The second annual H.P Lovecraft Film Festival at the historical Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro, CA, was kicked off last night to fans with a screening of three films, along with displays of props and vendors. The annual festival celebrates the works of the famed science fiction/horror author and other “Lovecraftian” authors via the film medium.
The festival started off with Whistle and I’ll come to You, based on a story by M.R. James, a light, horror segment from the 1968 BBC television show, A Ghost Story for Chrismas.
Via video, director Roger Corman was presented with the “Howie” award for this contribution to Lovecraft cinema as part of the introduction for the screening of his highly atmospheric The Haunted Palace (1963), starring Vincent Price. Corman mentioned that he considered H.P. Lovecraft to be one of the “most important authors of the 20th century who carried the legacy of Edgar Allen Poe.” Ironically, The Haunted Palace, while the story was based on Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, was actually named after a poem by Poe for marketing purposes, as fewer people were familiar with Lovecraft.
The last film of the night was the newly-restored (courtesy of Academy Film Archive) Berkely Square (1933), directed by Frank Lloyd (Mutiny on the Bounty), which was screened for the public for the first time in 50 years. The film was introduced by Christopher Gray, the grandson of the director. Based on a play by John L. Balderston, it is a romantic time travel film (first of its kind) starring Leslie Howard, who was nominated for an Oscar. Reportedly, the film was seen by H.P. Lovecraft four times and had influenced his writing. With a Quantum Leap-like plot, the film is an emotionally wrought love-across-time story with great, subtle performances.
The festival continues on tonight with several more films at Warner Grand Theater and a reading discussion at Williams Bookstore (across the street). Along with exhibits of props, miniatures, and set pieces, the screenings will include The Whisperer in Darkness (2011), Cast A Deadly Spell (1991), and La Sombra Prohibidia (The Forbidden Shadow) (2010), along with several short films judged by Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labryinth). Cast and crew from the feature film Whisperer in Darkness will also be present.
Pricing is $20 (cash only) at the door.
More information is available at: http://www.hplfilmfestival.com
The Current Schedule is as follows:
2-4 pm: Author reading/discussion at Williams Book Store (across the : 443 W. 6th St.
4:15-4:20 pm: intro/raffle
4:20-5:56 pm: Cast A Deadly Spell (1991),followed by Q&A
6:06-6:36 pm: dinner break
6:36-8:07 pm: La Sombra Prohibidia (The Forbidden Shadow) (2010)
8:07-8:12 pm: break
8:12-9:35 pm: Short Films screening
9:40-11:26 pm: The Whisperer in Darkness (2011), followed by Q&A
11:41-11:56 pm: raffle, awards, closing
12 am – 2 am: public reception at Grand Vision Annex (cash bar)
While the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in LA ends tonight, it is scheduled to be held again in October of this year at Portland, Oregon.
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