SKY ROOM TALK
ED WOOD
Lecture by Keith Crocker
Monday, January 23 at 7:30 pm | Members $10 | Public $15
Join Long Island based film historian and director Keith Crocker for an insightful examination of the notorious filmmaker Ed Wood.
Ed Wood, the man who directed the infamous and unintentionally funny Plan 9 From Outer Space, has often been accused of being Hollywood’s worst filmmaker, but is this criticism fair? In this program, we explore the life of Ed Wood, from his days as a marine Corporal during WWII where he served in the battle of Tarawa to his career as a screenwriter in Hollywood, penning such films as The Bride & The
Beast (1958) and later working his way to directing cult classics as Bride of the Monster (1955), Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) and Night of the Ghouls (1959). Woods’ somewhat autobiographical Glenn or Glenda (1953) explored his passion for dressing like a woman. Writer Jim Morton said of Ed Wood; “Eccentric and individualistic, Edward D. Wood, Jr. was a man born to film. Lesser men, if forced to make
movies under the conditions Wood faced, would have thrown up their hands in defeat.” This talk poses the question: Was Ed Wood Hollywood’s worst filmmaker or misunderstood genius?
As a bonus, we will also explore other filmmakers whose works are so bad it proves that Ed Wood was actually quite ahead of his time. And as an additional treat for Cinema Arts patrons, we will end with a ‘Square Up” reel which will feature clips for some of Woods later and more salacious work. Be there if you have the courage!
