It was a GREAT day.
I saw Horror of Dracula (terrific print) then had to leave to feed some cats (I have a pet sitting service)
At 5:30, Joe & I had dinner at the Cove Cafe across the street from the theatre and watched the crowd line up.
We went in around 6:10.
John Stanley, who interviewed the ladies, was a TV horror host on KTVU TV in the 80s: he continues to review films for the SF Chronicle.
I run into him at press screenings all the time, (I write for the gay press in SF, Sacramento & San Jose) so he & I chatted.
Joe & I sported DS T shirts purchased from MPI, and I had a DS baseball cap on.
Kathryn saw me & said that I was making quite a fashion statement!
"What the well dressed geek will wear," I said with a laugh.
I'd say that around 800-900 people showed up for the DS movies.
I met a lifelong local fan who brought her grandkids!!
The NODS print was terrific.
And let's face it, it's a beautifully shot, atmospheric film.
Even with the cuts, it's a creepy little story.
I think NODS gets a bum rap it does not deserve.
Darren Gross' presentation was wonderful. Joe & I moved to the front row for him & for the actress Q & A.
One of the newly dubbed dialogue scenes was shown with full sound.
In the scene, set in 1810, Angelique plays Quentin's Theme on a piano, while he kisses her. Laura comes in & accuses Angelique of witchcraft.
They also showed a silent scene of Tracy which Gross provied the dialogue for. This scene gives the Tracy character far more depth.
The spooky as hell seance scene from the film, with Angelique's face hovering above, was also shown.
Gross said that Warners was again getting interested in the restoration due to the upcoming Depp/Burton movie!!!
The Kathryn/Lara interview lasted about 40 mins and was quite lively. About half of what they said was familiar.
The HODS print was OK, but hardly the technicolor wonder it was made out to be.
The audience was clearly "into it", and had a great time.
It was great to see HODS & NODS in such a huge, single screen movie palace, and the turnout proves that DS still has a big, big following.
A great, great night!
David