Special 85th Birthday Tribute to European Cult Cinema Director UMBERTO LENZI - The Incredibly Fun, Campy, Comic Book-based, Masked Supervillain Flick KRIMINAL (1966, Italy)
$7 admission for Mature Audiences Only.
Seating at 7:30pm / Show starts at 8:00pm
UMBERTO LENZI is best known for directing several handfuls of infamous Italian crime, horror and Western films from the 1960s through the 1980s, including such acknowledged cult classics as THE CYNIC, THE RAT & THE FIST and NIGHTMARE CITY.
However, one of his least-known yet most enjoyable films is this 1966 cinematic adaptation of one of Italy’s most popular “adult” comic books.
The tale of a suave, brilliant and amoral master thief known only as “Kriminal,” who commits brazen robberies and murders while disguised in a skintight skeleton outfit and mask (yet still finds time to taunt Scotland Yard and enchant all manner of beautiful women), it’s a delightfully risque and sardonic gem that’s equal parts action, romance, mystery and dark comedy.
Based closely on the controversial series of KRIMINAL comic books which Italian and Spanish governments repeatedly tried to ban because they felt they promoted and glorified illegal activity to young people, it’s an unjustly obscure film that has never been released in the USA and is difficult to obtain today even in Italy.
Fans of the “Eurospy” genre of JAMES BOND-ian secret agent flicks as DANGER: DIABOLIK will dig this a great deal – as will fans of such strange, “Mod ‘60s” European superhero movies as SUPERARGO and complex, humorous crime caper films like SEVEN GOLDEN MEN.
The Psychotronic Film Society has obtained an extremely rare beautiful, uncut widescreen print of KRIMINAL, and will screen it in the original spoken Italian (with English subtitles).
Don’t miss this extremely rare chance to catch this overlooked gem on the big screen, as it was meant to be seen!
Until 9PM, the Bean will have special discounts on both Craft Beer and Organic Wine for anyone 21 and older, as well as their usual great selection of award-winning vegetarian cuisine, pastries, desserts and Fair-Trade Coffees and Teas.
We’ll also be raffling off free movie passes and other rare and unusual prizes from the PFS archives before the show.
So, make sure to bring a few extra bucks with you for Raffle Tickets…
For over a decade now, The Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah has been repeatedly named the BEST LOCAL FILM SERIES in annual reader polls. The PFS of SAV shows obscure and/or underappreciated films from around the world every Wednesday at the Sentient Bean (and occasionally on other nights as well). Whether extremely well-made or “so bad they’re good,” their selections are always rare, unique and memorable.