Oddball Films and guest curator Kat Shuchter bring you Them's Fightin' Words, an evening of films exploring those most human responses of Anger, Aggression, Belligerence and Battle, with a little bit of everything combative, from vintage foxy boxing to a Western barroom brawl to self-defense for teachers. Two hideous puppets beat each other with bats and teach us how to deal with our frustrations in Feelings: Don't Stay Mad (1972). Charlie Chaplin doesn't look much like a boxer, but he sure does gets to punching in The Champion (1915). Marlene Dietrich's got that look and a mean right hook in an explosive excerpt from Destry Rides Again (1939). In Lipstick and Dynamite (1946), we see two furious femmes go head to head whilst vying for the World-Wrestling title. In Classroom Crisis: Dealing with Violence in Schools (1980's) we get to learn alongside educators about the proper self-defense techniques when dealing with unruly students. And discover who it is your anger should be directed at in the short educational musical I'm Mad at Me (1974). With so many more belligerent bonuses, like Minotaur combat, midget-wrestling, cartoon kangaroo boxing, and a 1970's Renaissance Faire battle, this is one night that will be sure to get your blood boiling!
Date: Friday, August 10th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street San Francisco
Feelings: Don’t Stay Mad (Color, 1972)
This bizarre and head-scratching PSA attempts to teach children to deal with their anger. Herky and Goonie are two of the ugliest puppets you may ever see, and they seem to be locked in some sort of domestic abuse situation, although it would seem they are only supposed to be 9 year-old children. Goonie is a belligerent, baseball bat wielding maniac, that none of the kids want to play with, but maybe there is hope if he can learn to not stay mad (and put down the baseball bat). There are also some marvelous scenes of precious little girls screaming and beating their pillows mercilessly.
Everyone's favorite silent Tramp dons a new getup and a winner's atitude when, in order to make a little extra cash (presumably for mustache wax), Charlie Chaplin signs up to fight to biggest, meanest looking boxer he's ever seen. Will the scrawny little tramp triumph? He just might if he can find a smarter use for that lucky horseshoe on the ground!
Destry Rides Again (B+W, 1939)
Marlene Dietrich and Jimmy Stewart star in this classic western. Dietrich is Frenchy, a lovely saloon gal with a cheeky dulcimer voice, while Stewart plays the titular role, a no-nonsense deputy with an eye for justice and an itch trigger-finger. After Frenchy's performance of "You've Got That Look," a brawl ensues, bringing both lawman and lusty lady into the fray.
Classroom Crisis: Dealing with Violence in Schools (Color, 1980's)
Long before the eruption of gun violence in schools, this outdated primer on self-defense for teachers attempted to give educators a fighting chance, against the belligerent and dangerous children and possibly custodians that sought to injure them. Now you'll know what to do when those two teen girls start hair-pulling over who's the bigger slut, or that drifter-kid that's been eyeing you with lust in his eyes.
Lipstick and Dynamite (B+W, 1949)
Furious femmes in an all-out she-brawl! Sensitive portrayal of a premier woman’s sporting event! Which is it? Come see and decide for yourself as Mildred Burke (from Los Angeles) and Mae Weston (of Columbus, Ohio) contend for the women's wrestling championship of the world.
I'm Mad at Me (Color, 1974)
Did you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Did it effect the way you treated those people around you? Didn't you just want to punch somebody? Did you then commence to sing a high-pitched song about it all day? Well both Jimmy and Suzy are having a day like that. I hope they can find out who they're really mad at!
Plus!
Trailers including Mandingo and Network, vintage Medieval Combat reenactments, a Terrytoon with a boxing Kangaroo, Theseus fights the Minotaur mano a mano, 1950's mini-wrestlers, Jack Palance as Attila the Barbarian and so much more!
Curator’s Biography
Kat Shuchter is a graduate of UC Berkeley in Film Studies. She is a filmmaker, artist and esoteric film hoarder. She has helped program shows at the PFA, The Nuart and Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater and was crowned “Found Footage Queen” of Los Angeles, 2009.
