Drafthouse Films is partnering with the American Genre Film Archive to release “Trailer War,” a carefully curated feature-length program of rare, 35mm vintage trailers. Alamo Drafthouse programmer Lars Nilsen quips that the selection of three-minute time capsule genre goodies includes everything from “the explosive metal mayhem of ‘Stunt Rock'” to the “disembodied flying head chaos” of “Thundercops.” NSFW trailer for the trailers below.
Many of the previews included in the compilation were saved from impending destruction and donated by Drafthouse founder Tim League. A particularly interesting rescue mission found League reaching out to a distant relative in South Africa to investigate a rumored hidden cache of trailers buried deep in a Johannesburg warehouse. Said relative made an illicit cash exchange, and 200 pounds of celluloid were transported from Africa to Austin.
Each of the selections are presented for the first time in high-definition, and a 35mm theatrical tour is planned for December. For the “Trailer War” disc, available December 18 only on the Drafthouse site, “Trailers from Hell” creator Joe Dante gives an extensive interview on his early years as a trailer cutter for low-budget genre maestro Roger Corman.
The American Genre Film Archive prides itself on being the largest “exploitation film” archive, housing more than 3,500 film prints and trailers.
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