Ken Hollings Shares Bill with Newly Restored Print of ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ at the BFI

 

I feel particularly honoured to have been asked to provide an introduction to a special screening of Edward D Wood Jr’s cinematic masterpiece Plan 9 from Outer Space at the British Film Institute on the evening of Tuesday 7 April. As part of their ‘Trash! The Wildest Films You’ve Ever Seen’ Southbank season, the BFI will be showing a newly restored 35mm print of this fabulous movie, so we can all bathe in its pristine glory.  

 

Anyone who knows me also knows that I bow to nobody in my love for Plan 9, which I revere with an intensity that would shame the fires of Hell itself. I first saw it at the old Scala cinema in Kings Cross around 1982 – I came to laugh but stayed to worship. One of the people who came along with me spat out their ice cream at the sight of it. Since then, I have made numerous references to it in many of my books and essays and have rewatched the movie on countless occasions. Time spent with Plan 9, I have found, is never time wasted. When recovering from cancer surgery a few years back, I would listen to the Plan 9 OST, including all of its inspired dialogue and Trevor Duncan’s tense library music score, on my i-Pod. It got me through more than one lonely, fearful night.

 

I’m not going to praise Plan 9’s many virtues here – I’ll merely draw your attention its astonishing cast, from Bela Lugosi and Vampira to ‘Swedish Angel’ Tor Johnson and the Amazing Criswell. After that, you’re on your own. If you know, you know. If you don’t, Google it.

 

On the evening of 7 April, I will be giving a special reading to introduce Plan 9 from Outer Space. It’s going to be an unforgettable night and is not to be missed. You can find more details about the screening and where to book tickets by clicking here.

 

Here are the basics:

Plan 9 from Outer Space

Tuesday 7 April, starting at 18.10 

In NFT1 at the BFI Southbank

 

STOP PRESS: I will also be giving a lecture at the end of the BFI’s ‘Trash!’ season in the Reuben Library on 29 April. Look out for details. I’ll be posting them on here.

 

Pictured above: Vampira, Vampira and Tor Johnson, Plan 9 title, Vampira