Cool News
Mr. Beaks Politely Requests The Release Of Tom Schiller's Amazing NOTHING LASTS FOREVER!
THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED notwithstanding, name a major Hollywood debacle that has not - from the early days of Beta/VHS to the open-the-floodgates advent of the Warner Archive - received some form of legitimate home video distribution. You can't. Everything gets out there eventually - especially the bombs. The longer a movie is shelved due to some "unreleasable" quality (perceived or legitimate), the more fervently dedicated cinephiles will clamor for its release. And sooner or later, usually quietly, the film will materialize.
Not so with Tom Schiller's NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. Shot in 1982 and dumped into theaters with zero fanfare during the fall of 1984, this Lorne Michaels-produced oddity has languished in obscurity for two whole decades. There's no mystery as to why MGM initially abandoned the project: it's a (mostly) black-and-white homage to 1930s movies that couldn't be sold on Schiller's SNL pedigree; a whimsical little comedy about a young man (Zach Galligan) who yearns to be an artist in an alternate, semi-Orwellian New York City governed by the Port Authority. There are a few belly laughs, and extended cameos from former Not Ready for Prime Time Players Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd (both at the height of their popularity when the film was released), but, overall, the tone is fanciful. And retro. There's a lot of Capra's LOST HORIZON in NOTHING LASTS FOREVER (including the High Llama himself, Sam Jaffe), and a dash of THINGS TO COME (spiked with a scenic nod to FORBIDDEN PLANET once the action moves to the moon) - and since these references mostly carried weight with moviegoers who wanted nothing to do with the crass comedic sensibilities of an SNL prankster, it's hard to argue that this film was destined to do anything but bomb.
But at a time when Ken Russell's ultra-controversial THE DEVILS was still available on VHS, why did NOTHING LASTS FOREVER - which could've been shamelessly sold with Murray and Aykroyd on the slipcover - completely skip the home video market? And why has it remained unavailable years after any rights issues have been resolved?
It's not a question of quality. At all. I finally caught Schiller's rarely-screened feature last Saturday at the Cinefamily in West Hollywood, and it's a unique, lovingly crafted tribute to the creative impulse (there's a reason it was accepted by the Cannes Film Festival in '84). Narratively, it's built around Galligan's futile attempts to prove his worth as an artist to the Port Authority (when he can't competently sketch a nude woman, he's consigned to a low-level gig in the Holland Tunnel); thematically, it's about engaging with the tumult of life with an open-hearted unquestioning of all that is thrown before you. Galligan soon discovers that all good things come to those who are kind to homeless men - at which point they are ushered down into a subterranean world of ticker-tape parades and behind-the-curtain lessons about the rules of the universe. "Fear not, love all" is the mantra of the tramps who inexplicably control the destiny of humankind beneath the concrete of Manhattan. It's an absurdly anodyne and hippie-ish notion, but the message connects because Schiller's got a light touch; he's cast his spell, and knows better than to insist on its profundity. Either you get it or reject it.
It's such a convincing throwback - populated with familiar old-school faces like Jaffe, Imogene Coca, Eddie Fisher and Paul Rogers - that the appearances from Murray and Aykroyd are more jarring than amusing. Murray comes closest to giving an actual performance as the pilot of the bus that ferries old people to the moon (which has been turned into a retail paradise), but you can still see him straining for laughs (particularly when he's upbraiding Galligan for violating moon-traveling protocol); Aykroyd, on the other hand, is doing his patented jargon-spouting act to negligible effect - which is a shame because he's definitely got the skills to pull off the theatrical style of acting required by Schiller.
There is no way in hell something like NOTHING LASTS FOREVER would come close to getting a greenlight nowadays, but because we're more accustomed to aesthetic and genre mash-ups nowadays, I think there's an audience for Schiller's one (and only) from the heart. It's not a masterpiece, and I'm not entirely sure it all adds up thematically (the finale seems rushed), but it's so genuinely in love with the experience of moviegoing that its failings are easily forgivable. This is just a... kind movie from a decent human being. I know that's an odd thing to say, but Schiller's complete absence of bitterness during the post-film Q&A - combined with the generous spirit of the movie - really moved me. He got a chance to make a personal film with major-studio resources, and if only a few thousand people have ever seen it in a theater (where it must be experienced), who's he to complain? He's good.
The rights to NOTHING LASTS FOREVER now reside with Warner Bros. They could very easily do an Archive release, but I'd really like to see the film get a small theatrical tour, where true movie lovers can experience this one-of-a-kind triumph in a darkened theater with other true believers. And then give us a BD/DVD with a behind-the-scenes documentary, and, perhaps, commentary from the numerous filmmakers who name Schiller as an influence. Let right be done.
For the definitive behind-the-scenes story on NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, and the work of Tom Schiller, be sure to check out Michael Streeter's book NOTHING LOST FOREVER - which features interviews with Schiller, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Chevy Chase, Peter Aykroyd, Mike Myers and many others.
Faithfully submitted,
Mr. Beaks
P.S. Most of Schiller's SNL shorts are unavailable online (except for this gem), but you should definitely watch this profile of his mentor, Henry Miller. Let me say that again: "his mentor, Henry Miller". That's pretty cool.
And here's a trailer for NOTHING LASTS FOREVER (thanks, @whatalanwatches!)...
And here's a trailer for NOTHING LASTS FOREVER (thanks, @whatalanwatches!)...
-
+ Expand All
-
but I would definitely check it out...if it existed....anywhere.
