The world gifted us Paul Bartel on 6 August 1938. But it didn’t pay off for several decades.

Like most people, I know him more as an actor than a director. That’s simply because he shows up in so many psychotronic delights. But he was a great director. He put his own stamp of films despite rarely writing them.

Today, we mostly remember Bartel for directing Eating Raoul. He also stars in it with frequent collaborator and friend Mary Woronov. The film is basically a play on film but thanks to the direction and acting, it doesn’t feel like it. Just the same, I am not inclined to watch it again and again. But it is obvious why the film is iconic. The title alone would make it so.

I’m more a fan of Lust in the Dust. With Tab Hunter and Devine, it seems like it would be a John Waters film. In fact, Waters was offered the film but he turned it down. I tend to think it is better for Bartel manning the shoot. Hard to say.

My favorite Paul Bartel film is Private Parts. But it is my kind of film. First, it’s horror. And it is seedy. And the comedy is often very uncomfortable. What’s not to like?!

Here is a very good print to watch for free:

Other 6 August Anniversaries

Filmmakers

• Robert Mitchum (1917-1997): Actor known for The Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear.
• Andy Warhol (1928-1987): Artist who put his name on some interesting films like Flesh for Frankenstein.
• Umbert Lenzi (1931-2017): Director of films such as Pirates of Malaysia and Ghosthouse.
• Michael Deeley (1932-): Producer of interesting films like The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Blade Runner.
• Vera Farmiga (1973-): Actor known for The Conjuring and its sequels.
• M Night Shyamalan (1970-): Writer-director known for his twist-ending horror films like The Sixth Sense.
• Melissa George (1976-): Actor known for some recent psychotronic films like 30 Days of Night and Triangle. She also had a small role in Dark City.

Films

• Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965): Strippers take over a farm where treasure is hidden. This is doubtless one of the top 10 psychotronic films ever made.
• Munster, Go Home! (1966): Herman inherits an English manor. Pretty tedious unless you are really into the show.
• The Brotherhood of Satan (1971): A family is trapped in a desert town run by elderly Satanists.
• Watch Me When I Kill (1977): A woman sees a murder and is stalked by the murderer.
• A Blade in the Dark (1983): A killer stalks the composer of a horror film, which implicates him.
• The Fugitive (1993): Solid filmed version of the TV show.
• The Meteor Man (1993): Inner city superhero parody.
• My Boyfriend’s Back (1993): A dead boy returns from the grave with romantic intensions.
• The Iron Giant (1999): Animated feature about a boy making friends with a huge robot that people really like for some reason.
• Mystery Men (1999): Oddball X-Men/Avengers film that works surprisingly well.
• The Sixth Sense (1999): A little boy sees dead people. The film is known for its twist but it actually works really well as a romantic tragedy. I recommend watching it again!
• Vampire Whores From Outer Space (2005): Micro-budget film about space vampire prostitutes.

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Private Parts (1972) poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.