What better way to wash down thirty-two Al Adamson movies than with David Gregory’s documentary on the man, the myth, the legend that is Al Adamson? Fans of the schlock director will already be familiar with some of the wild yarns that are spun about him, but it’s great to see so many of his cast and crew together in one place and dragging out the well-worn chestnuts yet again. Find out how he broke into the business, made and remade (and remade) a flimsy crime thriller so it could eventually be resold as a horror movie, worked with up-and-coming cinematographers, worked with down-and-out actors, and even convinced Colonel Sanders to star in one of his movies.
Guys like Sam Sherman are a wealth of knowledge not only about movies, but the business itself. He had more than just a business partnership with Al, they were the best of friends. His stories and memories are among the best in the whole movie. We also get some great and insightful footage of Al himself from his last known interview. He knew he wasn’t Hitchcock or anything, but he was damned proud of his work, especially given the time and budget constraints he was shooting under.
In the last half-hour, the film goes from being a celebration of the man to a sort of true crime show as the details of his final days are chronicled. Many state the fine points of his gruesome murder could make for its own horror movie, but I think that’s a little crass. What happed to him was just plain terrible and sad. Luckily for Al and his family, justice was served.
Throughout the documentary, it’s nice to see guys like Chris Poggiali and David Konow, who have encyclopedic knowledge of all things Adamson, being interviewed. Speaking of encyclopedias, I can’t tell you how good it was to see The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film’s Michael J. Weldon being interviewed about Adamson. Weldon is the number one reason why I do what I do. I was lucky enough to be invited to lunch with him back in ’02 when I visited his store in Chincoteague, Virginia, and I have never forgotten his kindness and support. I couldn’t think of a better note to end my two-month journey into the world of Al Adamson on than seeing him speaking about Adamson in such a scholarly manner.
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