-
and show boobs like pirahna
-
someone made a shitty film and just cause these guys had bits in it we're supposed to care?....gimme a break
-
His work on SNL was so awesome theres no way this can't be a fun movie. Looks quirky and fun as hell. Color me intrigued
-
Also known as "Predator: The Concert", a sequel to William Girdler's original that featured early performances by both George Clooney and Charlie Sheen. This one has a killer bear attacking an 80s rock concert. The stories surrounding this film are infamous and legendary. I don't think it was ever finished, there were apparently a lot of problems with the animatronic bear and much of the production money ended up disappearing. Word on the street is that a workprint exists and only a few people claim to have seen it. A couple of clips from the workprint showed up on YouTube, but nothing involving the bear or the stars.
-
Ever heard of Milos Forman's "Taking Off"?
-
The mark of a quality film. The trailer is intriguing. I would search this out.
-
Asked Forman about TAKING OFF a few years ago. The issue has always been song rights.
-
it's ok...
-
Save the DVD-Rs for the fucking tourists. Give "Freebie and the Bean" the treatment it deserves, fucking piecemeal motherfucking fascists. $20 for a fucking burn? Go fuck your mothers, you motherfuckers, then switch and fuck each other's mothers, thus creating a cretinous bloodline of ensured future motherfuckers.
-
And that's why piracy is still awesome, as far as I am concerned. I'm still looking for a high-res copy of "Butterfly" with Stacy Keach and Pia Zidora.
-
I hate to make a shameless plug, but you can find a lot more information on this film at nothinglostforever. com. I wrote a book about the director some years back, much of it focusing on the making of this film. There's a lot more that's fascinating about this film. What I always like to point out is that this would have been John Belushi's next film. This was never mentioned in Wired or any of the SNL books, but he was supposed to play Hugo and died a few weeks before production began. I interviewed most of the cast and crew (including Murray and Aykroyd and even Lorne Michaels) and you can find some of their quotes on the page.
To expand on Taking Off: I saw it at Film Forum recently and Forman did Q&A. He said that they've tried to get it out on video but the biggest hurdle has been to locate the singers who played their own music throughout the movie. They were kids or in their early twenties and their whereabouts are unknown. Kathy Bates was one of them. -
Dunno how enjoyable it might be, however. Definite cult film potential though.
-
...and recently spent the best part of an hour trying to describe it to someone and sounded like I was losing my marbles. A real oddity that, yeah, doesn't really quite hang together at all but has a beautiful, weird incoherent dream-like narrative to it. I'd love to see it again.
-
saw Taking Off at a screening at OSU a year or so ago, with Forman in attendance. That's exactly the reason he gave. Point is though, that there are a lot of movie that are unavailable for various stupid reasons.
-
just the kinda shit I like
-
Everytime I tell people about this movie, they go blank, when I sum it up they say 'that sounds interesting' ... There is a 3rd gen from VHS 4:3 version floating around, but the movie really deserves better treatment ... a discussion on IMDB suggests that the use of archive footage poses some legal problems for the release, but nothing more substantial ...
I posted the love song from the movie on youtube a while ago .. but heck, either i cannot find the link or that account has been suspended ... -
They sometimes are surprising with some of the films they air, they might go for something like that. Sure, it's not a DVD release, but at least it would be a legitimate broadcast.
-
If you go to a certain torrent site (one with a name that sounds a bit like Armageddon) there's a slightly better quality version recorded from German television; oddly enough, the film does regularly play (in slightly censored form) on TCM throughout Europe and Australia.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACYgBfsAHSQ
-
...well a few hundred maybe. I am, for sure.
I saw Taking Off when it was first released and thought it was one of he best and most curious films I'd seen. I saw it again in the mid-80s on some bootlegged VHS copy, and again found it entirely delightful, especially the hells angels, the audition and the parents learning about pot.
Oh...and a great big thanks for that short of Henry Miller. His bathroom was, back in the day, stuff of legends, and his wisdom as inscrutable as true wisdom always is, and probably always will be.
It's stuff like this that makes AICN worth checkin' out. Thanks. -
I strongly recommend ______ B l a c k w h i t e C u p i d * C o m ______ to you where I just found my interracial boyfriend! You know it is a great place to meet black men and beautiful women. What's kind of relationship do you want? ;)
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 225 total posts 224 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 126 total posts 126 posts
- Quint travels to Barsoom and visits the John Carter set!!! -- 90 total posts 90 posts
- OK. So Harrison Ford Isn't In Talks For The New BLADE RUNNER. But... -- 144 total posts 63 posts
- WETTER HOTTER AMERICAN SUMMER? -- 65 total posts 63 posts
- Crom! Grant The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day revenge! And if you do not listen, den to Hell witchu! -- 58 total posts 58 posts
- Kurtzman And Boborci Producing An Adaptation Of Anne Rice's Lestat Novel TALE OF THE BODY THIEF?? -- 340 total posts 51 posts
- Wanna see a new theatrical Warner Brothers CG Cartoon voiced & sung by Mel Blanc with Daffy & Elmer? Yes, you do! -- 48 total posts 48 posts
- Thursday Is Sweeps Day Eight!! Yack Here About OFFICE, ROCK, UP, WIPEOUT, PERSON, FINDER, MENTALIST, IDOL, BANG, ROB, ANATOMY, JERSEY & More!! -- 117 total posts 44 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 41 total posts 41 posts