By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Genre legend Barbara Steele narrates this history of the theater that defined a brand of grisly entertainment.
Severin Films has announced that THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL will have its world premiere September 6 at the French city’s L’Étrange Festival. Producer/director/editor David Gregory (LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S “ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU,” BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE & GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON) and Steele will introduce the documentary, which will be followed by a series of newly restored Grand Guignol short films with live musical accompaniment by Serge Bromberg.
The synopsis: “Occupying a former chapel in a seedy Pigalle alley, Paris’ Théâtre du Grand-Guignol first welcomed audiences to witness its unflinchingly horrific and naturalistic stage plays in 1897. During the next 65 years of gruesome performances, the ‘Theatre of Death’ developed a distinct brand of drama so sadistic yet brilliant, it captivated the world well beyond its final bow. Today the theater’s name remains synonymous with macabre plots, and its legacy–from the modern horror genre to tabloid journalism, the true-crime phenomenon and beyond–continues to have a profound impact on popular culture worldwide.”
“I’ve been fascinated by The Grand Guignol since childhood,” says Gregory. “But despite brief mentions in horror history books and deep scholarly studies, my search for a cinematic exploration of the subject had consistently proved unrewarding. Even my interactions with French genre filmmakers revealed their own superficial knowledge of the Theatre’s significance. It all led me to dig deeper and discover the truth behind the pat adjective that ‘Grand Guignol-esque’ had become. The French approach to l’épouvante and fantastique–of which The Grand Guignol plays a major role–has always had its own distinctive influence which now deserves new focus.”
The L’Étrange Festival will also honor Steele with a double-feature screening on September 3 of Severin’s restoration of Riccardo Freda’s LO SPETTRO/THE GHOST and a 50th-anniversary showing of David Cronenberg’s SHIVERS. Tickets for the THEATRE OF HORRORS premiere can be ordered here.
