American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

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Grand Wazoo
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:23 pm

American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#1 Post by Grand Wazoo » Sun Jan 29, 2017 11:14 am

Looks like they are creating their own home video label and rolling out a bunch of blu releases this year.
The American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) is excited to announce its initial slate of theatrical and home video releases in collaboration with Seattle's Something Weird. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, AGFA purchased a 4K film scanner to create new digital transfers of titles from the Something Weird library. AGFA will begin distributing their new transfers theatrically and on home video in the summer of 2017.

Each home video release will feature a main title, a "b-side" bonus feature, and trailers and shorts from the Something Weird archive. Select releases will include interviews and commentary tracks with Something Weird’s Lisa Petrucci, filmmaker Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE, FRANKENHOOKER), filmmakers involved with the movies, and more surprises along the way. Mike Vraney founded Something Weird in 1990. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 after a long, heroic battle with lung cancer. Legendary exploitation warlock David F. Friedman deemed Vraney "the forty-first thief," which was the ultimate compliment to this exploiteer, who dedicated his life to unearthing and preserving the most radically insane exploitation and horror movies of all time.

AGFA has partnered with Something Weird’s Lisa Petrucci, Mike Vraney’s widow and partner, to redistribute titles from the massive 35mm film collection.

"Our mission hasn't changed, it has evolved," says AGFA Director Joe Ziemba, "AGFA will always be dedicated to preserving and sharing 35mm film prints. But by scanning these fragile elements and distributing them as new digital transfers, we are making the movies even more accessible than ever. At the same time, we are helping Lisa Petrucci of Something Weird ensure that Mike Vraney's legacy will continue to grow."

Read about the first wave of releases:

THE ZODIAC KILLER
Made in hopes of capturing the real-life Zodiac Killer, but the plan didn’t work. Instead, we got the most outrageous and compelling "tabloid horror" vortex in the history of the universe. Paired with ANOTHER SON OF SAM, a lo-fi proto-slasher that has nothing to do with Son of Sam, let alone another Son of Sam.

THE CURIOUS DR. HUMPP
If FRANKENSTEIN was re-imagined by Kenneth Anger as a softcore body-horror epic with a monster who plays guitar, it still wouldn't be as wild as this legendary Argentinian mind-melter. Paired with ROOM OF CHAINS, a sick-o-delic black mass perversion party from the foothills of France.

POT! PARENTS! POLICE!
This is an After School Special gone bad about a teenager's slow descent into weed-fueled mania. FYI, this was the first -- and last -- movie made to play exclusively at Jerry Lewis's chain of theaters in the 1970s. Paired with THE DEVIL’S JOINT, a bizarro anti-weed documentary that was definitely made by art school drop-outs.

FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET
A gender-bending NYC smut-opera and accidental masterpiece, and also the greatest film from infamous no-budget wildman Andy Milligan. Paired with GURU, THE MAD MONK, Milligan's unhinged, DARK SHADOWS-inspired gore opera.

SATANIS, THE DEVIL'S MASS
Unseen and unbelievable cinéma vérité expose on Anton LaVey, America's favorite leader of the Church of Satan. Paired with VOODOO BLACK EXORCIST, a grunge-horror mind-blast from Spain that is as good as it sounds.

SHE MOB
The greatest girl gang sexploitation gutter-epic that John Waters never made. Filmed in Texas, where life is cheap! Paired with HOTTER AFTER DARK, a gutter-noir private eye sex-party that was filmed in Florida, where life is cheaper!

Future releases include:

AROUSED paired with FLY NOW, PAY LATER
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR paired with THE GUY FROM HARLEM
THE GODMONSTER OF INDIAN FLATS paired with THE LEGEND OF BIGFOOT
LOVE AFTER DEATH paired with SEX ON THE GROOVE TUBE
THE LOVE FEAST paired with NECROMANIA
THE MONSTER AT CAMP SUNSHINE paired with PROFESSOR LUST
SATAN’S CHILDREN paired with THINGS TO COME
TALES OF A SALESMAN paired with VOICES OF DESIRE
THE VIOLENT YEARS paired with ANATOMY OF A PSYCHO

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ianthemovie
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#2 Post by ianthemovie » Sun Jan 29, 2017 11:54 am

God, I hope they re-release Toys Are Not For Children.

