The film geek gridlock in front of the New Beverly stretched a full block, detouring boring pedestrians and rivaling anxious commuters that idled on Beverly. It was an epic night in geekdom to honor Severin Film’s remastered 3-disc release of Inglorious Bastards this past Tuesday. The New Bev played host for the premier, doubling it up with Castellari’s Battle Squadron. Guests of honor included Enzo himself along with the films stars, Fred Williamson and Bo Svenson. The packed house rioted in applause at the introduction from one of Italian Cinema’s All-Time Greats. Enzo humbly engaged the cheering crowd by saying, “My heart is too big with emotion that words could not describe my happiness.” Svenson added, much to the fanatics’ chagrin, that he had never seen the film but was anxious to watch his 30-year old performance. Williamson, always in charismatic form, said, “The only reason I’m here is to show you all how good I still look. Nothing is hanging too low that shouldn’t be.” The trailer reel put together by projectionist Adam Trash was awesome, highlights going to Castellari’s Warriors of the Wasteland starring Williamson as an apocalyptic archer and Kill Them All and Come Back Alone, a bodies-piled-high Spaghetti Western. The Bastards’ print was phenomenal, almost too good when I realized that many of the explosions were indeed blatant miniatures (my shit-legged copy is so grainy I thought some were actually real). Afterwards, Williamson went on to say, “These Genre Films make such a lasting impact because of the individual characters, unlike today’s main characters, the special effects.” The ecstatic crowd went on to sing Happy Birthday to Enzo, who glared with glassy eyes out into the wave of admirers, in awe of what his legacy has truly become.

– Nolan Knight