Legendary Grade-Z director Andy Milligan [identified by our able blog readers] gives hands-on instructions to a disturbed looking actress during production of THE BITCH (alternate title?). He looks pretty disturbed himself. This production still which I happened upon is something of a mystery, so if anyone can clarify the exact project, please do. I'll be back to talk more about him and his films maudit or just plain bad movies, but bad movies which are sometimes addictive, uncommon fun.
Ah, Andy Milligan. What can you say? He made movies with a camera that wasn't designed to make features. He was perverted beyond belief and his hatred of women in general was legendary. Costume maker extraordinairen and pure madman. I have his biography and have read it through at least twice. It sticks with you. I've seen about five of his films and need to watch more of them. Can you imagine Milligan and Franco doing a film together? I think Andy would try to kill Jess after a while.
ReplyDeleteyes, milligan!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's him. I think he hate everyone, men AND women... and probably himself to a certain degree. There's a lot of self loathing as a subtext in his work.
ReplyDeleteHe's similar to Franco in that he's either hated for his no budget aesthetic or non aesthetic or he becomes an obsession with certain viewers. I find his films get better on repeat viewings, especially RATS ARE COMING... BODY BENEATH and, my favorite, BLOOD, which should be seen on a double bill with Franco's DRACULA CONTRA FRANKENSTEIN, a lot of similar charcters, costuming, anachronisms, a vampire, a werewolf and even a Frankenstein at the very end. I'll be reviewing some of these in depth soon. And see BLOODTHRISTY BUTCHER'S to prepare for Burton's SWEENEY TODD!
BLOODTHIRSTY BUTCHERS is great. You need to get the Something Weird edition because it has this great commentary with one of the actors and gives a lot of insight into the day to day behind the scenes chaos of making the movie. Plus, that disc is a double feature where you get SEEDS OF SIN and a workprint of SEEDS with alternate footage. As far as Milligan goes this is probably one of the better discs that Something Weird has put out.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, Robert. The disc from SW I mentioned is THE GHASTLY ONES still, a great flick and a great disc.
ReplyDeleteFrom email:
ReplyDeleteAndy Milligan or Jerry Warren.
--Robert
Doug, I have a video dupe of SEEDS, another dysfunctional family fantasia. Interesting seeing one of his films in b&w. Haven't seen GHASTLY ONES. I have the DVD of BUTCHERS with RATS and they both look OK.
ReplyDeleteIt's Andy, Robert. I would rate Andy higher as an artist (and I do consider him an artist) than Warren, who was just a businessman who ate up other films. Although I do find WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN entertaining.
ReplyDeleteWhere on earth did you dig up the picture? It's not in McDonough's book and, as I'm sure you're aware, these things aren't common...
ReplyDelete-Jeff
Jeffrey, somebody sent it to me noting it was taken during the filming of THE BITCH, a title which I wasn't aware of. I'm not sure where he got it. I assumed from the book, which I haven't read yet, btw. I've had it in my computer films for quite some time and just decided to post it for comment. I have read the VW Milligan issues. They charged my interest in him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Ghatly Ones DVD from SWV is well worth it for the commentary and the SEEDS copy has a huge amount of alternate footage. Probably one of the better discs released by SWV
ReplyDeleteIt IS in McDonough's Milligan bio book, p. 199. No alternative title for Bitch as it is an unfinished project. The book in question is very HIGHLY recommended. The best bio of an exploitation cinema figure I've ever read.
ReplyDelete