Richard Lynch (1936-2012)

The life of character actor Richard Lynch has always interested me.  Classical trained at The Actors Studio, young Richard Lynch allegedly tripping on Acid, set his head on fire, resulting in numerous facial scars.  Where some might think this would have ended his career, it actually resulted in a new career as a reptilian villain in numerous films such as "Invasion USA," "The Sword & The Sorcerer," "Bad Dreams," "God Told Me To," and many more, including the underrated "The Baron."  He always brought a sense of class to the movies he was in, even if they didn't always warrant it.

RIP Richard Lynch

Susan Tyrrell (1945-2012)

Goodbye Susu, thank you for all the great performances.  The two Q&A's of yours that I was fortunate enough to witness were unbelievably endearing and entertaining.  The screening of "Nightwarning" at The Last Night at The Alamo is among my favorite all-time screenings.

RIP.

Jamaa Fanaka (1942-2012)

It was just this past December that I had the privilege of once again meeting Jamaa Fanaka at a screening in LA of "Emma Mae." Though I couldn't forget our first meetings at the Alamo, I surely didn't expect him to remember who I was, but as soon as I introduced myself, he immediately registered my last name. "Oh Popkoff, I remember you" he said. That night and the previous nights I had seen his movies in the theater were among the best movie-going experiences I have ever had. He was a true original, complete with a unique vocabulary. I will never be able to hear the phrase "moving pictures" again and not think of him. A born showman, his Q&A's were rambling, but they were always informative, intimate, and above all else, entertaining. He was so passionate about films and he understood the importance of them. He once sent me this message: "Dear Popkoff: Thanks very much for your grand words of support. You cannont possibly know how much comments like yours mean to fiercely independent filmmaker like myself. If through my work in cinema, just one heart and mind has been touched and, hopefully, ameliorated, I feel that my life in film has been a success." He was such a class act, I am so sadden to hear of his passing. RIP Fanaka: Friend-for-life.

R.I.P. Lina Romay.

One of my favorite memories of the cinema came in 2009 at Fantastic Fest. I went to a screening of Jess Franco's 1973 film "Bare Breasted Countess" (Female Vampire) starring Lina Romay as a sensual murderous vampire. Franco is in it as well as a doctor trying to stop her. Both Franco and Romay (long-time husband and wife) were in attendance. It was filmed when she was only 20 years old, and she admitted before the screening that she did not feel comfortable watching her films. She also noted, along with Franco, that it was this film that was the catalyst for them falling in love. As the movie began, Miss Romay left the auditorium, but Franco stayed for a bit. When the film approached the end Lina helped Jess back into the theater for the Q & A. While the finale played out on screen I noticed the two of them staring up at the images together. Lina’s vampire was sprawled out naked in a bath of blood, while Franco’s doctor bursts through the door with intentions of killing her. It was the first time in the film that the Doc had seen the Countess, and his urge to kill was quickly snuffed out by her incredible beauty. So there it was, the two of them 40 years on, watching their younger selves falling in love on the screen. It was truly a moving moment and it reminded me of what Lars, the host, stated at the beginning of the series. He read a quote by Franco that appeared in an Austin Chronicle interview the week of the festival: “The cinema is not the way to escape our lives; it is the way to complete our lives.” I think about that quote and that screening often. R.I.P. Lina Romay.

Ben Gazzara (1930-2012)

Out of the Blue, and into the Black

Dennis Hopper was a Bad Ass. R.I.P. 1936-2010

It's strange how celebrity death seems like such a game to fans. We're emotionally invested in the celebrities because we feel like we know them, but we're disconnected enough to not be truly moved by their passing. It's kind of like we're all keeping our eyes open on the internet, looking for that next opportunity to feel a tinge of sadness about death, without having to lose someone we actually know.

Celebrity deaths never feel real, even though we know that they are.

Rudy Ray Moore (1937 -2008)

The hits just keep on coming...

The death of Dolemite himself, Rudy Ray Moore, was announced today. His passing comes as a result of complications from diabetes, and is yet another in a long line of shocking celebrity deaths this year. It seems like Heaven is getting more awesome with each passing day. Hopefully, if he sees a ghost, he'll "cut the mutha fucka."


Here are the soundtracks to "Dolemite" and "The Human Tornado."


Click "Soundrack (1975)" to download.