Bet you didn't know that it was Mark Damon, instead of Roger Corman.
Mirek
Mirek
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The True Director of PIT AND THE PENDULUM
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 Latarnia |
The True Director of PIT AND THE PENDULUM |
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Posts: 12298 (03/22/07 17:44:14) |
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Cushing |
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Posts: 607 (03/27/07 10:07:12) |
What? Please, tell more.
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Latarnia |
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Posts: 12298 (03/27/07 10:20:47) |
In the Damon interview that's part of the Anchor Bay Mario Bava set, he says he directed PIT AND THE PENDULUM as part of a deal he set up with Corman, after he suggested to Corman that Roger adapt the Poe stories as films. (The other part of the deal was that he would star in the first film.) Contractual obligations forced Corman to accept onscreen credit.
I don't know anyone who takes this claim (or even claims) seriously. Actor John Kerr was interviewed by Tom Weaver, and Weaver asked him if Damon had been present on the PIT AND THE PENDULUM set. Kerr's response: "I have no recollection of him being there and doing things that one associates with the directing. That's not to say that he could not have met with Roger, [outside of] the working day, and helped to plan shots and things like that. But on the set, I have no recollection of anyone except Roger Corman." The whole interview is still online: www.bmonster.com/cult33.html Mirek |
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Tim Lucas VW |
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Posts: 675 (03/27/07 15:24:06) |
I have seen numerous behind the scenes stills taken on the set of PIT and Mark Damon doesn't appear in any of them. Roger Corman is in many of them and it is obvious that he is instructing the cast members. Maybe Damon is thinking of THE PIT STOP AND THE PENDULUM... er, THE YOUNG RACERS.
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Eurotika1955 |
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Posts: 222 (04/02/07 09:33:33) |
I have several contact sheets with many shots behind the scenes and Mark Damon is nowhere to be found. I don't recall Barbara ever mentioning that Corman did not direct.
"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out." Alfred Hitchcock
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iamglobal |
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Posts: 376 (04/04/07 14:20:01) |
I wonder if the kernel of truth may be that he let Damon direct a scene one day; certainly many Corman films (and later New World productions) had scenes and bits filmed by other than the credited director. I could certainly see Damon expanding this into something bigger just as easily as him picking a film out of air and claiming direction of it.
"No one sleeps the sleep of the just unless the abuse of dreams rendering
us powerfully helpless bottling up and unbottling renders a justice that restores us..." |
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ECC |
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Posts: 1976 (07/11/07 00:32:03) |
Corman himself supposedly doubled for John Kerr in some of the wide angle pendulum shots. Maybe Damon directed some parts where only stand-ins were required.
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luisj40 |
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Posts: 2873 (07/11/07 12:26:54) |
Should I know who this John Kerr is?
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Latarnia |
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Posts: 12298 (07/11/07 12:33:17) |
The guy on the right:
 Mirek |
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luisj40 |
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Posts: 2873 (07/11/07 12:38:53) |
Quote:Gee I guess I need to watch this move again  I have the Midnite Movies Double Feature DVD still sealed.
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Eurotika1955 |
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Posts: 222 (07/11/07 13:35:15) |
I spoke with Barbara a week or so ago before I left on my vacation and asked her about Mark Damon's claim. She doesn't remember him even being on the set.
Also, I'm not sure where to post this, but she has been asked by Guy Maddin to tour with "Brand Upon the Brand". Apparently her performance in Hollywood on 08 June was a huge success. She called me and said "I'm coming to see you Russ." I was speechless for about 30 seconds til she explained. She's asked me to be her escort.  By the way, I said yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out." Alfred Hitchcock
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Latarnia |
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Posts: 12298 (07/11/07 13:45:20) |
Congrats, Euro! Sounds like a very memorable event.
Mirek |
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Koukol 5 |
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Posts: 2145 (07/11/07 14:29:03) |
Keep us informed Eurotika...you lucky bastard
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todmichel |
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Posts: 603 (11/26/07 04:14:26) |
If I remember well, Mark Damon also affirmed to have directed some Italian movies, among them "Il plenilunio delle vergini'.
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zuccoman |
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Posts: 5 (11/26/07 08:01:19) |
I have read this thread with great interest as I am at the moment working on my long overdue book on the Corman/Poe films.
I finally secured a publisher in Tomahawk Press in the UK if you log on to their website you can read more regarding the book the title of which is "NEVERMORE" This became the title for my Rondo nominated photo exhibit of Corman Poe films in Los Angeles last October with Roger Corman in attendance as well as Barbara Steele. Regarding the Mark Damon question regarding Pit...when I hosted the Roger Corman Tribute at the Vista theater in 2005 for the American Cinemateque, I had Roger on stage for over an hour and during our talk right after I had mentioned the fact that Vincent had told me that Mark could not cry on cue in Usher having used up all his "sense memory" in rehearsal who should turn up at the back of the theater but Mark Damon and at no point did he dare to mention this rumor in front of Roger Corman himself. I will ask Mark in person before the end of the year when I go back over the Pit chapter. My writing partner on this is the great Sam Umland who had such success last year with his groundbreaking book on Donald Cammell. Cheers David Del VALLE |
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Latarnia |
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Posts: 12298 (11/26/07 16:34:20) |
Welcome to the forums, David, and I greatly look forward to your Corman/Poe book!
Mirek |
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Squonkamatic |
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Posts: 3486 (03/16/08 11:45:18) |
Shall I add this to the Ghost Boy from THREE MEN AND A BABY, the Munchkin Suicide from THE WIZARD OF OZ and the long running debate of whether Clint Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef were better shots in FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE on my list of favorite movie bullshit stories?
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Koukol 5 |
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Posts: 2145 (03/16/08 12:14:05) |
Sure.
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Squonkamatic |
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Posts: 3486 (03/17/08 23:27:39) |
No disrespect meant, I just don't believe it for a second. I first heard this rumor last month and it was one of the things that compelled me to finally open my MM DVD. There probably is a shred of truth to Damon's story but from what I have read/heard (and knowing Mr. Corman's somewhat ruthless method of production from having interacted with Alan Holzman & read the manuscript for his tentative autobiographical account of working for Corman) it seems more likely that Mr. Corman may have told Damon he would be welcome to direct one of the films and then either reneged or their schedules conflicted to a degree where it never came to be. I just think that if Mark Damon had in fact directed even some of PIT that the story would have been made known long before. As others mention one of Corman's redeeming attributes was that he recognized talent when he encountered it and apparently didn't have too many qualms about delegating responsibility to younger people of promise. My own opinion though is that this was one of his prestige projects and he savored the opportunity to mount such a lavish production after having slogged through stuff like TEENAGE CAVEMAN for so many years.
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Jeffrey Allen Rydell |
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Posts: 680 (03/18/08 08:02:39) |
Quote: That's ok, nobody else does either. |
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Koukol 5 |
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Posts: 2145 (03/18/08 13:09:56) |
Barbara Steele said he didn't direct it...that's good enough for me.
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