Herschell Gordon Lewis
Directing
Biography
Herschell Gordon Lewis (June 15, 1926 – September 26, 2016) was an American filmmaker, best known for creating the 'splatter' subgenre of horror films. He is often called the 'Godfather of Gore' (a title also given to Lucio Fulci), though his film career included works in a range of exploitation film genres including juvenile delinquent films, nudie-cuties, two children's films, and at least one rural comedy.
Born: June 15, 1926
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Known For
The Incredibly Strange Film Show
A series of documentaries focusing on the world of psychotronic movies; focusing on the lives of filmakers such as Hershell Gordon Lewis, Saim Raimi, Doris Wishman, Ed Wood Jr, and Tsui Hark. Covers weird movie genres, like Mexican wrestling movies and Hong Kong horror films.
Bits and Pieces: Bringing Death to Life
Starting off as a brief history of horror and slasher films, various people take about Hammer films, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and various other notable horror films. Moving onto the original "Final Destination", and the particapents go on to part 2.
Divine Trash
The life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters.
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida
Explore the independent horror film scene that Florida has been vigorously pumping out since the invention of film. Jam-packed with Interviews, exploitation, never-before-seen footage and cinema madness. Watch and learn about films new and old in this exclusive documentary made for cult horror fans.
American Grindhouse
This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment.
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
Savage! Sadistic! Thrill hungry! When it came to independent filmmaking in the sunshine state, William Grefé was the wildest of the wild! During the 1960s and '70s, the Miami-based producer/director transformed the darkest corners of the Florida swamps into his own personal backlot. From rampaging crocodiles possessed by an ancient Seminole witch doctor (DEATH CURSE OF TARTU) to a slithering serpent named STANLEY, William Grefé would grind out low-budget exploitation films for drive-ins and hardtops around the world. Now, without the benefit of cages or other protective devices, the untold story of Florida's most daring moviemaker comes to the screen...IN PSYCHEDELIC COLOR!
Crystalstone
Deserted by their father and with their mother dead, nine-year-old Pablo and his little sister Maria refuse to be separated from each other by their caretaker aunt. With a cross as their guide, they embark on a perilous, but ultimately rewarding adventure in search of a mystical gem that holds the key to happiness. They escape the fearsome metal hook of a pirate and are helped by a delightfully drunken Captain in their quest for the magic stone.
Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore
Take an outrageous ride through this wild world of exploitation films with this thoroughly entertaining documentary, HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS – THE GODFATHER OF GORE! Featuring cult director John Waters, Drive-In Movie Critic Joe Bob Briggs, Herschell Gordon Lewis himself and a “cast of thousands,” you’ll witness the innocent bare-naked era of Nudie-Cuties before Lewis schocked the world with “Blood Feast,” the first ever gore film!
That's Sexploitation!
Before the advent of modern-day pornography, a vast and rapidly-paced world of smut peddling was the norm, complete with its own secret history. This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past. Starting in the 1920s, expert exploiteer David F. Friedman and Henenlotter navigate us through more than five salacious decades of skin flicks. It's the true story of dirty movies, traced in elegant detail from the bizarre locations where these nudie shorts were screened to the ongoing legal battles fought by their promoters. And of course there are the stories of the innovators themselves, people who often risked their own security and livelihood to make these films, believing in some way that what they were doing wasn't a 'bad' thing - and that it could rake in some dough.
Horror Business
The movie covers the careers of five up-and-coming horror-movie loving directors – Mark Borchardt ('Coven'), Ron Atkins ('Necromaniac'), Dave Stagnari ('Catharsis'), John Gora ('Chirpy'), and Brian Singleton.
Filmography
as Self [archival]
as Himself- Voice
as The Host
as Professor Lou Herschell
as Himself
as Himself
as Self (archive footage)
as Self
as Himself
as Himself
as Fred Sandy / Radio Announcer
as Radio News Broadcaster (voice)
as Bingo Record (voice)
as Himself
as Mr. Gordon
as Self
as Antique Dealer
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
as Radio Reporter Gene Stallion (voice)
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
as The Limey Seaman / Baron Khron (voice) (as Seymour Sheldon)
as Narrator (voice) (as Sheldon Seymour)
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
as Narrator (voice)
as Voice Introducing Sonny Seymour (voice)
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
as Man on Street (uncredited)