Short Takes

Looking for an evangelistic tool for that stuffy cineophile? Perhaps you're an aspiring CineSchlocker in need of cultural perspective? From Reefer Madness to the phenom's Midnight Cowboy death nell, documentarian Ray Greene has your answer with his scholarly exploration of "exploitation" cinema as guided by its G-I-A-N-T-S: Sam Arkoff, Roger Corman, Harry Novak, Dave Friedman and Doris Wishman!!! But don't let "scholarly" run ya off, because this DVD quick-course also requires the "film appreciation" of no less than 117 breasts and such weird-beard terms as "ballyhoo," "clap operas," "nudie cuties" and "roughies." Don't miss the bonus footage with Mr. Friedman carnying it up in sweet home Alabama and an equally thrilling yet harrowing tour of Mr. Novak's world headquarters. (2000, 89 mins, Fullframe, DD 2.0, Commentary, Outtakes, Radio interview, "The Atom and Eve" short film.)