This past Monday, February 14, David F. Friedman passed away at the age of 87. As a producer and distributor, Friedman certainly left his mark on the history of cinema, ranging from classical exploitation in the 1940s, the European import boom of the ’50s, the nudies and slashers of the ’60s, and the modern exploitation era of the ’70s. He’ll forever be one of the greatest champions of fun, excessive cinema, a true legend in the “give-the-people-what-they-want” tradition, back when that actually meant something.
Friedman’s first major foray into the exploitation world came from working with Kroger Babb after World War II. Babb was one of the great classical exploitation kingpins, and he brought Friedman on to work on publicity and distribution for his roadshow titles. Among dozens of others, Friedman helped Babb peddle Mom And Dad, the sex-hygiene film that was among the top 10 highest grossing films of both the 1940s and the 1950s.
Friedman’s first major foray into the exploitation world came from working with Kroger Babb after World War II. Babb was one of the great classical exploitation kingpins, and he brought Friedman on to work on publicity and distribution for his roadshow titles. Among dozens of others, Friedman helped Babb peddle Mom And Dad, the sex-hygiene film that was among the top 10 highest grossing films of both the 1940s and the 1950s.
- 2/18/2011
- by Daniel Metz
- OriginalAlamo.com
Goodbye to the man who brought us Blood Feast, 2000 Maniacs, The Erotic Adventures Of Zorro, Trader Hornee, Thar She Blows, and Ilsa She-wolf Of The SS. Producer and Huckster extraordinaire David F. Friedman died Sunday in Miami of heart disease at age 87. For a full appreciation of the history of exploitation films, you should read his autobiography A Youth In Babylon for Friedman was one of the few of the exploitation giants whose roots stretched back to actual carnivals. His father ran one and much of Friedman’s youth was spent traveling the carnival circuit throughout the South. It was there that he was first bitten by the showbiz bug, giving him a taste for exploitation and spectacle that would serve him well in the future. Friedman apprenticed with fellow showman Kroger Babb (best known for the birth-of-a-baby film Mom And Dad which played like a tent revival for years...
- 2/15/2011
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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