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John Landis Says He’s Still Ginning Up His Biography Of EC Comics/Mad Magazine Mastermind William Gaines!!

Published at:  May 16, 2010 3:38:44 AM CDT







I am – Hercules!!

Harry asked me to direct your attention to this story at Deadline Hollywood indicating that director John Landis is still determined to mount his big-screen biography of William M. Gaines, who founded Mad Magazine after he told a Senate subcommittee to go pee up a rope.

Lawmakers chased Gaines, then publisher of the gloriously gory EC horror comic book line, out of the funnyboook game.

Landis (“Kentucky Fried Movie,” “Animal House,” “The Blues Brothers”) has been working on the project since at least early 2008, but he’s also been busy more recently mounting the Andy Serkis-Simon Pegg graverobber tale “Burke and Hare.”


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    Readers Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 3:37:07 AM CDT

    First and ...

    by reaper28

    even though I don't know much about the history of Mad Magazine, but anyone with the balls to tell a government body to go "pee up a rope" certainly peaks my interest.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 3:37:45 AM CDT

    No Ghostbusters 3 news? I'm out...

    by mike_d

  • May 16, 2010 3:41:09 AM CDT

    Landis made some of my favourite films

    by charyoutree

    even if he did get two kids killed by accident

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:30:51 AM CDT

    John Landis behaviour on Twilight Zone.

    by hallmitchell

    was very bad. Live ammo shooting? What was he thinking?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:31:17 AM CDT

    INteresting story.

    by hallmitchell

    Yet don't spend too much on it. This movie will make Zilch.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:37:55 AM CDT

    I hope he has comeback

    by the_crimson_king

    he hasn't directed a movie at all in a while

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:20:51 AM CDT

    I miss John Landis

    by lemure_v2

    Animal House, Kentucky Fried Movie, Blues Brothers, American Werewolf...cinema needs more John Landis

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:35:58 AM CDT

    HEADS UP!!! JOHN LANDIS IS DIRECTING AGAIN!!!

    by tehcreepythinman

  • May 16, 2010 5:41:03 AM CDT

    "You see — we're the band!"

    by blakindigo

  • May 16, 2010 7:14:54 AM CDT

    @ reaper28

    by shubniggorath

    I just watched a really good doc on streaming Netflix the other day called "Comic Book Confidential" that has some of this history. You'll be amazed at the parallels to heavy metal music, video games, etc.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 7:37:42 AM CDT

    I'd love to see a movie about Gaines.

    by tomimt

    But I've never undersootd the praise towards Landis. I have never found him to be a very strong director.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 7:43:48 AM CDT

    Nathan Fillion to play Hank Pym in Whedon's Avengers

    by galactic

    http://www.geekosystem.com/nathan-fillion-avengers-movie/ Is he gonna be a wife beater?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 7:44:09 AM CDT

    Landis had a hand in some classic movies

    by darth busey

    But yeah, by all accounts, he's an incredibly arrogant, narcissistic asshole who acted like a complete douche during the Twilight Zone trial.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 8:08:42 AM CDT

    Classic movies and some tragic deaths.

    by theycallmemrtibbs

    Reference the Twilight Zone Movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 8:32:41 AM CDT

    John Landis is the O.J. Simpson of movie directors

    by rocco curioso

    Once you fuck up THAT blatantly, you will never be fully trusted again.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 8:43:16 AM CDT

    Landis is god

    by six demon bag

    When will you realize that??now gimme some Dante news and I'll be a happy boy

    Reply to Talkback

  • ....this thing is going straight to DVD if it even gets made.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 9:15:59 AM CDT

    I read a book about Gaines - very interesting fella

    by feralangel

    Had a lot in common with Harry, in fact, with the food thing and all. I think the name of the book was The Mad World of William Gaines. Very good read, funny as hell in places. Mad Magazine was a fun place to work at during the height of its popularity. It's pretty much fizzled nowadays, but man it used to rock. My fave artists were Mort Drucker (brilliant caricatures) and Paul Coker Jr. (just great comic art). Don Martin rocked too. Sad that it's faded so much...ah well...time marches on...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 9:44:19 AM CDT

    Gaines does not exist in this dojo

    by i_shot_cyrus

  • May 16, 2010 10:25:31 AM CDT

    The man should never be able to direct again!!!!

    by professor_bedlam

    After the Twilight zone ordering the chopper closer to the actors with the cross winds and the explosions so close the the chopper that hit the tale decapitating 3 people. It was his call and he was responsable for those actors deaths! People have been black balled for less in Hollywood!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 10:35:23 AM CDT

