FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 23, 2000

Contact: Margot Gerber

Tel.: 323.461.2020 x 115

E-mail: amcin@msn.com

THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE PAYS TRIBUTE TO UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER ACTOR AND

AUTEUR TIMOTHY CAREY

Featuring rare screenings of the notorious THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER!

November 4 - 5, 2000

HOLLYWOOD - The American Cinematheque presents THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER:

A TRIBUTE TO TIMOTHY CAREY November 4 - 5, 2000. A combination of hepcat

messiah, hulking loner and life-long loose cannon, the great character actor

Timothy Carey (1925 - 1994) cut a fearsome, unforgettable figure on-screen,

whether it was manhandling James Dean in EAST OF EDEN, throwing beer in

Brando's face in THE WILD ONE, or moaning pitifully on his way to execution

in PATHS OF GLORY. Carey was cast most often as a menacing gunman/enforcer,

a role he played with relish in crime classics like THE KILLING, CRIME WAVE

and THE OUTFIT. His self-made 1962 masterpiece THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER -

in which an ordinary man declares himself "God" in a SoCal suburb - fully

deserves its reputation as one of the most outrageous underground movies

ever made. Timothy Carey's son Romeo has opened up his father's archive of

rare materials to us for this series. Romeo Carey will appear in-person for

discussion during the tribute.

Carey's off-screen reputation was just as notorious - Carey once got caught

scaling the fence at 20th Century Fox in full armor to audition for PRINCE

VALIANT, and he faked his own kidnapping in Germany during shooting on PATHS

OF GLORY. In reality, Carey was a restless, completely dedicated performer

who counted John Cassavetes among his closest friends, and acted each role

"like it's the last film I'm gonna make, and I want it to be the best"

(Carey.)

Following its rare revival at the Egyptian, THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER

will finally make its national theatrical debut in select theatres next year

through "American Cinematheque Presents."/Vitagraph Films. E-mail for more

info to: vitagraph@earthlink.net

All guests subject to their availability. All screenings are at the newly

renovated Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood

Boulevard between Highland and Las

Palmas) in Hollywood.

Saturday, November 4, 2000

The Saturday, November 4th program begins at 6:00 PM with THE WORLD'S

GREATEST SINNER, (1962, 82 min). Director/ writer/ actor Timothy Carey's

astounding, low - budget parable of Good and Evil in Southern

California is one of the most notorious underground films ever made, a

jaw-dropping fusion of garage rock, drive-in movie madness and the theories

of Friedrich Nietzsche! Carey stars as Clarence Hilliard, a restless

insurance salesman who decides to rename himself "God," start his own

religion, political party and rock & roll band, all in the belief that each

one of us is a "superhuman being." Carey's performance, screaming in the

streets of El Monte at dazed housewives, seducing a 70-year-old granny for

her life-savings, howling "Please! Take my hand!" to legions of teenage

fans, is simply unbelievable. Carey's goal was to make a film that was truly

controversial - and blasphemous and he certainly succeeds. In his LA Times

review, Kevin Thomas wrote, ".there's nothing quite like it." Soundtrack by

Frank Zappa. Plus, Romeo Carey's work-in-progress documentary portrait of

his father (30 min.) Discussion following with Romeo Carey. Following its

rare revival at the Egyptian, THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER will finally make

its national theatrical debut in select theatres next year through "American

Cinematheque Presents."/Vitagraph Films and later on video and DVD.

Following at 9:00 PM is a double feature. First on the bill is THE

KILLING, (1956, MGM/UA, 83 min). Director Stanley Kubrick's tough-as-nails

heist film about a robbery at a race-track features an incredible rogues'

gallery of great character actors, including Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray,

Elisha Cook, Jr., Marie Windsor, and Timothy Carey as a hepcat killer with a

soft spot for both puppies and high-powered rifles. One of the most

entertaining crime films ever made, propelled by Kubrick's no-nonsense

approach and screenwriter Jim Thompson's biting, chiseled in stone dialogue

(based on Lionel White's novel Clean Break).

