THE PROJECTIONIST-1971-This unusual feature has once popular NYC children's host Chuck McCann as a movie loving projectionist who works in a theater run by a pompous and demanding manager (Rodney Dangerfield in his movie debut). When not working he wanders the city, plays pool and dreams he's a celebrity. Sometimes he imagines he's a superhero called "Captain Flash". These are Flash Gordon inspired sequences but are more like a take on silent films and comic books (Dangerfield also appears as the villain "The Bat") as the characters never talk. Word balloons are used instead. These parts are clever but a little silly now (maybe not so much in the early '70's). Ina Balin plays the girl of his dreams.
The biggest surprise in this unique low budget wonder is the use of so many mainstream Hollywood movies (especially CASABLANCA, FLASH GORDON and CITIZEN KANE). There's also a strange commercial on TV for The Christian-Judeo Good Guy Kit.
THE PROJECTIONIST was made by Harry Hurwitz (he also appears as an usher) who later made AUDITIONS, FAIRY TALES, NOCTURNA, SAFARI 3000 and others. He died in 1995 at the age of 57.
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