    Anyone remember Beverly Hills Cop 3

    by charyoutree

    shit movie but a guilty pleasure that always seems to be on I was watching it the other day and noticed the chase/rescue scene on the giant umbrella ride. Some awesome stunt work and well done scene but I couldn't help notice the 2 little children in peril. A couple of similar shots to the "incident" man rescueing kids under a dangerous obstacle. I'm sure all was safe a lot of blue screen used and probably midget stunt men, but still, to soon john, to soon.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 10:36:19 AM CDT

    Cue Shitstorm in 3 - 2 - 1......

    by savagedave

  • May 16, 2010 10:36:46 AM CDT

    Now this is cool news...

    by crankyoldguy

    ....unlike anything related to Survivor and most other reality shows, programs like Gossip Girl, 90210, etc., none of which will ever been cool, in any universe. But a Gaines biopic - cool, period.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 10:44:56 AM CDT

    I watched a video doc on gaines and ec

    by thejudger

    and the comic code authority. Ah yes the bloody chopped of bitch head with axe, and yet you never see the neck. I downloaded all of the creepy and errie magz recently oh yeah and tales!!!! I would love to see this movie come to light. Gains EC comics used to be boring safe biblical stories and then one day they changed it and history was made. Too bad magz liek this no longer work on the people. I love this pulpy horror and suspence shit. I love creepy anbd errie mroe than crypt though. HBO series was awesome.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 10:56:22 AM CDT

    Just got off the phone with Landis...

    by the_mighty_molecule

    He says he's got a killer scene planned out for this gaines biopic that's going to make a similar scene done in the Twilight Zone Movie look like brandon lee's final "scene" in the crow. Basically, he needs two non-union child actors, a helicopter, live ammo and the re-animated corpse of vic morrow. You heard it here first...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 11:26:43 AM CDT

    Considering he's directed about 20 films since 82

    by six demon bag

    I think you guys should shut the fuck up about twilight zone.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 11:32:32 AM CDT

    William Gaines is the real greatest artist of the 20th century

    by maingrid

  • May 16, 2010 11:51:46 AM CDT

    To all you fans of Kick Ass and Hit Girl.....

    by bumlove

    ...here's a video you're gonna love: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80987216/

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 11:54:30 AM CDT

    Lawmakers chased Gaines out of the funnybook game.

    by star hump

    No they didn't. It was self-imposed and then blew up in Gaines' face. That's what happens when you acknowledge the censorship calls of the submental right.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 12:15:09 PM CDT

    Bumlove is a pedo

    by i_shot_cyrus

  • May 16, 2010 12:25:46 PM CDT

    Cyrus, I'm not a fan of Kick Ass or Hit Girl

    by bumlove

    I'm merely passing it along to those who populate this site who are. P.S. - Didn't Vern school you about not being a douche?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 12:40:01 PM CDT

    I'm not trying to be a douche

    by i_shot_cyrus

    I'm just calling it as I see it

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 12:44:32 PM CDT

    Great idea

    by chuck_chuckwalla

    I remember an old 60 minutes interview with Gaines, he was quite a character. He had a collection of toy blimps that he had hanging all over his office.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 1:14:21 PM CDT

    I got a letter from Gaines

    by mrdexter

    when I was at university - it's hilarious. It's on Mad letterhead and I still have it 35 years later. It's signed 'Love and Kisses, Bill"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 1:14:58 PM CDT

    whirwhirwhirwhirwhir---AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    by unapatowzing

  • May 16, 2010 1:40:01 PM CDT

    Anyone who blames Landis what what happened...

    by knuckleduster

    ... on Twilight Zone has obviously never been on a movie set. Do you seriously think that the director is the one who runs the set (that's the AD's job, morons)? Or that there are no safety officers? Or a production team who has a say in what happens? The director has creative control (on a good day), but he is not in charge of an entire film production. Blaming Landis for such a tragic incident is really quite pointless.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 2:01:15 PM CDT

    So Harry just called...

    by eddiemurphyslaugh

    He wanted me to narc someone else's story and post it on AICN.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 2:06:04 PM CDT

    When does Landis start shooting his Vic Morrow biopic?

    by rev. slappy

    That one has a killer ending!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 2:55:35 PM CDT

    lots of dark tower themed handles inhere. I like it.

    by i_fart_huckabees

  • May 16, 2010 3:33:04 PM CDT

    What, me worry?

    by coughlins laws

  • May 16, 2010 3:33:59 PM CDT

    The Greatest Singer of the 20th Century is Dead!

    by menstrual_bloodfart

    LONG LIVE RONNIE JAMES DIO!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 3:43:06 PM CDT

    now what can I say?

