THE FILMS OF COLEMAN FRANCIS ECLIPSE SERIES 39 PARACHUTES, COFFEE AND CIGARETTES THE FILMS OF COLEMAN FRANCIS PARACHUTES, COFFEE AND CIGARETTES

Coleman C. Francis WAS perhaps best known for his film trilogy consisting of The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961), The Skydivers (1963), Red Zone Cuba (1966), all three of which were filmed in the general Santa Clarita, California area and used preoccupation with light THE BEAST OF YUCCA aircraft and parachuting, coffee or cigarettes serving as a prop or a FLATS 1961 ● 54 MIN ● BLACK AND THE FILMS OF center of conversation, and a vigilante-style gunning down of WHITE ● MONO ● OPTIONAL suspects without a trial to conclude the film as frequent motifs. ENGLISH SUBTITLES ● 1.85:1 All three films have gained notoriety as a result of their appearances THE SKYDIVERS COLEMAN FRANCIS on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and have been often criticized 1963 ● 75 MIN ● BLACK AND WHITE ● MONO ● OPTIONAL for their abysmal production values, repetitive plot devices, murky ENGLISH SUBTITLES ● 1.85:1 picture quality, and stilted acting. Some critics have characterized PARACHUTES, COFFEE AND CIGARETTES RED ZONE CUBA Francis' films among the all-time worst, even suggesting that he 1966 ● 89 MIN ● BLACK AND may surpass 's in terms of WHITE ● MONO ● OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES ● 1.85:1 ineptitude.

Under exclusive license from Cinema Associates ● Crown THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS International Pictures ● Hollywood Star Pictures. The Beast of Yucca The Beast of Yucca Flats stars Swedish former wrestler Flats © Cinema Associates 1961. The and was both written and directed by Coleman Francis. Some critics Skydivers © Crown International Pictures 1963. Red Zone Cuba © have characterized it as one of the worst science fiction horror films Hollywood Star Pictures 1966. made, and one of the all-time worst, even suggesting that it may be The Criterion Collection. All rights worse than Ed Wood's legendarily bad Plan 9 from Outer Space. reserved. Cat. no. ECL061. ISBN 978-1-60465-111-9. Warning: Unauthorized public performance, THE SKYDIVERS broadcasting, or copying is a violation of applicable laws. Printed The Skydivers stars actress Kevin Casey as Beth, Eric Tomlin as Joe, in USA. First printing 2008. Anthony Cardoza as Harry, and Marcia Knight as Suzy. The film contains performances by influential Nashville guitarist Jimmy Bryant. After being forgotten for three decades it got a second life in 1994, serving the basis for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode. At one point, the film was the lowest-rated of all time on the Internet Movie Database. ECLIPSE Eclipse is a selection ECLIPSE ECLIPSE RED ZONE CUBA of lost, forgotten, or overshadowed classics ECLIPSE SERIES 39

Red Zone Cuba, also known as Night Train to Mundo Fine, is a 1966 FROM THE CRITERION COLLECTION in simple, affordable FROM THE CRITERION COLLECTION FROM THE CRITERION COLLECTION American drama film directed by Coleman Francis, who also wrote, editions. Each series is produced, and played the starring role. It follows the meandering a brief cinematheque adventures of an escaped convict and two ex-convicts he recruits retrospective for the along the way as they become involved in the 1961 Bay of Pigs adventurous home viewer. Invasion, and a quest to find a hidden treasure in a tungsten mine. Visit us at criterion.com THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS THE SKYDIVERS RED ZONE CUBA With notes on the films by Anthony Cardoza, star of The Beast of Yucca Flats, The Skydivers and Red Zone Cuba

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