Thanks to EVG reader Steven Sonnenblick for sharing this with us… At 2 a.m. tonight (early tomorrow morning?), Turner Classic Movies is playing Paul Morrissey's "Mixed Blood" … the LES cultish classic from 1984.
Here is the IMDB description:
Brazilian drug dealers in the lower east side of Manhattan start a war with a rival gang of Latino drug dealers. Their soldiers are Latino kids all under 17 because, as Rita La Punta says, "They can kill and not go to jail." The war escalates to include their German heroin supplier, his sexy English girl friend, a Puerto Rican ex-cop, and the Japanese police captain. This movie is about racism, police corruption, junkies and drug dealing. There is plenty of killing and even a visit to a store dedicated to the Latino pop group "Menudo."
And the trailer!
Trivia! This was John Leguizamo's feature film debut… Morrissey, a longtime Andy Warhol associate, shared this photo from the shoot in Tompkins Square Park … (Leguizamo is on the far right…)
It's an East Village double feature. "Mixed Blood" is followed by "Alphabet City."
ReplyDeleteI remember the Menudo store! It was on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and 21st Street, and every time I go by the store, for some reason I think of it!
ReplyDeleteI love this movie - it's over the top and the street scenes are not to be missed. And, the Menudo store is awesome.
ReplyDeleteCrappy movie. I'm 51, never heard of it ..watched it and it SUCKED. Why on earth would TCM show this dreck??? Thankfully Leave Her to Heaven was on too. CUZ UH UH!!!
ReplyDeleteMovies like this were instrumental in helping to draw off-the-grid types to this area. It's interesting to watch as a time-capsule piece, and to develop insight into the minds of some of the people who still live here.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, shmnyc, please psychoanalyze us and tell us all about ourselves. You are obviously gifted that way. I could probably tell you a lot about what I have gleaned from your comments as well, but you might not want to hear it.
ReplyDeleteI have a copy on Betamax!
ReplyDelete"I'd put a bullet in your brain but you don"t have one"
ReplyDelete"If you mix blood, you mix fire with fire."
Late in the game but since this thread popped up in my google search: I'm hosting a 35mm screening of Mixed Blood on Aug 10th (2023) at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg - it rarely if ever gets shown - I love it dearly - and it will probably sell out so if anyone sees this - get on it!! It played at the Waverly - I believe I saw it at Cinema Village - but more surprisingly it had a 1 week run at Times Square's Liberty Theater - which is where I wish I'd seen it! Not only a Menudo store shoot out - but a Ukrainian National Home Christening shoot-out, as well! This movie packs it to the rafters of ridiculous - so much fun..
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Jeff!
ReplyDelete