Off the momentum generated by last summer's East Coast screening, Robert Martin Carroll's controversial masterpiece SONNY BOY (1990) will be getting a one-time only midnight show at Landmark's Nuart Theatre in West L.A. on Friday, May 12th. Carroll will be in person to introduce and do Q&A, and more guests may be announced later.

Meanwhile, Carroll's long-promised followup, BABY LUV, after kicking around the festival circuit, appears to have quietly been released to DVD by low-budget outfit York Entertainment, under the new title BABIES FOR SALE. York obviously knows very little about this pickup of theirs - they apparently resubmitted the film's credits to the imdb, listing him as "Robert Carroll," and as of this posting, the imdb is treating it as a separate film. (I have sent a correction, who knows how long it will take to go through). Like most York releases, it will likely be found in many bargain bins and second-hand DVD stores, so go snap it up!

Thanks for the info on BABY LUV. I've been wanting to see that forever.

Marc,

Any news on the quality and completeness of the print?

The 35mm print that we showed was in excellent condition but missing several crucial scenes. Robert Martin Carroll presented a video clip of the most important missing scene during the post-film discussion.

In any case, it's great that this amazing film is being shown again.

Dylan Skolnick
Cinema Arts Centre

It will likely be the exact same print you screened - the abridged U.S. edition as released by TransWorld. Some attempts were made to get an uncut print struck, as the material exists, but with Sony now controlling the MGM library they have a flat rule about not theatrically releasing X-rating-level material, barring a "grandfather clause" for unrated MGM repertory prints of SALO, WILD AT HEART, and others. (Sony Classics, which does sometimes do NC-17 releases, is considered an autonomous arm of the company, and is not held to the same rules the main Sony repertory department is.)

Thanks for being one of the first to take the step of getting this film back in circulation, Dylan. This event could not take place without your precedent.

I have to share credit with Paper Magazine critic Dennis Dermody who has consistently championed this film and pushed us to show it.

One more day for L.A. Mobians to plan for this -- I'm hoping I will see some fans turn out for this screening.