Mala Noche [Criterion Collection]

Director: Gus Van Sant Gus Van Sant

Overview

The debut film of director Gus Van Sant, this independent, low-budget comedy-drama based on an autobiographical novel by Walt Curtis was produced on black-and-white 16 mm film for only $25,000. Tim Streeter stars as Walt, the manager of a seedy liquor store in Portland, OR. Walt, who is gay, has fallen desperately in love with Johnny (Doug Cooeyate), a teenage illegal Mexican immigrant who doesn't speak English. Although Johnny is utterly unaffected by Walt's attentions, the boy does agree to sleep with his suitor for $25, but Walt can't come up with the cash. Introduced to Walt's sister Betty (Nyla McCarthy), it becomes clear that Johnny prefers her romantic company. Walt settles for Johnny's best friend Roberto Pepper (Ray Monge), becoming the boys' protector and patron, teaching them how to drive and trying to learn Spanish, despite their cruel indifference toward him. After Roberto is killed by the police, however, Johnny disappears and Betty moves to Alaska to become an exotic dancer, leaving a broken-hearted, lonely, but none the wiser Walt behind. Despite the fact that Mala Noche (1987) was a hit on the festival circuit, even winning Best Independent Film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, it was released theatrically only after the success of Van Sant's next film, Drugstore Cowboy (1989).

Product Details

Release Date:	10/08/2007
UPC:	0715515026123
Original Release:	1986
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:18:00
Sales rank:	20,805

Special Features

New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Gus Van Sant; New video interview with Van Sant; Walt Curtis: The Peckerneck Poet, a documentary about the author of the book Mala Noche, directed by animator and Curtis friend Bill Plympton; Storyboard gallery; Original trailer, edited by Van Sant; Plus: a new essay by film critic Dennis Lim

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tim Streeter	Walt Curtis
Doug Cooeyate	Johnny
Ray Monge	Roberto
Nyla McCarthy	Betty
Sam Downey	Hotel Clerk
Robert Lee Pitchlynn	Drunk Man,Actor
Eric Pedersen	Policeman
Peter Daamaan	Composer
Karen Kitchen	Composer
Creighton Lindsay	Composer

Technical Credits

Gus Van Sant

Walt Curtis

Gus Van Sant	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Walt Curtis	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Mala Noche
1. Logos/Opening Credits [1:56]
2. Johnny [5:20]
3. Roberto [1:48]
4. From Mexico [2:59]
5. "No Visitors!" [2:49]
6. "Más Lento" [5:52]
7. "Poor Boys Never Win" [1:49]
8. Ten-Dollar Camera [:39]
9. Running From the Law [4:39]
10. Car Ride [7:11]
11. Just Another Fantasy [7:34]
12. Left Behind [3:44]
13. Few Extra Dollars [1:53]
14. Fever Dreams [3:35]
15. Any Work? [2:05]
16. "Certain Aggressive Acts" [2:34]
17. Driving Lesson [1:43]
18. No Imagination [1:52]
19. "El Loco Papas" [5:42]
20. Johnny's Return [8:40]
21. End Credits [3:22]
1. Jerk-Off Poet/Therapist [9:53]
2. Ode to a Car [9:54]
3. Bedfellows [12:50]
4. Sacred Endeavors [13:33]
5. Peckerneck Country [17:05]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Mala Noche
   Play the Movie
   Chapters
      Color Bars
   Gus Van Sant Interview
      Play
   Walt Curtis: The Peckerneck Poet
      Play
      Index
   Storyboard Gallery
   Trailer