"Salvation Alley" (1949)

"Salvation Alley" (1949) Malcolm Poe’s post World War II fantasy. Jessica, a 12 year old German girl, suffers from traumatic depression in the days following the end of the war. Her parents missing, she is left to fend for herself in what is left of her former neighborhood. Her friends gone and no family to speak of, she is all alone...until one day she meets a young boy who can not remember his name and has no recollection of his past. As their friendship developes, Jessica starts to piece together the mystery about the boy that leads to a very surprising revelation. "Fans of M. Night Shyamalan and Guillermo Del Toro might want to take a look at Poe’s early cult masterpiece" -the London Cinema Almanac. (86 mins.) B&W

"Feary Tales" (1982)

"Feary Tales" (1982) Vladimir Chevski’s quartet of fairy tales with a twist of horror and suspense. Tiara Switzer plays a baker who gets an unexpected visit from two not so innocent children in "Gunsel & Gretal", Gaylord Hucks as a exiled prince in "Sinderella", Francis Alexander as "The Boy Who Fried Wolf", and in one of the scariest short films ever, 4 year old newcomer Kelley York, as the creepiest Jill ever in "Jack Never Came Back" A spinetingling film from this acclaimed Russian director. (80 mins.)

"The Clue" (1996)

"The Clue" A research lab assisitant (played by Carolyn Vardo) recieves a package in the mail from her father, a scientist who disappeared 20 years ago. In it are 7 items, each of which is a clue that will lead to the discovery of an ancient Chinese potion that promises immortality. A low budget film by newcomer Lei Ling-Robinson, this has a feel of a big budget Hollywood production through the clever use of San Francisco locations to recreate settings of Hong Kong, Paris, & incredibly Egypt. Winner of the 1997 Oceanside Independent Film Festival.

"Get Crazy" (1983)

"Get Crazy" (1983). Allan Arkush gives us a loving if not zany tribute to the Filmore East New Year’s Eve shows of the 70’s. Allan Garfield plays a Bill Graham type of concert promoter, who plans to put on the biggest New Year’s Eve show ever. Ed Begley Jr. ruthless millionaire out to sabotage the show in order to tear down the theatre in order to build a business hi-rise. Malcolm McDowell plays a Mick Jagger type (don’t miss the scene where he talks to a certain part of his anatomy), Bill Henderson as a Muddy Waters blues singer (who is accidentaly saddled with a Jews band instead of a Blues band), and Lou Reed as a Bob Dylan recluse, who after never leaving his apartment in 15 years, struggles to make it to the show. One of the funniest, most underrated spoofs of Rock & Roll ever made. Not available yet on DVD, this one cries out to be released. 92 mins.

"Tramps Like Us" (1979)

"Tramps Like Us" (1979) Gary Hullet’s hour long documentary on the fanaticism of Springsteen fans back in the 70’s. Today Bruce Springsteen is considered one of the true icons of Rock & Roll and his place in the history of music is well established. However, back in the 70’s, the world was not yet aware of Bruce & the E Street Band, and were considered an East Coast phenomenom. In those days his followers were not merely admirers, they were fanatics. Where many music fans are satisfied with seeing one performance of their favorite artists, his fans would attend multiple concerts, night after night. The reason for this devotion had to do with the band’s performances, four hour long demonstrations of pure Rock & Roll frenzy, the involvement between the artist and audience, and the feeling of when it was over that one had just gone through a religious experience which left you feeling emotionally high for days after. Hullet reportedly got the idea for this film, after a friend of his came up to him in 1978 and asked, "What’s this thing about Bruce Springsteen that makes everyone so CRAZY?". Not much actual footage of the band here, as the focus is on the fans who attended these shows and who in those early days seemed to be in on the best known secret of Rock & Roll.. (60 mins.) B&W