Cursed Films

The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films in the history of cinema, but its legacy is continually trailed by a mysterious darkness that seems at odds with the fanciful images presented on screen. Authors Aljean Harmetz and Stephen Cox discuss Margaret Hamilton's fiery mishap and address the rumors of drunken Munchkins tearing up the Culver hotel. Special effects designer and famed mythbuster Adam Savage explains how the Tin Man's makeup nearly killed the actor originally cast in the role. Certified Oz expert Gregg Turkington breaks down the notorious legend of the hanging munchkin, while Lorna Luft sets the record straight on the treatment of her mother, Judy Garland, by the studio behind the production of Oz.

Stars: Miles Rice, Stephany Twomey, Joe Shipbaugh
Director(s): Jay Cheel
Writer(s): Jay Cheel

Rosemary's Baby hit theaters in 1968 in the midst of a political and cultural revolution in America. Its young director, Roman Polanski, created one of the most iconic horror films in history, seemingly drawing upon his own dark past in a film that's strangely connected to a number of tragic stories, starting with an unexpected death of a composer and leading to one of America's most notorious true crime cases: The Manson Family murders. Dianne "Snake" Lake recounts her time with the family and its connections to Rosemary's Baby, while photographer Julian Wasser shares his experience photographing Polanski as he explored the crime scene of the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, and their unborn child.

Stars: Christopher Sandford, Mitch Horowitz, Blanche Barton
Director(s): Jay Cheel
Writer(s): Jay Cheel

An examination of the troubled making of Andrei Tarkovsky's sci-fi masterwork Stalker, and the disasters that beset the production: damaged film stock, earthquakes, and an illness that be set the cast and crew after the films release.

Stars: Robert Bird, Mitch Horowitz, Roger Deakins
Director(s): Jay Cheel
Writer(s): Jay Cheel

Wes Craven and his crew set out on a great adventure; the staging of a major motion picture production in Haiti at the tail end of a violent political revolution. The film, The Serpent and the Rainbow, is based on the true experiences of anthropologist Wade Davis, who details his unbelievable search for an elusive "zombie powder", and the complicated relationship he has with Craven's interpretation of his story. Producer David Ladd and actors Bill Pullman and Cathy Tyson recount the challenges and strange occurrences they experienced on set.

Stars: Wade Davis, David Ladd, Jonathan Craven
Director(s): Jay Cheel
Writer(s): Jay Cheel

Cursed Films travels to Roma, Italy to discuss the making of what is arguably the most controversial horror film ever made. Writer/Director Ruggero Deodato discusses the film's concept, through its creation, including the famous court case that saw him defending himself for the murder of a performer in the heart of the Amazon. Meanwhile, his cast and crew detail the struggles they faced while trying to meet the expectations of a demanding director, who continually pushed them towards their breaking point.

Stars: Ruggero Deodato, Eugenio Ercolani, Nick Pinkerton
Director(s): Jay Cheel
Writer(s): Jay Cheel