Friday Flix: March 1982

Wow. March 1982 is a bad month for movies. I’ve only seen one of them. That’s not what makes it bad, the lackluster movies are what makes it bad.

To be fair there is one Oscar favorite and a record holding concert movie. There’s also a cult classic which I’ve heard good things about but haven’t taken the time to watch.

Maybe I’m being unfair to March 1982. There’s only one way to find out.

Let’s take a look a the movies hitting the silver screen in March 1982.

Movies from March 1982

Evil Under the Sun

I think everyone is familiar with the name Agatha Christie, the “Duchess of Death”, “Mistress of Mystery”, “Queen of Crime.” She is perhaps the best known crime novelist of the 20th century.

I have only read one of her books, And Then There Were None, for High School English class. It’s a good book. I’ve never seen a movie based on her books.

Agatha Christie published over 200 novels and short stories in her life. There are over 47 movie adaptations of her works. The first one in 1928. There is a new Agatha Christie movie coming out this year, Death on the Nile, a follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express.

There are also over 200 TV, radio and video game adaptations of her work.

Evil Under the Sun stars Peter Ustinov as Detective Hercule Poirot. This was Ustinov’s second turn playing Poirot, he also played the detective in 1978’s Death on the Nile.

Evil Under the Sun was a box office failure. That didn’t stop more of Christie’s work from being adapting to the big screen though.

Parasite

This is the movie I’ve seen. A bad early 80’s horror flick. It could be called a 70’s horror flick. It has the same tone and style. It’s a movie you’d see at a drive-in theater double feature.

Parasite stars a young Demi Moore. She is on record saying it’s the worse movie she’s ever done.

It takes place after a nuclear disaster. A doctor creates a new parasite that feeds on its host. People get infected, the doctor wants to destroy his creation and Demi Moore saves the world.

It was presented in 3-D in theaters. I never saw it in 3-D. I imagine it was like most 3-D movies in the 80’s (and even now) the 3-D effect doesn’t add much to the movie. Just a marketing gimmick.

It’s glorious and awful all at the same time. When you’re done watching it you’ll wonder why you started it in the first place. But deep down you’ll be glad you did.

Parasite is streaming on Kanopy and Plex if you want to give it a try.

Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

I’ve said in a previous post I wasn’t allowed to watch Richard Pryor. I never saw this standup routine.

Watching a few clips it’s everything I’ve heard about his stand-up, funny and crude.

It was the highest grossing concert film, making over $36 million until Eddie Murphy Raw hit the screens.

I recently read The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx by Nikki Sixx, co-founder and bassist for Motley Crue. In the book he talks about his early years; there was an interesting bit about Richard Pryor. Sixx mentions his mother dated Richard Pryor in the 60’s, while they were living in Lake Tahoe.

You can watch Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip on Fubo TV and Showtime.

Deathtrap

When I watched the trailer, the movie seemed oddly familiar. I don’t recall ever seeing the movie though. It’s one of those mysteries in life.

Deathtrap starts Christopher Reeve who was flying high after two Superman movies, Michael Caine, a powerhouse on screen and Dyan Cannon.

Did you know Superman was Christopher Reeve’s first starring role? He is best known for playing Superman and will always be my Superman. Sorry Henry Cavill.

In the 1980’s Reeve’s became an avid equestrian. During an event in 1995, his horse refused a jump, sending Reeve flying. He landed on his head, breaking two vertebrae, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Reeve would go on to champion spinal cord injury research. Christopher Reeve died in 2004 at the age of 52.

Deathtrap received high marks from critics, Roger Ebert gave it three stars. It was a minor success with some controversy. Reeve and Caine kiss on screen (spoiler!). Reeve’s believed a Time magazine article about the kiss ruined a key plot point and cost the movie over $10 million dollars.

Victor/Victoria

I’ve heard about this movie over the years but never sat down to watch it.

I don’t mind a good musical, Grease, The Blues Brothers, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo…

The cast is amazing, Julie Andrews, James Garner, Alex Karras, Robert ‘The Music Man’ Preston, John Rhys-Davies and Lesley Ann Warrren round out the main cast.

Blake Edwards directs, he’s made some great movies over the years. He directed the Pink Panther movies, Operation Petticoat, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Blind Date.

With that cast and director I have no doubt the movie is fun to watch. It was a critical and financial success.

The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards (Best Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, Art Direction and Original Song Score), it won for Best Original Song Score.

You can watch Victor/Victoria on HBO Max.

Eating Raoul

I’ve heard about this movie over the years but haven’t watched it. The comments I hear are “it’s the dumbest movie ever” or “it’s the greatest movie ever.” It’s a cult classic for a reason.

The plot sounds interesting; A prudish couple starts robbing and killing swingers to get money to open a restaurant.

Let me get this straight, the couple is appalled by sexual deviance but are OK with theft and murder?

Seems like it might be worth watching.

It’s currently available on HBO Max. Maybe I’ll give it a chance.

Other movies released in March 1982

Here are a couple other movies released in March 1982. I haven’t seen them either. What a month…

If you saw any of these movies let me know in the comments.

That’s going to end our look at the movies from March 1982. A solid Oscar contender and a bunch of other movies. I can safely say this is the worst month in the entire Friday Flix series. No other month will sink to this level.

Have no fear, 1982 redeems itself and quickly. Next month, April 1982, we see some good action, horror and animation. Then from May 1982 onward the year is full of one blockbuster after another.

Next week we’ll look at March 1987.

Until then the balcony is closed.