Comments on: Fossethon: Searching for STAR 80 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:14:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: ric carter http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-68557 ric carter Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:29:26 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-68557 I have STAR-80 on CED videodisc; I probably last viewed it in the early 1990s. Now it's stored in a nearby shed and will (sometime in the next couple years) be dragged out and dubbed to DVD, along with the other 800+ relics. I recall being impressed by the performances, but no scenes remain embedded in my memory, unlike other Fosse work. Is it less than memorable, or did I watch it while stoned? Good luck with your attempts to dredge up a copy. Hey, after years of searching, a friend finally scored ZOTZ!, so anything can happen. I have STAR-80 on CED videodisc; I probably last viewed it in the early 1990s. Now it’s stored in a nearby shed and will (sometime in the next couple years) be dragged out and dubbed to DVD, along with the other 800+ relics. I recall being impressed by the performances, but no scenes remain embedded in my memory, unlike other Fosse work. Is it less than memorable, or did I watch it while stoned? Good luck with your attempts to dredge up a copy. Hey, after years of searching, a friend finally scored ZOTZ!, so anything can happen.

]]> By: Bob http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-18592 Bob Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:21:10 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-18592 Nice piece and thanks for participating. And I (sort of) look forward to seeing "The Chrysallis Killing" -- great find. You know, even in today's wired world, it's interesting how hard it is to find "Star 80" ain't easy and how, even given its sensational subject matter, it's now an obscure film. Part of the problem may be that it's not a film people wanted to be connected with. It's a very tough and, in a way, stuck it's finger in the eye of Hollywood. Among other issues, Bogdanovich was hardly the only person in L.A. who had met Ms. Stratton and her killing upset an awful lot of locals in and out of entertainment. (Including my mother's boss -- he was a commercial real estate agent who was a neighbor of Stratten, Snider, and their doctor housemate.) I suspect that if Rotten Tomatoes had access to more of the original reviews, the score would be far lower. Fosse had been the big cheese, and now he was on the decline, and it's not a fun film for most people to watch. Though the film is really very restrained by today's standards, some of the reviews that were quoted in the Gottfried book have the same ring as the original reviews of Michael Powell's career ending "Peeping Tom." It wasn't just a bad film to some of them, it was an evil film. Now, of course, Fosse has been kinda sorta canonized -- though I still feel he's underrated in some ways. It's definitely a prime candidate for the Criterion or Anchor Bay treatment. Nice piece and thanks for participating. And I (sort of) look forward to seeing “The Chrysallis Killing” — great find.

You know, even in today’s wired world, it’s interesting how hard it is to find “Star 80″ ain’t easy and how, even given its sensational subject matter, it’s now an obscure film.

Part of the problem may be that it’s not a film people wanted to be connected with. It’s a very tough and, in a way, stuck it’s finger in the eye of Hollywood. Among other issues, Bogdanovich was hardly the only person in L.A. who had met Ms. Stratton and her killing upset an awful lot of locals in and out of entertainment. (Including my mother’s boss — he was a commercial real estate agent who was a neighbor of Stratten, Snider, and their doctor housemate.)

I suspect that if Rotten Tomatoes had access to more of the original reviews, the score would be far lower. Fosse had been the big cheese, and now he was on the decline, and it’s not a fun film for most people to watch. Though the film is really very restrained by today’s standards, some of the reviews that were quoted in the Gottfried book have the same ring as the original reviews of Michael Powell’s career ending “Peeping Tom.” It wasn’t just a bad film to some of them, it was an evil film. Now, of course, Fosse has been kinda sorta canonized — though I still feel he’s underrated in some ways.

It’s definitely a prime candidate for the Criterion or Anchor Bay treatment.

]]> By: Forward to Yesterday - Bob Westal Classic Film, Movie, & Television Blog http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-18571 Forward to Yesterday - Bob Westal Classic Film, Movie, & Television Blog Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:32 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-searching-for-star-80/#comment-18571 [...] REALLY NEW! Friend of FtY and Fossethon supporter from way, Karina Longworth, writes about the travails of digging up a copy of Star 80 and, even without seeing it, has plenty [...] [...] REALLY NEW! Friend of FtY and Fossethon supporter from way, Karina Longworth, writes about the travails of digging up a copy of Star 80 and, even without seeing it, has plenty [...]

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