70’s Cult Classic, ‘The Telephone Book’ Set For Exclusive LA Screening At American Cinematheque At Egyptian Theatre, November 5th
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on October 8, 2009 under Archived | 
Be the First to Comment
“The Telephone Book” a once forgotten, biting satire on sexual morality about a girl who falls in love with the world’s greatest obscene phone caller has been re-discovered by a new generation of young moviegoers and has become a DVD cult-film sensation throughout Europe. It will now be seen in Los Angeles, for the first time in 40 years, when the American Cinematheque hosts a special screening of the film at the Egyptian Theater on November 5th at 8:00 pm. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s producer and well-known figure in motion picture advertising, Merv Bloch.
Once dismissed by mainstream film critics as obscene and pornographic, it is now being hailed as a missing masterpiece. It was considered a source of inspiration for Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango In Paris.” Steve Martin called it one of his favorite films of the ‘70s. “The Telephone Book”, has not been seen in Los Angeles since it played at the Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in 1971.
The subject matter of the film was uniquely ahead of its time since it focused on “telephone sex” which has since become a virtual staple of modern sexual expression.
Written and directed by Nelson Lyon, the film stars Sarah Kennedy (a distant relative of the Kennedy family) and features Jill Clayburgh in one of her early screen roles. Also appearing in the movie are an eclectic cast of actors, including Barry Morse (Inspector Gerard in the TV series “The Fugitive”), William Hickey (Academy Award nominee for “Prizzi’s Honor”), Roger C. Carmel an actor who achieved television immortality by appearing as Harry Mudd in the original “Star Trek” TV series and Norman Rose, a veteran actor best known for his voiceover work in radio and television commercials. Andy Warhol film regulars Ultra Violet, Ondine and Geri Miller are also in the cast. Andy Warhol actually appeared in the film but his scene was later cut and lost. A substantial reward is being offered for any information leading to the recovery of this lost Warhol footage.
The Merv Bloch Production, “The Telephone Book”, will be presented at the American Cinematheque on Thursday, November 5th at 8:00 pm. Following the screening and a Q&A with Merv Bloch, the Cinematheque will show a special highlight reel featuring many of Bloch’s iconic movie trailers and TV spots. From 1970 to the early 1990’s, Bloch was one of the leading, independent creative forces in movie advertising and his company, Rosebud Studio, designed and produced some of the most distinguished and successful advertising campaigns, film posters and trailers of that period, including, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Star Trek”, “Heaven Can Wait”, “Marathon Man”, “Julia”, “Cabaret”, “Flashdance”, “Hannah And Her Sisters”, “Radio Days”, “Crimes And Misdemeanors”, “Bullets Over Broadway”, “An Unmarried Woman”, “Paper Moon”, “Murder On The Orient Express”, “The Conversation”, “Chinatown” and “Raging Bull.”
A special edition DVD box-set plus signed reprints of the award-winning film poster for “The Telephone Book” will be available for purchase.
For further information, please go to American Cinematheque website, (www.americancinematheque.com) or “The Telephone Book” website,
Add A Comment