InsiderLouisville on lesser-known films that use absurdist humor to drive home their point

[froodle]

‘Hollywood Boulevard’ (1976)

Roger Corman’s “let the kids do it” philosophy at his New Word Pictures B-movie factory resulted in some delightful experiments, and few were better than this affectionate, occasionally biting parody of ’70s exploitation drive-in movies.

Joe Dante and Allan Arkush each got their second directing credits on the completely random, often absurdist story of ingenue Candy Wednesday (Candice Rialson) as she stumbles through Tinsletown’s sex and drug-laced underbelly. Mary Woronov is her typical perfection as a Norma Desmond-esque B-movie queen who will go to any lengths to hold onto her throne.

The film is alternately goofy — Commander Cody shows up for no apparent reason to perform “Everybody’s Doin’ It” — and satirically harrowing. A drive-in projectionist tries to assault Candy when he’s unable to distinguish between what he sees on screen and reality. Fairly heady stuff. And Godzilla gets one of his few American screen credits.