Next on the same bill is THE OUTFIT, (1973, MGM (Warners), 103 min). Dir.

John Flynn. Excellent, unsentimental 1970's crime film in the tradition of

GET CARTER, with professional thief Robert Duvall out to avenge his brother'

s death at the hands of the mob, and running smack into gangland chief

Robert Ryan and sadistic enforcer Timothy Carey. Joe Don Baker and Karen

Black turn in fine supporting performances, along with a virtual Who's Who

of film noir greats including Jane Greer, Richard Jaeckel, Sheree North,

Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook, Jr. Another taut adaptation of one of

Richard Stark/Donald Westlake's Parker novels (John Boorman's POINT BLANK

was the first).

Sunday, November 5, 2000

The Sunday, November 5th program begins at 5:00 PM with THE KILLING OF A

CHINESE BOOKIE, (1976, Castle Hill, 129 min). A close friend of

director/writer John Cassavetes (who also cast him in MINNIE & MOSKOWITZ),

Carey stars here as Flo, a hulking Hollywood mobster who plots to take over

the Sunset Boulevard strip club run by Ben Gazzara. Cassevetes perfectly

captures the outcast world of grifters, deadbeats and gunmen that Carey

seemed to inhabit in so many of his films.

The Sunday, November 5th program continues at 7:45 PM with THE WORLD'S

GREATEST SINNER, (1962, 82 min). Dir. Timothy Carey. [Repeat. See 11/4 at

6:00 PM for description.] Screening as part of this program are two shorter

works. "TWEET'S LADIES OF PASADENA," (1972, 60 min). (directed by Timothy

Carey.), was a pet project of Carey's (he reportedly turned down a role in

THE GODFATHER so he could work on it). TWEET'S was the pilot for a

never-aired late-night TV series, starring Carey as the only male member of

a Pasadena ladies' sewing circle, whose mission in life is to find clothes

for naked animals! Rampant, John Waters style madness ensues. Also

screening is the short Plus short, "Cinema Justice," (1972, 6 min). An

outtake from director Steve DeJarnatt's featurette TARZANA, "Cinema Justice"

is a single, 6-minute shot of Carey as a Korean War vet raving about

exploding bombs and drawers full of useless medals. Totally improvised,

totally Carey.

DIGITAL BLACK & WHITE PHOTO FILES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

If you would like artwork e-mailed to you please send an e-mail to

amcin@msn.com.

CALL FOR INTERVIEW REQUESTS FOR ROMEO CAREY

WE DO NOT HAVE GUARANTEED PRESS PASSES TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS. IT IS

RECOMMENDED THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADVANCE PRESS SCREENINGS ON TAPE.

A complete calendar/flyer listing of these films has been mailed to you.

NO FILMS ARE AVAILABLE ON VIDEOTAPE (NTSC) IN OUR OFFICES. CALL TO SCHEDULE

AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE "WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER" or shorts at Romeo Carey's

studio. LOCAL VIDEO STORES MAY ALSO HAVE SOME TITLES. PLEASE CALL FOR A

LIST OF TITLES ON VIDEO TAPE.

REQUESTS FOR PRESS TICKETS TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS MUST BE IN WRITING. FAX TO

323.461.9737 ATTN: MARGOT GERBER, 24 HOURS PRIOR TO SHOW TIME. FRIDAY AT

NOON IS THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY SCREENINGS. JOURNALISTS

WISHING TO AUDIO OR VIDEOTAPE DISCUSSIONS MUST ALSO SEND A WRITTEN REQUEST.

THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Our permanent daily attraction film FOREVER HOLLYWOOD is now open. For press

passes to see it for review purposes, please call Margot Gerber at

American Cinematheque, 1800 North Highland Avenue, Suite 717, Hollywood, CA

90028