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L.A.
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#3 Post by L.A. » Sun Jan 29, 2017 12:47 pm

The Curious Dr. Humpp and Satanis, the Devil's Mass sound fascinating. I believe the previous Something Weird Video DVDs were stacked with extras, hopefully they are ported over.

Also interested in The Zodiac Killer.

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Grand Wazoo
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:23 pm

Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#4 Post by Grand Wazoo » Thu Feb 02, 2017 10:03 am

AGFA to troll all of us by restoring and releasing Bat Pussy theatrically and on blu this year

Considering our current political climate, the mood of this film is eerily fitting.

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colinr0380
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#5 Post by colinr0380 » Sat Feb 04, 2017 9:31 am

Oh dear God, no! Not the film in which the title character arrives late to an orgy by somehow thinking a space hopper is a fast form of transport (she even gets off and runs holding it for a little while, which is actually faster than bouncing down the street on it!)

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Rayon Vert
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#6 Post by Rayon Vert » Sat Feb 04, 2017 5:36 pm

"Worst 70s porno spoof ever". Cinema Snob on BP.

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colinr0380
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#7 Post by colinr0380 » Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:30 pm

I cannot think of any other porno film which involves the other characters lazily killing time (to the point of actually falling asleep!) while waiting for the title character to turn up!

(Though I should say that while I'd never recommend the film, it is wonderful that it is being preserved! Even if only to confuse future generations about what constituted a normal method of transportation in the mid 20th century!)

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#8 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:48 pm

L.A. wrote:Also interested in The Zodiac Killer.
The Zodiac Killer is... eh, whatever. It feels sleazy even by the standards of '70s exploitation, but it's also weirdly restrained and quotidian to an extent that's almost admirable even as it's really, really boring. (One perceptive Letterboxd review likened it to Clarke's Elephant without any of the energy.) The story behind the film is more interesting than the actual result and I hope the extras will get into that.

An aside: before The Zodiac Killer, AGFA did a very nice transfer of The Dragon Lives Again as the first test of their new scanner. Unfortunately Vinegar Syndrome looked into an actual release and concluded there were too many rights issues to make it viable.

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Grand Wazoo
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#9 Post by Grand Wazoo » Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:29 pm

AGFA to release EFFECTS (1980) on Blu-ray and in theaters!

We are beyond excited to announce that our second Blu-ray and theatrical release following THE ZODIAC KILLER will be EFFECTS (1980).

Cobbled together with loose change by George Romero’s friends in Pittsburgh, EFFECTS is a mesmerizing D.I.Y. frightmare that no one talks about, but everyone should. The movie was produced by John Harrison (composer of CREEPSHOW, who also stars) and stars Joe Pilato (DAY OF THE DEAD) and Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD). Landing somewhere between Michael and Roberta Findlay’s SNUFF and a student film by John Carpenter, EFFECTS is a meta-enhanced takedown on the philosophy of horror that doubles as a sleazy and terrifying movie on its own.

AGFA is currently working on a new 4K scan of EFFECTS from our original theatrical print — the only one in existence.

Stay tuned for more info on this summer’s release of EFFECTS!

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#10 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:00 pm

A new AGFA-created digital transfer of Abby (1974) is playing next month at the Drafthouse Ritz in Austin. Given the legal issues that have bedeviled this movie, I'm guessing this is another Dragon Lives Again situation where they scanned a rare print for preservation purposes rather than a commercial release, but who knows, maybe they'll work something out.

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The Elegant Dandy Fop
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#11 Post by The Elegant Dandy Fop » Sat Mar 11, 2017 2:38 am

I hope someone picks up Abby and hope the restoration is good. I saw it four years ago on an incredibly pink 16mm print. It was the only known print in circulation. If it's sourced from something better than that and retains the original color, I would be very happy.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#12 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Sat Mar 11, 2017 3:21 am

The Dragon Lives Again print that AGFA used had faded to pink and yet you would never in a million years guess that from the restoration—very impressive work. So Abby should look fine at least in that respect.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#13 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:13 pm

Saw the Abby restoration last night. Like The Dragon Lives Again, it had faded to pink, but the restorers (actually it was just one guy) did a remarkable job of getting the color back in. There was very little else done in the way of cleanup and the source print was in worse shape than The Dragon Lives Again, with a particularly obtrusive green line running down the left side of the frame through the entire picture. But I'm sure it looks better than whatever else is out there.