    by thedannerdaliel

  • May 16, 2010 3:47:07 PM CDT

    DIO!!!!!

    by filmguy125

    He deserves an obit here!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 3:52:27 PM CDT

    R.I.P Ronnie James Dio

    by thedannerdaliel

  • May 16, 2010 4:08:29 PM CDT

    Submental Right?

    by scott_650

    Fredric Wertham and Estes Kefauver were a long way from being from the right. The Senate Committee on Juvenile Deliquency was hardly a star chamber.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:30:55 PM CDT

    Heavy rock singer Ronnie James Dio dies at 67 ! WTF!

    by orionsangels

    I had no idea he was even sick

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:32:11 PM CDT

    THE GREATEST MUSICIAN OF THE 21ST CENTURY

    by ghostdad

    IS DEAD!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 4:32:45 PM CDT

    Landis killed Dio with a helicopter

    by ghostdad

  • May 16, 2010 4:47:54 PM CDT

    ROOOOOOOOOOOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    by orionsangels

    http://tinyurl.com/26g82gm

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:03:46 PM CDT

    RIP DIO

    by jonoftheshred

    \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:21:18 PM CDT

    DIO TRIBUTE PLEASE!!!!

    by doctorwho?

    One of the greatest has passed away this morning. A true metal god. I would hope this would be the place to get a decent tribute.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:23:13 PM CDT

    Seriously you guys are this lame?

    by six demon bag

    All you cAn come up with is 30 year old twilight zone jabs..

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:23:27 PM CDT

    dio was 67?

    by brabon300

    fuck....im old

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 5:53:35 PM CDT

    Seriously you guys are this lame?

    by six demon bag

    All you cAn come up with is 30 year old twilight zone jabs..

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:27:18 PM CDT

    DIO

    by the true pinback

    The Rock God Ronnie James Dio has passed into Valhalla! This man personified hard rock, and there will never be another like him. Do yourselves a favor...put on a Dio CD-be it Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell or Dio-and bask in his vocal talents. This was one rockin' monster, and he will be sorely missed, but never, ever forgotten! Rock On Ronnie!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:39:36 PM CDT

    Tobey Maguire as Bill Gaines

    by flyingtoupee

    He just needs to put on about forty pounds, wear a crewcut and horn rimmed glasses and he'd be perfect for the part of Gaines circa '54.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:41:41 PM CDT

    Fredric Wertham and Estes Kefauver

    by flyingtoupee

    Kefauver was a Democrat who had presidential ambitions, Wertham wrote for the Daily Worker and was a far left leaning activist.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:43:59 PM CDT

    Yes Menstrual_Bloodfart...you're mostly right...

    by planetran_fan

    The greatest singer of the 20th century, Joey Ramone, is indeed dead.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:45:30 PM CDT

    "Why would this make a good movie, again?"

    by flyingtoupee

    Gaines, Bill Elder and the whole EC crew were incredibly funny people. It could be a wonderful comedy if done properly. Either Landis or Dante are the perfect directors for this material.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 6:53:09 PM CDT

    If MJ got a talkback...

    by jonoftheshred

    ...then DIO most certainly deserves one. A little movie called "Pick of Destiny" is reason enough for a movie to site to tribute this man. He was the ultimate voice of metal, and a CLASSY person. MJ touched little kids. Why doesn't DIO get a tribute?

    His music videos were mini-movies, his stage performances were very theatrical....give this man a talkback, for christs sake!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 7:28:22 PM CDT

    FUCK GeneralJSJackson & Jonoftheshred!!!

    by oprah_duke

    Michael Jackson ain't do shit!! Fucking bitches!! By spreading innuendo on a dead man to give your respected, but little known outside of his genre artist some so-called shine reduces BOTH!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 7:32:36 PM CDT

    Oprah_Duke

    by the true pinback

    If you're gonna come on here and waste valuable space spewing shit, at least do it in English! Dio is a rock GOD! Michael Jackson was a mentally sick child molester who could dance. Little comparison really.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 8:41:55 PM CDT

    Landis should play Gaines!!

    by moosemalloy

  • May 16, 2010 10:41:56 PM CDT

    Do you have to worship your dead demigods....

    by bumlove

    ....by desecrating other peoples' dead demigods? There is plenty of space for all of you to worship your own respective dead demigods.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 16, 2010 11:40:36 PM CDT

    the thing is, stunt men die on movie sets all the time

    by the_crimson_king

    I don't see people being enraged over any movies where stunt men were killed, are their deaths any less tragic than Vic Morrow and the two child actors? they stupidly decided to use them instead of stunt doubles and the stunt went wrong, it was an accident and probably a stupid mistake, but Landis is not a "murderer"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 12:46:30 AM CDT

    Burke and Hare

    by series7

    Whats the deal going on with that movie???

