Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   206 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ray Greene
Writer:
Ray Greene (writer)
Plot:
You've heard of Hollywood, a town of tinsel and glamour, the town of Paramount, Columbia and MGM.  But there is another Hollywood... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
Interesting, if limited, overview of the Exploitation Cinema more

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Forrest J Ackerman ... Himself

Samuel Z. Arkoff ... Himself

Peter Bogdanovich ... Himself
Roger Corman ... Himself
David F. Friedman ... Himself
Dick Miller ... Himself
Harry H. Novak ... Himself
Vampira ... Herself (as Maila Nurmi)
Doris Wishman ... Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pat Barrington ... Barbara Thomas (archive footage)
Michael Copner ... Himself
Adolf Hitler ... Himself (archive footage)

Boris Karloff ... Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe (archive footage)

John F. Kennedy ... Himself (archive footage)
Robert F. Kennedy ... Himself (archive footage)

Martin Luther King ... Himself (archive footage)
Benito Mussolini ... Himself (archive footage)

Jack Nicholson ... Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage)
Lee Harvey Oswald ... Himself (archive footage)

Elvis Presley ... Himself (archive footage)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
89 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Certification:
USA:Not Rated

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Features The Wonderful World of Girls (1965) more
Soundtrack:
Your One and Only Original Lizard Brain more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
Interesting, if limited, overview of the Exploitation Cinema, 10 May 2006
6/10
Author: Joe Stemme (gortx) from United States

No one documentary could reasonably encompass the full range of the Exploitation Cinema, though SCHLOCK! gives it a decent go. By focusing in on just a few key figures, Director Greene gives us some depth into their careers, but limits the overall breadth of the subject.

For those familiar with AIP & Roger Corman, the first section will probably contain nothing new. The dry, academic narration doesn't help matters. Countless articles, books and interviews with and by Corman and Sam Arkoff leave little room for anything fresh to be said. Some of their "discoveries" such as Peter Bogdanovich and Dick Miller also appear. The ID's on the clips are sketchy during this section as well (But improves for some reason during the rest of the film. The one glaring exception there is that the only example of early sexploitation in the cinema are excerpts from METROPOLIS of all things - AND, they're not ID'd).

The Documentary kicks into gear with the long middle section focusing on David Friedman, Doris Wishman and Harry Novak and the less well known Nudist, Nudie Cutie and Roughie Sexploitation era. Friedman too has made the rounds the past couple of decades, but he's the consummate showman. The Documentary springs to life whenever he's on screen. Though there is a brief afterword on the post-Sexploitation era, the Documentary seems to take the point-of-view that Exploitation cinema ended in the early 70's when mainstream Hollywood began making the pictures that these pioneers had been making for decades (an opinion oft echoed). This short-changes the period of Drive-In Exploitation cinema that flourished in the 70s' and then had a brief revival during the VCR boom of the 80's and early-90's (This despite the fact that Corman was and IS active throughout this latter period. The film dismisses Corman's post-AIP career in a few seconds).

A note on the DVD. The behind the scenes "tour" of Novak's studio/office is a fascinating peek at an era long-gone, and David Friedman shows off his best Carnival barker routine. Both pieces are fully worth the price of the DVD. In just the few years since this doc was made, the Cinema has lost both Doris Wishman and Samuel Z. Arkoff, making their inclusion here even more valuable.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Sex and Buttered Popcorn Mau Mau Sex Sex Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson This Film Is Not Yet Rated Hollywood Uncensored
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew External reviews IMDb Documentary section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.