Schlock-Wire: THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL - And It's Coming To DVD In April
Ballyhoo Motion Pictures honcho Daniel Griffith has turned up a real cinematic rarity - and with the help of VCI, he's getting it onto DVD in a new special edition. The film in question is The Name Of The Game Is Kill, a twisty-turny psycho thriller that stars Jack Lord and Susan Strasberg. Film buffs will be interested to note that it was an early gig for superstar cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and was also cut by The Wild Bunch editor Lou Lombardo. Read on for all swingin' psychosis details, including a full rundown of its special features...
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL
"You can't buy a ticket to see this movie... unless you pledge not to reveal the surprise shock ending", exclaimed the promotional campaign for film distributor JOE SOLOMON's 1968 psychological thriller, "THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL", from screenwriter, GARY CRUTCHER ("STANLEY"), and television director, GUNNAR HELLSTROM ("GUNSMOKE"). After being lost for over four decades, audiences will at last be able to experience this drive-in suspense film on a special edition DVD, restored for archival film elements and loaded with EXCLUSIVE bonus features.While hitchhiking along a desert highway in rural Arizona, Hungarian refugee and drifter (JACK LORD- "HAWAII 5-0") is given a lift by an attractive young girl (SUSAN STRASBERG-"THE TRIP" and "SCREAM OF FEAR") to a nearby 'ghost town'. There her family, consisting of her two sisters and their estranged mother, manage an old gas station. One by one, the sisters reveal to him clues to their shattered past. Slowly, the drifter becomes entangled in their web of deceit and desire, leading to "one of the most surprise shock endings ever filmed!" Co-starring COLLIN WILCOX ("TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD") and TISHA STERLING ("COOGAN'S BLUFF"), this 1960's drive-in thriller will keep you spellbound!Photographed by Academy Award winning cinematographer, VILMOS ZSIGMOND ("CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND" and "DELIVERANCE"), and assembled by acclaimed editor, LOU LOMBARDO ("THE WILD BUNCH"), this long lost cult masterpiece contains "shock sequences reminiscent of Hitchcock's 'PSYCHO'". (Film Daily)BONUS MATERIALS PRODUCED BY BALLYHOO MOTION PICTURES ("THE FLESH AND THE FURY: X-POSING TWINS OF EVIL", "NINTH WONDER OF THE WORLD: THE MAKING OF GORGO", "BUBBA DIDN'T DO IT: MAKING DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW")BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:1- Introduction by documentary filmmaker Daniel Griffith.2- Audio commentary with screenwriter Gary Crutcher, moderated by Daniel Griffith.3- "PSYCHO'S SISTER: MAKING THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL" - An ALL-NEW making of documentary featuring EXCLUSIVE interviews with screenwriter GARY CRUTCHER ("STANLEY"), cinematographer VILMOS ZSIGMOND ("DELIVERANCE"), composer STU PHILLIPS ("BATTLESTAR GALACTICA"), film director/historian JOE DANTE ("GREMLINS"), writer/film historian TIM LUCAS (VIDEO WATCHDOG), and MORE!4-"SCHLOCKMEISTER: JOE SOLOMON ON REELS" - The cinematic history of producer/distributor Joe Solomon... told through trailers. Featuring audio commentary by film historian CHRIS POGGIALI (TEMPLE OF SCHLOCK).5-EXTENSIVE PROMOTIONAL GALLERY (WHICH INCLUDES DOZENS OF 'BEHIND THE SCENES' PHOTOGRAPHS)6-RARE TV SPOT7-ORIGINAL 'PLEDGE CARD' INSERT IN THE PACKAGINGAND MORE!CREDITS:A FANFARE FILM Release - A POORE and TODD ProductionJACK LORD and SUSAN STRASBERG in"THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL!"Co-starring COLLIN WILCOX - TISHA STERLING - MARC DESMOND - MORT MILLS and T.C. JONESMusic composed by STU PHILLIPS - Edited by LOU LOMBARDO - Executive Produced by JOE SOLOMONProduced by ROBERT POORE - Written by GARY CRUTCHER - Directed by GUNNAR HELLSTROMRECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES