#marie pascal elfman

[late-to-the-dead-mans-party]

Happy Oingo Boingo day everyone!

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

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Forbidden Zone (1980) dir. Richard Elfman

[susantyrrell]

Forbidden Zone reunion - Susan Tyrrell, Herve Villechaize, Marie Pascale Elfman and Richard Elfman.

[larmaro]

Don't go to any trouble over meeeeee now! (Forbidden Zone, 1982)

[speccyfilmnerd]

Richard Elfman’s ‘Forbidden Zone’...

An Unknown, Absurdist, Avant-Garde Cult-Classic.

23.12.23

Overview

Forbidden Zone is what I, and many others, would consider a true hidden gem. Born from the underground alternative film scene of late 70s LA, the viewer is taken on a visual rollercoaster through the un-methodological madness of creator, director and producer Richard Elfman's mind, creating an experience unlike any other.

I highly recommend that you, if you haven't already, watch this movie. And you do it in a way that would support the people behind it. This is especially important to do for Forbidden Zone and films like it, for reasons I'll get into later… I'm aware that in the current and extremely annoying space of streaming it's tempting to delve into piracy but I'd advise against it. trust me it's worth it.

The Film Itself

The movie follows a french girl named ‘Frenchy’ (played by Marie-Pascale Elfman, the director's wife at the time) falling through a door in her basement into the sixth dimension. A place that is, for a lack of a better term, very horny. The hedonistic landscape consumes her and through a series of musical numbers she finds love and evil is conquered.

(Susan Tyrrell as Queen Doris)

This ‘evil’ is the scene stealing (reason I'm gay) Queen Doris, portrayed by the incredible Susan Tyrrell. Susan's performance is, in my opinion, the reason this film has had such an impact on me. Forbidden Zone is the reason I started taking film making seriously, not just as a hobby but as a career, and Queen Doris is the reason I love this movie. Her main musical number ‘witches egg’ is a charming and memorable scene (and I'm still upset it got taken off Spotify.) Her eye-catching appearance embodies the word camp. She's truly an incredible actress playing a delightful character that is a joy to see on the screen. I could turn this whole essay into a fan-girl spiel just about her, I adore her.

It would be impossible to brush over Hervé Villechaize’s Character, King Fausto. Although Fausto doesn't sing or dance, he does do something no other character does… he's the most annoying not-an-antagonist the entire realm has to offer. I mean, maybe I feel this way cuz I've got a massive crush on Doris and he doesn't realize how lucky he is- actually it is that. it's totally that. THE CHEATING SCUM!!!

(Danny Elfman as Satan with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo)

Something I've mentioned already is the music. Forbidden Zone features music written and performed by the Mystic Knight of the Oingo Boingo, more specifically it's leader Danny Elfman, the directors brother, and his right hand man Steve Bartek. The Knights also have an appearance in the film, Danny plays a Cab Calloway style interpretation of Satan while Steve and the other Knights dance behind him, dressed in long black cloaks and painted head to toe in gray makeup. And yes I see you, reader at the back scratching his head, it's that Danny Elfman.

Frenchy herself is another joy to watch, her sweet voice and ditsy personality are just another layer of charm for the viewer to lap up. Along with playing the lead, Marie was also the production designer. The film had a low budget (less than $90,000) and she did an exceptional job using what she had to create the stylised world of the sixth dimension. The overall visual look of the film is that of a live-action cartoon. Along with animated segments by John Muto which tie a lovely bow over the whole thing.

Production

It's no surprise that a film with such a low budget and small cast and crew would go through a lot before release. Richard Elfman himself recalls losing his house often in interviews, along with the finished film entirely. After several decades it was rightfully returned to him. Most of the cast and crew were paid very little or nothing at all, surprisingly I found a video of DEVO’s Gerald Casale saying he and his bandmates originally approached to do the film's music, but they refused after finding out how little money was in it.

Along with the film's actual composer, Danny and his band with Marie being actors, writer Mathew Bright and other crew members played characters on screen, even Richard has a small scene. This leads me to say how the film has a passion running through it. Unlike many other movies we see more and more of, Forbidden Zone was truly a creative adventure for all involved with no intention of making the most money possible. 

Richard, in 2019 said: "Doing anything original is taking a chance. Financially it bankrupted me and we lost our house. But I'm still glad I did it. 

Conclusion

Forbidden Zone is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've seen a lot of movies. Once again, I recommend taking a look for yourself and supporting the artists behind it.

