THE ELECTRIC CHAIR, a
Bukowski-inspired tale from the New York underground, is a lost independent film,
recently unearthed by Wild Eye Releasing and distributed by MVD Entertainment
Group. Originally a one-man show that played off Broadway, Harvey Keitel was
originally slated for the starring role but due to another personal commitment,
he recommended it to his friend Victor Argo.
In the film, Argo (MEAN
STREETS, TAXI DRIVER, TRUE ROMANCE) is a shoe store manager who attempts to
revive a failed career as a stand-up comic by performing, thanks to his
ex-friend and sometimes agent, Sheldon, at a mysterious club where he finds
himself sharing the stage with a looming, ready-to-shock electric chair...and
performing before an audience of himself as a young boy, his mother and others
from his past. During his nightmare routines, nothing that comes out of his
mouth is funny until he turns the comedy on himself.
Before his death in 2004,
Argo was a prolific character actor in a string of art house and action fare -
a favorite actor for directors Martin Scorsese, Jim Jarmusch and Abel Ferrara.
Director Mark Eisenstein was
once Christopher Walken's professor in college, and takes credit for talking
Walken into quitting school to pursue his acting career. For THE ELECTRIC
CHAIR, Eisenstein "borrowed" all the film equipment from the college
where he taught filmmaking. He also directed the unreleased feature, GOD IS ON
THE OTHER SIDE, starring David Johansen of the New York Dolls.
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR will be
screening at 92YTribeca on Friday, Oct 15, 2010 at 7:30pm. It will be held in
the 92YTribeca Screening Room at 200 Hudson Street and admission is $12.00.
Director Mark Eisenstein will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A.
Ticket Info: http://tiny.cc/szqx4
The DVD, to be released on
October 19, will feature the film as well as these extras:
• Feature Commentary with
Director Mark Eisenstein
• Roach (1992) 23-minute
featurette
• ELECTRIC CHAIR Trailer
• GOD IS ON THE OTHER SIDE
Trailer (unreleased Eisenstein film)
