler himself stars in this film as Jerry, a free spirit who is hypnotized by the mysterious Carmelita. Under her spell, is there a limit to what she can make him do?