Michael Findlay
Encyclopedia
Michael Findlay, along with his wife Roberta Findlay, directed
and produced
numerous sexploitation
movies. They have been described as "the most notorious filmmakers in the annals of sexploitation".
In the mid-to-late 1960s, Findlay was prominent among a small group of underground New York filmmakers (including Joseph W. Sarno
, Joseph P. Mawra, and Lou Campa) that produced exploitation "roughies" (a mix of sex and sadism) for the grindhouse
theater market. Sometimes he would direct under the alias Julian Marsh and act in his own films billed as Robert West. His wife Roberta (aka Anna Riva) was the cinematographer, co-writer, and supporting actress for many of their films together. They also employed the same actors repeatedly, most notably Uta Erickson
, and Marie Brent, aka Janet Banzet
.
The Findlays were friends with George Weiss
, producer of Ed Wood's Glen or Glenda and a series of fetishistic Olga films (Olga's House of Shame, Olga's Girls, et al.). In 1964 Weiss encouraged them to make films in this new subgenre of violent sexploitation.
and Doris Wishman
's sexploitation
entries by at least a year.
In 1965 he directed The Sin Syndicate, a faux documentary about prostitutes turning State's evidence against the Mob, and the infamous Satan's Bed starring a then-unknown Yoko Ono
(three years before she met The Beatles
' John Lennon
). This is actually two films edited together. In the unfinished Judas City, Ono plays the fiancee of a drug pusher who is eventually robbed and raped. Findlay added a secondary story about three addicts on a crime spree who terrorize several women. Roberta Findlay plays one of their victims.
This was followed by Take Me Naked (1966), a lurid story written by Roberta Findlay about a depraved Peeping Tom whose fantasies involve his neighbor (played by Roberta Findlay). Michael Findlay also appears as the "Angel of Hell."
, a scimitar
, and a buzzsaw.
The movie became a surprise hit, calling for two sequels, The Curse of Her Flesh and The Kiss of Her Flesh (both 1968). The trilogy, filled with fetishistic scenes of bondage, whipping, torture, and grotesque violence, was unusual for its time and presaged the 1970s slasher horror films to come.
Findlay continued to make films about perverse sexuality and violence with A Thousand Pleasures (1968), and The Ultimate Degenerate (1969), which was largely a remake of Body of a Female.
(1975), the namesake of the fictional snuff film
genre. Michael Findlay is also the director of the 1974 Yeti slasher movie, Shriek of the Mutilated
.
. Since then she's made mostly horror and action films such as Tenement, The Oracle (both 1985), Blood Sisters (1987) and Prime Evil (1988).
. The accident occurred shortly after the 5.33 pm arrival of the New York Airways
helicopter from John F Kennedy Airport. It was in the process of taking on 21 passengers for the return trip when the landing gear failed and the aircraft tipped on its side while the rotors were still running. Findlay and two other passengers in the process of boarding were slashed to death as the spinning rotors detached and disintegrated. Another male passenger died later in hospital. A woman on the street was killed when hit by falling debris.
A "Michael Findley" of Manhattan was named in press reports as being one of the three men on the roof to be killed instantly when "literally cut to pieces." Other reports claimed the bodies were not "transsected" but had "deep lacerations".
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
numerous sexploitation
Sexploitation
Sexploitation, or "sex-exploitation", describes a class of independently produced, low-budget feature films generally associated with the 1960s and serving largely as a vehicle for the exhibition of non-explicit sexual situations and gratuitous nudity. The genre is a subgenre of exploitation films...
movies. They have been described as "the most notorious filmmakers in the annals of sexploitation".
In the mid-to-late 1960s, Findlay was prominent among a small group of underground New York filmmakers (including Joseph W. Sarno
Joseph W. Sarno
Joseph W. Sarno was an American film director and screenwriter.One of the most prolific and distinctive auteurs to emerge from the proto-pornographic sexploitation film genre of the 1960s, Joe Sarno had written and directed approximately 75 theatrically released feature films in the sexploitation,...
, Joseph P. Mawra, and Lou Campa) that produced exploitation "roughies" (a mix of sex and sadism) for the grindhouse
Grindhouse
A grindhouse is an American term for a theater that mainly shows exploitation films. It is named after the defunct burlesque theaters located on 42nd Street in New York City, where 'bump n' grind' dancing and striptease were featured.- History :...
theater market. Sometimes he would direct under the alias Julian Marsh and act in his own films billed as Robert West. His wife Roberta (aka Anna Riva) was the cinematographer, co-writer, and supporting actress for many of their films together. They also employed the same actors repeatedly, most notably Uta Erickson
Uta Erickson
Uta Erickson was a Norwegian actress who was in many sexploitation films of the late 1960s. She starred in several provocatively titled films directed by Michael and Roberta Findlay, including The Kiss Of Her Flesh, A Thousand Pleasures, The Curse Of Her Flesh, and The Ultimate Degenerate...
, and Marie Brent, aka Janet Banzet
Janet Banzet
Janet Banzet , also credited as Marie Brent and several other names, was a Texas born actress who appeared in several sexploitation films of the late 1960s and early 1970s She starred in several provocatively titled films directed by Michael Findlay and Joseph W. Sarno...
.
The Findlays were friends with George Weiss
George Weiss
George Weiss may refer to:*George David Weiss , songwriter*George Henry Weiss , writer*George Weiss , baseball executive*George Weiss , film producerSee also:...
