USA, 1985
82m
35mm film, colour, 1.85:1
mono, English
An American science fiction/horror film directed by Curtis Hanson (using the pseudonym Edward Collins), Peter S. Traynor, Larry Spiegel and Mardi Rustam.
Plot Summary
In a small American town, a scientist is conducting experiments on the young people in his search for a way to slow down the ageing process.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Edward Collins [real name: Curtis Hanson], Peter S. Traynor, Larry Spiegel
Additional Sequences Filmed by: Mardi Rustam
Copyright MCMLXXXV [1985] Mars Production Corp.
Mars Productions
Produced by: Peter S. Traynor, William D. Sklar
Associate Producers: Joan Kasha, Michael O’Donnell
Screenplay by: Larry Spiegel, Richard Benson
Story by: Royce Applegate
Directors of Photography: Bill Mann, Bob Ioniccio
Film Editors: Jess Mancilla, David G. Blangsted, Peter Parasheles
Music Composed by: Michael Linn
Sound: Gerald Wolfe
Wardrobe: Geraldine Sturner
Make-Up Artist: Barbara Wolfe
Art Director: Richard Gillis
Casting: Remy Mackenzie Karima
Cast
James Keach (Chris)
Michele Marsh [Michelle in end credits] (Julie)
Doria Cook (Linda)
Robert Walker (Mike)
Dean Jagger (Dr Schaeffer)
Keith Hefner (Harry)
Greg Finley (Wally)
E.J. Andre (Earl)
Dabbs Greer (Mr Phelps)
Scott Hunter (Tony)
Lynda Weismeier (Dianne)
Christie Houser (Terrie)
Noelle Harling (Karen)
Paul McCauley (George)
Jillian Kesner (Dorothy)
Lurene Tuttle (Mrs Phelps)
Hope Summer (Mrs Wylie)
Regis Toomey (Doc Hopper)
Richard Hale (Mr Wylie)
Margo Farrar (woman)
Walter Zeri (Charlie)
James Edwin Hadzicki (William)
Alternative Titles
Dr. Shagetz – working title
God Bless Grandma and Grandpa – working title
God Damn Dr. Shagetz – working title
Zlowieszcze miasto – Poland
Production Notes
The film began shooting as early as October 1973 under the title God Bless Grandma and Grandpa with Curtis Hanson directing (he’s credited here under the pseudonym Edward Collins). Zalman King was originally announced as the star but he doesn’t appear and Hanson departed the project to be replaced by two directors, Larry Spiegel and Peter S. Traynor after Hanson was fired. It was completed by Traynor under the title God Bless Dr. Shagetz, now with Dean Jagger in newly shot footage, as the title character later changed to God Damn Dr. Shagetz and later again to Dr. Shagetz and was due to receive a theatrical release in 1974 though that appears to have never happened. It’s been suggested that the film was given a release in 1977 though no newspaper coverage or cinema listings have been found to support this.
In 1983, rights to the film were obtained by Mardi Rustam who started shooting new material in Los Angeles on 9 January 1984 and the film was recut, re-copyrighted 1985 and released straight to video, with Dr Shagetz renamed Dr Shaeffer throughout. Rustam claimed that God Bless Dr. Shagetz was “not completely completed; a certain area was missing” 1AFI Catalog which supports the notion that the planned theatrical release never actually happened.
References
Periodicals
- Cinefantastique vol.18 no.4 (May 1988) p.52 – review (by John Thonen)
- Hollywood Reporter 2 November 1973 p.10
- Variety 2 December 1987 pp.11, 26
Newspapers
- Los Angeles Times 8 February 1975 p.C-10
- Los Angeles Times 30 July 1975 p.D-17
- Los Angeles Times 18 November 1981 p.B-18
Books
- The Films of the Eighties by Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan p.174 – credits, synopsis
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.162-163
