I'm reminded of the quote from John Carpenter's "Starman" (1982)

Starman:"What I like most about you (humans) You are at your very best when things are at their worst."

Yes Marathoids, things were looking looking pretty terrible there when the crowd showed up to face the vast empty dark void in the place where Major Tom has been for decades. No ATOMICFireballs!   Somebody stepped up!

Have you heard the weather was bad?

The 'thon started with "Snowpiercer" and what I fully expect will be among the most infamous lines ever uttered over its 40 year history: "I know what people taste like. Babies taste best." The great Douglas Trumbal stepped up:
Using that groaner of a line as an example of everything that's wrong with the current crop of SF films.
Did you hear about the weather...
The heat failed: hours of single digit temps were too much for an historic structure of the Sommerville's size. Everybody stepped up and endured the long cold night in solid, if not typical numbers.

Somewhere in there was everything that makes the Marathon great.

Nice words guys. Glad I got a chance to chat with you bbth. THE most hearty marathon crowd ever! More later.

Best snark was at the end of Snowpiercer when the first boot hits the snow- "We've got more than that!"

No film by film recap reviews yet?? Ill probably do mine tomorrow but lets see some others!

My favorite moment from SF40.
Fran and I were walking to the lobby from our usual front row seats.  As we approached the lobby doors, I heard, “Hey! How are you”?  I look to my left and I see Bruce Bartoo.  Without any hesitation, I pulled the man close to me and hugged him tightly.  I was overcome with joy seeing this man at SF40.  I had been feeling disheartened after having been told that Bruce could not attend.  For me, as well as for many who began attending the Marathon in the Welles’ years, Bruce represents the heart and soul of this event.  Seeing Bruce Bartoo and Joe Neff provides me with a sense of comfort and security.  Although they hail from Ohio, their presence lends a certain something to the Marathon.  It was a pleasure gentlemen and seeing you both pulled me out of my funk.  My son and daughter and crew were unable to attend and I was feeling a bit soured on the whole event.  Your conversation and smiles changed all of that.            

Thank you for the kind words, Joe. I echo Frank in saying that seeing Bruce, Joe and Zeke from Ohio was a highlight for me, particularly considering all the missing folks in the crowd. Kind of ironic that people from out of state who had the wherewithal to fly into town and get a hotel, had a better chance of attending than some of those within the state.

On the Trumbull & 'short' Marathon thing: In reality the two had nothing to do with one another.

1. Trumbull. From the begining of the scheduling process, Trumbull was always scheduled to do a 15 minute Q & A, long before the weather issues. I argued that he deserved more time (at least 1/2 hour), but that was the decision from the outset. I guess the thinking was that Saturday night's Evening with Douglas Trumbull Festival event was sufficient (about 30 - 40 people attended). I got to attend and Trumbull did put on a detailed 2 hour show complete with powerpoint presentation with clips and behind the scenes photos from BLADE RUNNER, SILENT RUNNING, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS etc. as well as 2001. Trumbull even stayed afterwards for another 15 minutes or so to speak with many in the crowd one on one. Since that event was in the small Cinema 2, Trumbull wanted to see the big screen where the Marathon was held and I was lucky enough to escort him on a brief tour along with David K. our projectionist extraordinaire. He was impressed.

2. As to the shortened 23 1/2 hour or so Marathon. It was a conscious decision. Considering the 4pm start and the weather conditions, it was decided that we should err on the side of shorter rather the usual running long. RAGNAROK got bumped in the process (although it did show in the micro-cinema). It runs 96 minutes, so if we hadn't bumped it, the Marathon would have run close to an hour over, ending at 5pm. People had travel plans, family committments and heck, just had to get home and shovel MORE snow. As it was, there were as few folks in the theater at the end of this marathon than just about any in memory; Imagine how sparse it may have been an hour and a half later?! The only other backup plan we had would have been to cut the Twilight Zone episode AND Bruce's trailer and shorts reel which including the indeciferably delicious SPACEBOY! The Trumbull Q&A was a non-factor (and, we actully got more Trumbull than scheduled, as he was just supposed to say hello when he introduced 2001, but, instead gave a nice 10 minute or more talk. We stayed on schedule because we wisely padded the 2001 running time because of the Intro and Exit music, plus intermission.  ).

P.S. This isn't the first Marathon to run "short". I remember one specific one at the Orson Welles that ended at a similar time. One guy started yelling out, "Hey! We want more film! Show us some shorts or trailers! Anything!"

Joe Neff wrote on Feb 18^th, 2015 at 11:44pm:

First of all, a big THANK YOU to all those who participated and attended! It was by far, the most trying Marathon ever (it made the 36 hr. SF/10 look like a walk in the park). Like I've written, this was the heartiest audience we've ever had. Still, that joy was certainly tempered by all the Marathoners - many of them 'lifers' who couldn't make it. I truly hope that either a date change is in order, or, that the we luck out with the weather.  On to the program:

In Memorium - I appreciate it, but, like I wrote last year, it needs to be half as long. Do a 'Director's cut' and put it online, but the Marathon edition should be 15 minutes max.

Duck Dodgers - Still puts me in a veritible time warp every time it opens the Marathon

SNOWPIERCER - One of last year's kookiest, most original films. I like to call it A BOY AND HIS DOG on a train. Director Bong certainly has his own way with story structure (to put it mildly), but he makes it work. I had forgotten about how unpleasant the cannibalism speech was! And, yes, the approapriatness of the booking in light of the blizzard was eerie!

