Show Notes
Imagine going through life as the world's greatest Jerry Lewis impersonator. That was life for the late, great Sammy Petrillo. Today, Sammy Petrillo is best known for starring in Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952), a legendary Martin & Lewis rip-off movie... but there's so much more to his story. On this special interview episode, Will talks to Dave Abramson, author of the new book YOUR TIME IS NOW: THE SAMMY PETRILLO STORY, about one of the strangest careers in showbiz history.
Buy YOUR TIME IS NOW: THE SAMMY PETRILLO STORY from Feral House - https://feralhouse.com/product/your-time-is-now/
NEW YORK: See Dave introduce BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA at Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park, followed by an after party in Trees Lounge with a DJ set by Andy Maltz - https://nitehawkcinema.com/williamsburg/movies/bela-lugosi-meets-a-brooklyn-gorilla/
LOS ANGELES: See Dave introduce BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA at American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3, followed by a Q&A with Scott Alexander, Dave Abramson, Elsie Fisher, producer Jack Broder’s grandson David Kopple, and comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff, moderated by Dana Gould - https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/bela-lugosi-meets-a-brooklyn-gorilla-11-15-2026/
More from The Important Cinema Club
We discuss the slasher franchise CHILD'S PLAY and its lovable scamp of a protagonist, Chucky.
You can listen to the full episode by becoming a subscriber on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub/posts/patreon-446-what-172459074?pr=true
We discuss the work of Writer/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Producer J.R Bookwalter and take you through his career as a teenager directing THE DEAD NEXT DOOR, his foray through the trenches of no-budget LA filmmaking, and his newest film SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY.
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A 16mm Hollywood dreamscape co-starring George Kuchar and released by Troma, SCREAMPLAY fell through the cracks when it was first released in 1984. Now, this psychotronic oddity is finding its audience in a new restoration from Muscle Distribution and Matchbox Cine. On this interview episode, Will talks to writer/director Rufus Butler Seder and Muscle Distribution founder Elizabeth Purchell.