Title: Gary Graver has died
Marty McKee - November 18, 2006 05:16 AM (GMT)
Fred Olen Ray has reported the passing of his good friend Gary Graver over on Ray's Retromedia message board. If you're into exploitation movies at all, you have undoubtedly come across at least one of Graver's films as a cinematographer, editor or director--just a few of the hats he wore during his 40-year Hollywood career. Graver also proved himself quite a storyteller on DVD commentary tracks like THE PHANTOM EMPIRE and THE TOOLBOX MURDERS. Just a few of the directors Graver worked with: Ron Howard, Jim Wynorski, Al Adamson, Ross Hagen, David L. Hewitt and Orson Welles. Most of Graver's films as a director were of the adult variety, but you may also recognize the formerly obscure TEXAS LIGHTNING (coming soon to DVD, I hear), TRICKS OR TREATS and THE HARD ROAD. He was also married to FIRECRACKER star Jillian Kesner for many years.
John Black - November 18, 2006 07:33 AM (GMT)
I"ve admired Graver ever since I saw SANDRA-THE MAKING OF A WOMAN circa 1970. He, as well as the film's leading lady Monica Gayle, provided a classy single X rated film that was far better than I could have expected. It was the first X rated film that I saw when I was of legal age (I had seen a few X rated films before, such as MEDIUM COOL and BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, with the aid of fake I.D.).
Nicholas Halo - November 18, 2006 11:34 AM (GMT)
His documentary WORKING WITH ORSON WELLES is also good if one is at all curious about Graver (since he is featured in it almost as much as his subject). It's certainly crudely made (and Graver's stilted narration really doesn't help) but, if you're interested in either man, worth watching. (Though I think the DVD may be out of print).
Jeff McKay - November 19, 2006 12:10 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Marty McKee @ Nov 17 2006, 11:16 PM) |
| TEXAS LIGHTNING (coming soon to DVD, I hear) |
TEXAS LIGHTNING has been out since February from Media Blasters.
Marty McKee - November 19, 2006 10:30 PM (GMT)
Thanks, Jeff, I must have missed it. Not that I was looking too hard for it, because TEXAS LIGHTNING is not very good.
Jeff McKay - November 20, 2006 02:29 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Marty McKee @ Nov 19 2006, 04:30 PM) |
| Not that I was looking too hard for it, because TEXAS LIGHTNING is not very good. |
I agree completely, but at least Marcia Brady is in it!
Chris Barry - November 20, 2006 08:30 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Jeff McKay @ Nov 19 2006, 08:29 PM) |
| I agree completely, but at least Marcia Brady is in it! |
As if that's a reason to purchase! :o
Is she nude in it?
Jeff McKay - November 20, 2006 08:53 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Chris Barry @ Nov 20 2006, 02:30 PM) |
As if that's a reason to purchase! :o
Is she nude in it? |
I think there was one very brief dark nude shot of her in a motel room - you can barely make out one of her naked breasts - that's about it. This is from watching the old Media Video release of the film, though - I haven't seen the DVD. I read somewhere that the DVD looks darker and worse than the old video does.
Lance Tooks - November 21, 2006 03:18 AM (GMT)
Has there ever been a resume' more fun than
THIS? Chris Barry - November 27, 2006 09:34 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Lance Tooks @ Nov 20 2006, 09:18 PM) |
| Has there ever been a resume' more fun than THIS? |
Prolific doesn't even begin to describe Gary Graver. I didn't realize the extent of his XXX work...
And his work with Orson Welles...
...and this guy...Wow! :blink:
Terry Warrick - December 2, 2006 11:45 PM (GMT)
That's terribly sad to hear.
I worked ever so briefly with him while I was attending a film school in L.A. We were shooting a feature-length film that we, as students wrote and directed scene by scene. Gary was the DP. Fred Olen Ray came in a shot a scene as well. Gary could not have been a nicer guy and really helped me get the shots I needed.