Interviews referenced/sources used:

Richard Elfman talking about the film in 2019:

rolling stone:

[sunskate]

IAM Programs 2023-24

Holly Harris/Jason Chan 🇦🇺AUS RD: Madonna, Material Girl, Into the Groove, Express Yourself FD: Colossal Trailer Music, Ocean Lullaby; Christian Reindl, Lucie Paradis, Gefion, Freya; Christian Reindl, Lucie Paradis, Power-Haus, Vale choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Alicia Fabbri/Paul Ayer 🇨🇦CAN RD: AC/DC, Back in Black, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long FD: keeping FD from last season- Lewis Capaldi: Someone You Loved choreo: Zachary Donohue RD, Marie-France Dubrueil FD

Laurence Fournier-Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen 🇨🇦CAN RD: Top Gun - Harold Faltemeyer, Top Gun Anthem; Kenny Loggins, Playing with the Boys; Berlin, Take My Breath Away; Miami Sound Machine, Hot Summer Nights; Kenny Loggins, Danger Zone FD: Notre Dame de Paris - Mario Pelchat, Danse Mon Esmerelda- Acoustic; Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame, Final Angelus Bells; Noa, Ave Maria Paien; Cirque du Soleil, Les Sans-Papiers; Garou, Danse Mon Esmerelda choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer, Ginette Cournoyer, Samuel Chouinard

Sandrine Gauthier/Quentin Thieren 🇨🇦CAN RD: Joan Jett, I Love Rock n Roll; Def Leppard, Pour Some Sugar on Me; Twisted Sister, I Wanna Rock FD: Game of Thrones choreo:

Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha 🇨🇦CAN RD: Michael Jackson, Thriller FD: Jean-Michel Blais, Roses choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Ginette Cournoyer

Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain LeGac 🇨🇦CAN RD: INXS, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Devil Inside FD: Danny Elfman, Corpse Bride choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer, Sam Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer

Emmy Bronsard/Jacob Richmond 🇨🇦CAN RD: Les Rita Mitsouko, Andy, Marcia Baïla FD: Muse, Exogenesis Symphony part 3 choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu 🇨🇳CHN RD: Falco, Rock Me Amadeus FD: LP, Forever for Now, The One That You Love choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Solene Mazingue/Marjo Jevgeni Gaidajenko 🇪🇪EST RD: Run-DMC, Walk This Way; Salt ‘n Peoa, Push It FD: Tems, No Woman No Cry; Rihanna, Lift Me Up

Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud 🇫🇷FRA RD: Myléne Farmer, Sans Contrefaçon, Tristana FD: Rachmaninoff, Elegie in eb minor, Prelude in c# minor choreo: Romain Haguenauer RD, Guillaume Cizeron FD

Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson 🇬🇧GBR RD: Eurhythmics, Sweet Dreams, Here Comes the Rain Again FD: Rocky choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Samuel Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer

Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto 🇯🇵JPN RD: Ghostbusters FD: Loving You (from Passion) Barbara Streisand & Patrick Wilson; Love Grows (from Final Fantasy VIII) Nobuo Uematsu (choreo: Romain Haguenauer) choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Marie-France Dubreuil, Ginette Cournoyer, Sam Chouinard, Eva Airapetian

Azusa Tanaka/Shingo Nishiyama 🇯🇵JPN RD: Super Mario Bros. FD: Giselle choreo: Romain Haguenauer

Hannah Lim/Ye Quan 🇰🇷KOR RD: Prince, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy FD: Umbrellas of Cherbourg choreo: Romain Haguenauer RD, Marie-France Dubreuil FD

Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius 🇱🇹LTU RD: Guns n' Roses, Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City FD: Son Lux, Enough of Our Machines; Tokio Myers, Children choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Sam Chouinard

Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck 🇪🇸ESP RD: Blondie, Call Me, Rapture FD: Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra; Elvis Presley, Fever choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer

Kayleigh Macsymek/Felix Desmarais 🇨🇭SUI RD: Beverly Hills Cop - Harold Faltermeyer, Axel F; Corey Hart, Hold On; Glenn Frey, The Heat is On

Mariia Holubtsova & Kyryl Bielobrov 🇺🇦UKR RD: Bonnie Tyler, Holding out for a Hero; Bonnie Tyler, Bryan Adams, Straight From the Heart; Bonnie Tyler, Desmond Child, If I Were a Woman (and You Were a Man) FD: Joe Hisaishi, Merry Go Round of Life, Fragile Dream, A Walk in the Skies (Howl's Moving Castle) choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Pascal Denis, Sam Chouinard

Oona Brown/Gage Brown 🇺🇸USA RD: Elton John, This Town, Satellite, I'm Still Standing FD: Eric Carmen, All By Myself choreo: Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Joel Dear

Madison Chock/Evan Bates 🇺🇸USA RD: Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Who Wants to Live Forever, I Want it All FD: Pink Floyd, Time, Breathe, Eclipse choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker 🇺🇸USA RD: U2, With or Without You FD: Fred Again, Kyle (Northern Line); Charles LeClerc, AUS23 (1:1) choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Kaitlin Hawayek, Jean-Luc Baker

Sara Kishimoto/Atsuhiko Tamura 🇯🇵JPN jrs RD: Styx, Mr.Roboto FD: keeping FD from last season - Pulp Fiction choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Sam Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer, Eva Airapetian

Jamie Fournier/Everest Zhu 🇨🇦CAN jrs RD: Soft Cell, Frustration, Seedy Films, Tainted Love FD: Damien Rice, The Blower's Daughter; Melanie Laurent feat. Damien Rice, Uncomfortable choreo: Romain Haguenauer

[mrgordo82]

We all have to start somewhere! I take a look at the absolutely bonkers "Forbidden Zone," which is ground zero for Danny Elfman's film composing career and his director brother Richard's wacky film journey... https://mrgordo82.blogspot.com/2020/09/forbidden-zone-198082.html