The Grindhouse Film That Scared The Pope

*BURIED TO PREVENT COPYCAT CRIMES AGAINST THE POPE, A RESTORED FILM IS FINALLY UNLEASHED TO NZ SCREENS AFTER 30 YEARS OF OBSCURITY.

Once thought lost, now restored to 35mm glory, the story behind Duke Mitchell's feature GONE WITH THE POPE is as funny and offbeat as the film itself.

Duke Mitchell was an Italian Rudy Ray Moore, a popular nightclub performer, singer, actor, and self-proclaimed 'Mr. Palm Springs'. Mitchell went on to use his talents and show business connections to produce two of the most entertaining auteur films of the Seventies, which he wrote, directed, produced, scored and starred in. Shot in 1975 under the title KISS THE RING as a follow-up to his ultra-violent crime saga MASSACRE MAFIA STYLE.

GONE WITH THE POPE stars Mitchell as Paul, a gangster with an unholy scheme: to kidnap the pope and charge "a dollar from every Catholic in the world" as the ransom.

Mitchell saved his pennies and filmed the politically incorrect, exploitation comedy on weekends when he could get the money, cast and crew together. Most of the film was shot over a period of five years. Over time the project was abandoned. In 1981 Mitchell died leaving GONE WITH THE POPE incomplete and gathering dust in his son's garage.

Cue hero music.

Sage Stallone(Sylvester's son) and Bob Murawski of Grindhouse Releasing rediscovered GONE WITH THE POPE in 1995 after talking to Mitchell's son and vowed to save it from obscurity.

Academy Award-winning film editor Murawski (THE HURT LOCKER, SPIDER-MAN 1, 2 & 3) spent 15 years completing GONE WITH THE POPE from the surviving film elements. This labor of love from all parties involved has resulted in one truly unique and offbeat slice of 70s cinema being reborn.

Incredibly Strange & Flicks.co.nz Present GONE WITH THE POPE
For Media Enquiries re: Interviews w/ Bob Murawski & Sage Stallone
Contact : Ant Timpson (anthonytimpson@xtra.co.nz)

SCREENING DETAILS HERE
TRAILER GONE WITH THE POPE
WEBSITE: GONE WITH THE POPE

* (Rumoured to be true)

ENDS

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