While this may not be close for most of you out there it is something worth letting you know about. As a theater manager during the wave of 3-D movies that came out in the early 80s I was there to see the excitement people felt about seeing 3-D movies again after a lengthy period of time when they no longer hit theater screens. To hear that a way has been found to bring these movies back to the big screen reminded me of those days. With that in mind I thought some of you might be interested in this event. Who knows, maybe you'll make your way to it during your vacation this summer. Here is what is going on:
3-DEMENTIA! is a series of cinematic events spotlighting rare 3-D movies
from the last 40 years -- First screening to take place at International House Philadelphia on July
16, 2017
For nearly twenty years, Exhumed Films has been the premier cult movie cooperative in the Philadelphia area, screening literately hundreds of horror, sci-fi, and exploitation classics on the big screen. Now, Exhumed Films brings their audience a new dimension in genre cinema: 3-DEMENTIA! is a major retrospective of 3-D films from the past four decades. The 1970’s and 1980’s saw a resurgence of three-dimensional movies, particularly in the realms of horror, science fiction, and action/adventure films. Some of the most infamous and beloved 3-D titles in history were released during this era; the majority have not seen the light of the projector bulb in over 30 years, but they are ready to be re-discovered! 3-DEMENTIA! will spotlight some of the most famous films from the era, as well as some extreme rarities.
The first 3-DEMENTIA! screening will take place at International House Philadelphia’s Lightbox Film Center (3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19104) on Sunday, July 16. This five film marathon begins at 12 noon and runs until approximately 10:00 PM. Tickets are $40 for general admission to
all five movies. The features will be projected from original 35mm film prints using state-of-the-art 3-D technology and high quality 3-D viewing goggles.
Exhumed is also pleased to announce that filmmaker Worth Keeter--who shot more 3-D films than any other director in history--will be on hand to introduce two of his movies and discuss the heyday of 3-D mania!
3-Dementia! will feature the following flicks:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III 3-D
1982 / 35mm / Dir. Steve Miner / 95 minutes
While not necessarily the most original installment in the series, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III is arguably the most influential slasher sequel of all time due to its introduction of the iconic hockey mask that would soon become a horror movie hallmark. Moreover, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III features some of the most entertaining 3-D gags in cinema history. The story, though, is nothing new: unstoppable killer Jason Voorhees, apparently recovered from his injuries at the end of the last film, finds a new slew of torpid teens to terrorize.
TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS
1983 / 35mm / Dir. Ferdinando Baldi / 97 minutes
The 1981 3-D Spaghetti Western COMIN’ AT YA! was a financial success that effectively started the 3-D resurgence of the 1980’s. The filmmakers behind that hit followed it up with TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS, an action/adventure film clearly inspired by RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Tony
Anthony stars as a soldier of fortune that assembles a team of thieves with the goal of stealing a set of mystical gems. The quest leads them to creepy caves and booby-trapped fortresses, setting the stage for a series of inventive 3-D gimmicks. Indiana Jones it ain’t, but TREASURE OF THE FOUR
CROWNS is nevertheless an enjoyable artifact from a bygone era.
ROTTWEILLER
1983 / 35mm / Dir. Worth Keeter / 89 minutes
Producer/actor Earl Owensby created a series of low budget regional genre films throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, and even built his own soundstage in North Carolina to accommodate his productions. When the 3-D craze of the early 1980’s began to take hold, Owensby quickly jumped on the bandwagon, bringing along his longtime collaborator, director Worth Keeter. Their first
foray into the realm of 3-D was ROTTWEILLER (aka DOGS OF HELL), a horror thriller about a murderous pack of killer canines. Owensby stars as a small town sheriff who must defend the community against a group of deadly dogs that have escaped from a secret military project. If you love “Animals Attack” movies, then ROTTWEILER in 3-D is not to be missed!
HIT THE ROAD RUNNING
1983 / 35mm / Dir. Worth Keeter / 92 minutes
Worth Keeter and Earl Owensby followed ROTTWEILLER with HIT THE ROAD RUNNING, an action-packed 3-D car chase comedy that takes obvious inspiration from SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT and THE DUKES OF HAZZARD. Owensby once again stars, this time as Beau Jim Donner: a fast talking, fast driving “good ol’ boy” who returns to his hometown to free his uncle and neighbors
from the clutches of a corrupt land baron. Hijinks—and lots of car crashes—ensue. Exhumed Films is proud to welcome Worth Keeter to what is surely the first theatrical screening of HIT THE ROAD RUNNING in nearly 35 years!
REVENGE OF THE SHOGUN WOMEN
1977 / 35mm / Dir. Mei Chun Chan / 98 minutes
The Hong Kong martial arts film REVENGE OF THE SHOGUN WOMEN (aka 13 NUNS) tells the tale of a group of women who are assaulted and degraded by a gang of bandits. In order to protect themselves from future attacks, our heroines become masters (mistresses?) of martial arts, and it is not long before they seek out vengeance against their attackers. Featuring a plethora of projectiles popping off the screen, REVENGE OF THE SHOGUN WOMEN is definitely one of the impressive 3-D features ever made.
