Anti-convention, satire secret to longevity for Troma

Monday, November 18, 1996

FILM:

Deliberate off-beat cheesiness a source of productions’ appealBy
Tyler Maxwell

Daily Bruin Contributor

Mindless sex and violence, and all that is vulgar and offensive
characterize the movies produced by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael
Herz’s Troma team.

"The Troma team" has been headed by its two founding fathers
Kaufman and Herz throughout its entire 20-year history. One of the
few remaining independent film studios in the United States, this
off-beat film company has made over 130 movies, most of which have
been directed and/or produced by Kaufman.

"Troma-tized!!" is the name of the current tribute to Troma film
sponsored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. A total of six
Troma films will screen on Nov. 19, 24 and 30.

Troma films are a satire on any form of socially accepted
convention. It takes scatology to a new level, stretching the
bounds of an R rating to its limits. Gory scenes depicting
dismemberment, totally random shots of bikini clad women and
bordering on pornographic sex scenes are trademarks in Troma films.
Troma even violates film making conventions; the films are
intentionally bad in every way from cheesy special effects to overt
tastelessness.

"Tromeo & Juliet" is the newest film to come from the Troma
team. The film’s trailer reads: "Body piercing. Kinky sex.
Dismemberment. All the things that made Shakespeare great."

A few changes have been made from what Shakespeare originally
intended. In this version, Juliet’s chamber maid is also her
lesbian lover. The famous lines "Ah, Juliet, please let rich
music’s tongue unfold the imagined happiness that both receive in
either by this dear encounter," are uttered over the phone by
Tromeo while on the toilet.

This same lack of seriousness can be seen in the next two films
that will screen on Nov. 19. "Femme Fontaine: Killer Babe for the
CIA" staring producer-writer-director-actress Margot Hope. Hope
plays Drew Fontaine, a professional assassin who hopes to avenge
the death of her father. She will make a guest appearance to
introduce the film. Also on the 19th there will be a screening of
"Vegas in Space." A story about four male astronauts on a secret
mission to the Planet Clitoris. The four are ordered by the Empress
of Earth to swallow gender reversal pills so they may fit in at the
Clitorean resort: Vegas in Space. Their task is to capture a
criminal that has hurled the all-female pleasure planet on a path
of destruction.

On the 24th two more Troma films will be shown in Melnitz, "Surf
Nazis Must Die" and "Class of Nuke’Em High." The first film is
about a post earthquake California in which the beaches are run by
Surf Nazis. The hero is a middle-aged African American woman known
as Leroy’s Mama. She is the only person brave enough to protect the
quake survivors from the Surf Nazis and reclaim the beaches for the
people.

"Class of Nuke’Em High" is about Tromaville high school and the
Nuclear Power Plant next door. The film depicts the antics that
result from the student body being transformed into radioactive
mutants.

The tribute is rounded out with the presentation of "Sgt.
Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D." and the cult classic "The Toxic Avenger." In
the first film, a New York City cop, Harry Griswold, takes on the
powers of a legendary Japanese hero. Thus, he becomes Sgt.
Kabukiman. He uses lethal flying sushi rolls and chopsticks to foil
an evil villain who hopes to control the city with a wave of drugs
and crime.

"The Toxic Avenger" is the most famous (or notorious) of all the
Troma creations. The story is about a 98-pound weakling transformed
into the super-hero Toxie, by being thrown in a barrel of toxic
waste. Toxie then goes on to fight against the evil of Tromaville
by mutilating the bad guys. Toxie has become an icon of the Troma
company, which was made into a Saturday morning cartoon that taught
children about environmental ecology.

Melnitz theater seems to be an unlikely forum for a bunch of
exploitation films made by a small independent film company. But
these films are important because of the influence they have had on
more mainstream cinema.

"We look at this as an opportunity to bring Troma’s films to a
wider audience and a campus environment," says Elisabeth Greenbaum,
who helps schedule and publicize films for Melnitz Archives .
"There is academic value to these films. Troma films have
influenced a number of U.S. directors, like John Avildsen and
Quentin Tarantino."

Other now-famous actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Costner
and director Oliver Stone starred in some of the early Troma
productions. The company has also gained a wide following in Europe
and the United States.

These films are not for the weak- hearted or easily offended.
"Kaufman likes to push peoples’ buttons, he doesn’t like to be told
how film should be made by society’s conventions." Greenbaum goes
on to say, "Troma can be classified as a libertarian social
satire."

A total lack of seriousness and self mocking can be seen in the
films as well as the film makers. In speaking about his company
Kaufman makes light of their dismal success in the real world of
film.

"In the entire history of the movie business, there has never
been a movie studio that existed for 20 years without a hit," says
Kaufman. "And so long as we continue as the heads of Troma, we will
continue this perfect track record."

Despite this track record Troma continues to make intentionally
bad films that appeal to a limited, but devout following.

FILM: Troma films will be shown at Melnitz Theater Nov. 16
through 30. Tickets are $4 for students and seniors and $6 for
general admission. For details call (310) 206-FILM.