More Film Bulletin: Coscarelli's First

AKA Jim, the World's Greatest.

Movies in Books: Phantasm -> Fast Times

"Whenever possible play Side One of Led Zeppelin IV...and take her to Phantasm."

Of course, Mike Damone famously championed Zeppelin in Fast Times at Ridgemont High the film and novel, both by Cameron Crowe.  In the book, Mark Ratner plays Zeppelin IV and takes Stacy to see the new film Phantasm.  In the film, probably due to licensing issues, "The Rat" plays "Kashmir" from Physical Graffiti and there is no mention of Phantasm or any other movie.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Don Coscarelli the other night in between a screening of his new film John Dies at the End and his third, perhaps most beloved, film Phantasm.  I was surprised to learn that he did not know of Crowe's mentioning of Phantasm in Fast Times, the novel.  He wanted to know why Crowe and / or director Amy Heckerling chopped this reference from the film version.  That, I said, he'd have to take up with them.

As I understand it, Crowe now controls the rights to the novel, which was last in print in '82 in conjunction with the release of the film.  I hope he reprints it, as my copy has a broken spine as well as cover fading, and prices on the secondary market are quite prohibitive.  I was lucky enough to find a used copy over twenty years ago in a shop for $8.  The book may be out of print due to the fact that some of Crowe's "classmates," chiefly Mark Ratner inspiration Andy Rathbone, during his undercover time at Claremont High weren't so keen on his portrayal of them in the novel.

1979: Ooh Child, Over the Edge of Phantasm

1979's Over the Edge and Phantasm both feature narrow escapes by their adolescent male protagonists from exploding cars driven by villainous antagonists.  Music is Valerie Carter's version of "O-o-h Child" heard at the finale of Over the Edge, in lieu of director Jonathan Kaplan's preferred "Baba O'Riley."

More Of That Connective Tissue

I was on my way to a double feature screening of Don Coscarelli's John Dies at the End and Phantasm last night, when I stopped at a comic book shop to browse for a few minutes.  Looking through the store's back issues of Epic Illustrated, I noted this issue featuring a story by Roger Zelazny:

I haven't read any Zelazny, but his name is familiar to me from seeing it on the billing block for Damnation Alley, which is based upon his novel of the same name.

As for Phantasm, I've seen it countless times, but never on 35mm.  Granted, the print was scratchy, pink, and faded, but it still offered clarity beyond a conventional DVD and television set-up.  So, turning my head sideways, during the below scene, I could read the text on the cover of the book on Mike's desk: Roger Zelazny, My Name is Legion.  Checking the Phantasm Wiki page afterwards, I saw that this product placement had previously been noted there.  But, for me, this is another of those odd, movie coincidences that I--and I'm sure many other film-obsessed sorts--seem to experience on a regular basis.  I can only guess that Coscarelli or another member of the crew was a fan of Zelazny and perhaps this book in particular.

From the late, great Avco Embassy...

A more minimal, though undoubtedly effective campaign that I have not seen outside of this print ad. Is that self-congratulatory copy referencing the famous severed finger scene from Phantasm?