Unfortunately, the AGFA staffer who introduced the film said Warner owns the rights and still won't budge on it, meaning no actual release is in the offing. He also said Warner has the negative in their vaults, so if they ever do change their minds, it should be possible to do a superior transfer. Like The Dragon Lives Again, AGFA did this scan for practice and preservation, not for any sort of distribution.

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L.A.
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#14 Post by L.A. » Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:52 pm

Their upcoming Blu-ray of Bat Pussy has been banned by Amazon.

Jameson281
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#15 Post by Jameson281 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 1:39 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote: He also said Warner has the negative in their vaults, so if they ever do change their minds, it should be possible to do a superior transfer.
Incorrect. Since ABBY was an AIP title, MGM holds the original elements.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#16 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Thu Sep 21, 2017 3:31 pm

The story as told by the AGFA staffer was that AIP handed the film over to Warner Bros. lock, stock, and barrel, choosing not to fight the lawsuit since they felt the film had done all the business it was going to do. For a long time it was rumored that WB had actually destroyed the negative.

Jameson281
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#17 Post by Jameson281 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:15 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:For a long time it was rumored that WB had actually destroyed the negative.
It's safe and sound. No one can do anything with it, but it was not destroyed.

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agnamaracs
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#18 Post by agnamaracs » Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:55 pm

Only two of the titles announced in the first post have actually been released so far. Those are:
--The Zodiac Killer b/w Another Son of Sam (co-release with Something Weird)
--The Violent Years b/w Anatomy of a Psycho (co-release with Something Weird)

Meanwhile, the following have been released or at least announced:
--Effects
--Bat Pussy b/w Robot Love Slaves (co-release with Something Weird)
--The Sword and the Claw b/w Brawl Busters
--The Soultangler (co-release with Bleeding Skull!) *DVD only

And that's not counting the three DVDs they released through Vinegar Syndrome.

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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#19 Post by Werewolf by Night » Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:38 am

Yes, I was really eager to support AGFA by buying Fleshpot on 42nd St and Aroused, but they’re no-shows. The other stuff they’ve released so far just doesn’t appeal to me, but I get that they can only release what’s ready to release.

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Boosmahn
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#20 Post by Boosmahn » Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:54 am

This was announced a few weeks ago, but the already-announced Godmonster of Indian Flats is making its Blu-ray debut on July 18. The Legend of Bigfoot is included in the package as well.

I'm very interested in this label. Maybe Effects is the best place to start, since some reviews suggest it somehow transcends the schlock genre. Along with Godmonster and The Violent Years, AGFA is a label to keep an eye on! Seems like a great alternative to Arrow in the exploitation department.

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Boosmahn
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#21 Post by Boosmahn » Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:20 pm

Lady Street Fighter is coming to Blu-ray courtesy of AGFA.
Press Release wrote:BRAND NEW 2K RESTORATION of the film from the only surviving 35mm theatrical print
NEW 2K RESTORATION of Revenge of Lady Street Fighter, the unreleased sequel to the original film
Street-fightin' trailers from the AGFA vaults
Audio commentary track with director James Bryan and the AGFA team

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domino harvey
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#22 Post by domino harvey » Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:48 pm

Thought this was Sister Street Fighter and got excited for nothing

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dwk
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#23 Post by dwk » Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:53 pm

domino harvey wrote:Thought this was Sister Street Fighter and got excited for nothing
Arrow is rumored to have the Sister Street Fighter movies.

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Boosmahn
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#24 Post by Boosmahn » Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:55 pm

Lots of people in the Blu-ray.com comment section were thinking it was Sister Street Fighter, too. Seems like something Arrow would release, so maybe there's still hope?

Not a fan of these "fighting" titles, but that unreleased sequel sounds intriguing. Apparently, there was a title card at the end of Lady Street Fighter that promised a sequel, so fans that have been waiting since 1981 can finally be at peace. :lol:

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Ashirg
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Re: American Genre Film Archive (AGFA)

#25 Post by Ashirg » Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:14 pm

Someone at blu-ray.com posted that Revenge of Lady Street Fighter is "mostly stock footage from the first movie with like 20 minutes of new footage"

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