, producer of Ed Wood's Glen or Glenda and a series of fetishistic Olga films (Olga's House of Shame, Olga's Girls, et al.). In 1964 Weiss encouraged them to make films in this new subgenre of violent sexploitation.
Early films: 1964–1966
Findlay's first film, 1964's Body of a Female told the story of a sadistic brute who keeps women as prisoners in his home. This film predated both David F. FriedmanDavid F. Friedman
David Frank Friedman was an American filmmaker and film producer.-Life and career:Friedman first became interested in entertainment after spending part of his childhood in Birmingham and Anniston, Alabama, traveling carnival sites. He met exploitation film pioneer Kroger Babb during his stay in...
and Doris Wishman
Doris Wishman
Doris Wishman was an American film director, screenwriter and independent film producer....
's sexploitation
Sexploitation
Sexploitation, or "sex-exploitation", describes a class of independently produced, low-budget feature films generally associated with the 1960s and serving largely as a vehicle for the exhibition of non-explicit sexual situations and gratuitous nudity. The genre is a subgenre of exploitation films...
entries by at least a year.
In 1965 he directed The Sin Syndicate, a faux documentary about prostitutes turning State's evidence against the Mob, and the infamous Satan's Bed starring a then-unknown Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
(three years before she met The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
). This is actually two films edited together. In the unfinished Judas City, Ono plays the fiancee of a drug pusher who is eventually robbed and raped. Findlay added a secondary story about three addicts on a crime spree who terrorize several women. Roberta Findlay plays one of their victims.
This was followed by Take Me Naked (1966), a lurid story written by Roberta Findlay about a depraved Peeping Tom whose fantasies involve his neighbor (played by Roberta Findlay). Michael Findlay also appears as the "Angel of Hell."
The Flesh trilogy
Findlay's breakthrough film was The Touch of Her Flesh (1967). He directed and starred in this story of a sadistic, misogynist psycho-killer who stalks prostitutes and strippers. The killings are done with imaginative devices such as poison-tipped rose thorns, blowdarts, a crossbowCrossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
, a scimitar
Scimitar
A scimitar is a backsword or sabre with a curved blade, originating in Southwest Asia .The Arabic term saif translates to "sword" in general, but is normally taken to refer to the scimitar type of curved backsword in particular.The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout the Muslim...
, and a buzzsaw.
The movie became a surprise hit, calling for two sequels, The Curse of Her Flesh and The Kiss of Her Flesh (both 1968). The trilogy, filled with fetishistic scenes of bondage, whipping, torture, and grotesque violence, was unusual for its time and presaged the 1970s slasher horror films to come.
Findlay continued to make films about perverse sexuality and violence with A Thousand Pleasures (1968), and The Ultimate Degenerate (1969), which was largely a remake of Body of a Female.
Films of the 1970s
In the 1970s the Findlays turned toward horror films including Slaughter, the 1971 film that, after further contributions from Allan Shackleton, became SnuffSnuff (1975 film)
Snuff is a 1976 splatter film, and is most notorious for being marketed as if it were an actual snuff film. This picture contributed to the urban legend of snuff films, although the concept did not originate with it.-Production:...
(1975), the namesake of the fictional snuff film
Snuff film
A snuff film is a motion picture genre that depicts the actual death or murder of a person or people, without the aid of special effects, for the express purpose of distribution and entertainment or financial exploitation. For-profit snuff films are generally regarded as an urban legend, whose...
genre. Michael Findlay is also the director of the 1974 Yeti slasher movie, Shriek of the Mutilated
Shriek of the Mutilated
Shriek of the Mutilated is a 1974 American horror film directed by Michael Findlay, also known as Mutilated and Scream of the Snowbeast.-Plot:...
.
Roberta Findlay's films
Roberta Findlay later went on to direct hardcore pornographic films including Anyone But My Husband (1975), Angel on Fire (1974), A Woman's Torment (1977), and Mystique (1979). She left the adult film industry after the controversial Shauna: Every Man's Fantasy (1985), about the tragic suicide of porn star Shauna GrantShauna Grant
Shauna Grant was an American nude model and pornographic performer. Born Colleen Marie Applegate, she was sometimes credited as Callie Aimes, Callie Aims, or Colleen Applegate.- Early life :...
. Since then she's made mostly horror and action films such as Tenement, The Oracle (both 1985), Blood Sisters (1987) and Prime Evil (1988).
Death
On May 16, 1977, Michael Findlay was killed in a helicopter accident on the roof of the Pan Am Building in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The accident occurred shortly after the 5.33 pm arrival of the New York Airways
New York Airways
New York Airways was a helicopter airline in the New York City area. Founded in 1949 as a mail and cargo carrier, on July 9, 1953 it became the first scheduled helicopter airline to carry passengers in the United States...
helicopter from John F Kennedy Airport. It was in the process of taking on 21 passengers for the return trip when the landing gear failed and the aircraft tipped on its side while the rotors were still running. Findlay and two other passengers in the process of boarding were slashed to death as the spinning rotors detached and disintegrated. Another male passenger died later in hospital. A woman on the street was killed when hit by falling debris.
A "Michael Findley" of Manhattan was named in press reports as being one of the three men on the roof to be killed instantly when "literally cut to pieces." Other reports claimed the bodies were not "transsected" but had "deep lacerations".
Aliases of Michael Findlay
- Francis Ellie
- Michael Fenway
- Mike Fenway
- Mike Findlay
- Richard Jennings
- Julian Marsh/Julien Marsh
- Oscar Riva
- Robert West
- Robert Wester
- Robert Wuesterwurst
External links
- Snuff Said, Channel 4 news