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 2:50:52 AM CDT

    Dudes.

    by gotilk

    You think Michael was bad? Whatever you do, NEVER have a long conversation with a retired tour bus driver who drove metal bands around during their heydays. Those guys in those bands make Michael look like Donald Trump fishing for a trophy wife in her early 30s. Somewhere out there spread out over suburban American garages and attics lies about 400 boxes of polaroids that would fill Folsom prison with enough "Pedophiles" to populate New Jersey. But they didn't call it that back then. They just said stuff like "oh.. Nigel likes 'em young". That includes your most revered rock gods.. even the Zeppelin. Although Dio wasn't known for the groupie and hotel-trashing lifestyle of many around him.. careful where you unearth your idols. You just might uncover some things they should have known better about even back then. Although these guys tend NOW to be very guarded about their more sleazy pasts for obvious reasons, that wasn't always the case. Turn to the older biographies by people who were there like "Hammer of the Gods" or "No One Gets out of here Alive" for the real stories. All I'm saying is that if you have a moral hang-up or two and you've re-defined a pedophile as someone who likes teenagers right alongside Dateline (pedophiles like KIDS) you might want to be a little more careful about who you choose to be your idols. Because the definition has changed, some of your boys are now, or would now be considered perverted criminals.But more on topic.. Landis.. still not sure everyone is over what happened back then. It's a big deal. But he is a great filmmaker. Should a man's life be shut down because of a single mistake? I think he identifies with Gaines on some level.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 2:53:23 AM CDT

    I didn't set out to burst bubbles today.

    by gotilk

    But sometimes they just ask to be poked. And YES that was a VERY bad joke.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 2:55:56 AM CDT

    No One HERE gets out alive.

    by gotilk

    Sorry, messed up the name of that book. Hammer of the Gods is far more damning, but both are good rock history books.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 9:50:35 AM CDT

    R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio

    by deelzbub

    "We're the hand that writes and quickly moves away!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 10:19:56 AM CDT

    Thetruepinback you BITCH!!

    by oprah_duke

    Do it in english? What the fuck language do you think I'm writing idiot?

    How about you prove that DIO is a more respected artist in his genre than michael jackson was in his.

    Then PROVE that michael jackson molested anyone.

    Then suck a horse dick...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 10:24:12 AM CDT

    Gotilk...

    by oprah_duke

    Good stuff man!!

    Respect!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 11:30:39 AM CDT

    The TZ incident is why there are child labor laws

    by axelfoley


    It was in the wee early of the morning, those two Vietnamese kids were up way past there bed time and the whole situation was horrid, I don't care how many years ago it was. Reports online said that the makers of the movie basically used the funeral services for Vic Morrow and the children to shill the movie itself, as opposed to offering kind words or condolences. Vintage Hollywood.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 11:33:46 AM CDT

    Why does people care about how many years ago.....

    by axelfoley


    Something was only if it inconveniences them. If it's not a bad thing, or an inconvenience to them, they treat it like it was yesterday. If it was something unfavorable involving either themself, or someone they arguably admire, that happened two years ago--they would add 5 years to it minimum and say "that was a very long time ago, get over it"

    Oh I love the bullshit double standard.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 2:05:51 PM CDT

    About time, and the right guy is involved

    by hatespeech

    I knew this story would eventually be told, and I'm glad it's Landis instead of some dickhole like Kevin Smith.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 5:11:06 PM CDT

    EC Comics were incredible

    by briantag

    Talk about giving the fat finger to the 'establishment.' These comics were blunt and gory, back when movies and TV were scrubbed clean. And so influential -- Tales from the Crypt, Mad, Weird Science, on and on... I have boxed sets at home of a bunch of these titles, and even today, they hand The Twilight Zone its hat.

    It's fun to talk about John Landis on this board, but if you can, go back and check out some of the EC Comics - great stuff.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 17, 2010 8:13:21 PM CDT

    Bio of Gaines is good

    by leftfoot

    I read 'The Mad World of William Gaines' by Frank Jacobs back in the 1970s. Funny, funny stuff with a surprising history.
    Bill Gaines father was one of the people that created comic books. Gaines got hauled before congress in the 1950s for the horror comics his company put out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 18, 2010 1:05:55 AM CDT

    @Shubniggorath

    by reaper28

    Thanks for the tip, I'll have a scoot around the Interwebs and see if I can find it [cough]torrent[/cough] somewhere.

    Reply to Talkback

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