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - When a film is as familiar as the Kubrick classic, you often go in cycles as to your enjoyment level. The last time around, I found the pacing difficult. This time, it seemed to fly by in comparison. Showing it early helped. The intermission was a relief. Having Doug Trumbull in the house, certainly did. But, the nice 70mm print was the topper. There were certain shots in this print that were almost hallucinatory in their vividness. Digital smidgital. A DCP still can't hold a candle to something like this. What is also odd is now that I have totally immersed myself with Kubrick and Clarke's story, it seems to make perfect sense that is so 'obvious' you wonder why some people still find it obtuse! 

Douglas Trumbull - There were about 30-40 people there Marathon eve for Trumbull's appearance at the Festival. He did over 2 hours there, but, was still a very welcome presence at the 'thon. 2001, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and BLADE RUNNER are still the holy trinity of special effects pre-CGI.

Aluminum Foil Contest - Our best contest. The entries really try

CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI - Sci-fi? Nope, but, it had been decades since I saw this. It's a marvellously original and influential silent. Without using camera tricks, just set design, makeup and costumes, it does plunge you into the mind of a patient. Jeff Rapsis? What is to say? You are FANTASTIC!

Quiet Zone & Prelude to Axanar - Quiet is cute, but slight. Axanar, I found to be a loooong kickstarter commercial

FANTASSACHERIE - This is one of those movies where you can see what the filmmaker was trying to do, but, you get frustrated because the various story threads never come together. Interesting, but failed. And, not sci-fi in the least

THEM! - Frankly, the special effects ants were never all that convincing. But, the acting, writing and direction are all so above the level of most SF of the era, that it all works. And, the queen ant colony set and egg props are damned fine

MOONRAKER - Save for the stuff with Jaws and a few gags, this Bond flick had completely been erased from my memory! And, I can see why. You could see that Broccoli and the 007 team really felt the heat from STAR WARS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS et al and tried to step up their game - but, most of the gags are pretty lame, some groaningly so (the asian hitman being the most egregious). And, Lois Chiles is amongst the most boring Bond girls ever. The 3rd non-Sci-Fi film on the slate.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - Still holds up. Whether you take it as straight SF, or look upon it as a parable with major Christ-like overtones, this remains one of the best of 50s films. And, it really struck me how Film Noirish both this and THEM! feel (of course Directors Robert Wise (DAY) and Gordon Douglas (THEM!) had experience in that genre). My young niece has come up with her own charming twist on the classic catchline:

Twilight Zone - I Sing The Body Electric - A good if somewhat slight and soft episode. But, it is time to do something else with the 'available to us only on DVD' slot!

Exo-Planet Fitness Contest - What did you think, folks? I thought the contestants gave great effort, but, this was a taxing 'thon to initiate this contest in.

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA - I was a big Carpenter fan when this came out. I thought the trailer was fantastic! I was psyched to see it in 1986. Unfortunately, I thought it was a stupid misfire. For decades folks have been telling me, 'You have to give it another shot! It's great!'.... Uh, I was correct in 1986. This is a monumentally stupid film. Sure, there is fun to be had with Russell doing his John Wayne thing and Cattrall was a cutie, but, this is a misfire. The fourth non-Sci-Fi film on the slate.

IRON GIANT - I've only seen this the two times it has played the 'thon. Loved it both times. It's a little stretched in the middle section, but, the ending is a killer. In retrospect, it's not that difficult to tell why the film failed at the box office: the 50s setting, the highly specific period details, the lack of 'modern day' pop culture jokes and songs etc. As much as WE love it, it just was never going to be a Pixar level hit.

Marathon History Symposium - I pushed for this, for it is (sadly) unlikely that we will ever get Bruce Bartoo, Larry Jackson and Garen on the same stage again. I hope the younger Marathoners got something out it, along with printed History which Harry & Judy Lohr, Da Bunnyman and I put together. When I mentioned a reunion at SF/50 to Bruce, he said, "Can the stage accomodate wheelchairs!?"

THIS ISLAND EARTH - I know some don't care for this one, but, I still find it a prototypical 50s B movie - for good and ill. It's colorful and schlocky and moves along well enough. Plus, it hadnt shown unexpurged in over 30 years. But, yeah, it belongs on the 'moritorium' list for the next decade or more.

Harlan Ellison Greeting - A monumental thank you to former Marathoner Nat Segaloff for putting this together and sharing it and Mr. Ellison with us.

EDGE OF TOMORROW - I still love the first 2/3 of this. One of the sharpest, wittiest and well put-together SF films of the past decade. And, I could watch 'Full Metal Bitch' Emily Blunt read the phone book. SPOILERS BELOW AT END OF POST*

Wrapping up. I want to thank Ian Judge, David Kornfeld and the entire staff of the Somerville who endured and conquered! Frank and Fran Urbano, Harry Lohr, Bruce, Joe and the Ohio Contingent, Metaluna (who got an applause line!), Lile, Brian, Wally, Simon, and my 'Connection' diehard quartet who haven't missed this in over 25 years! and all those who help make this trip special every year (and this year was VERY special!). I hope next year finds us hit the 400 or 500 mark once again.

Cheers!








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booooo to the on stage political rants of dave the projectionist and bruce bartoo.