USA, 1976/2010. Director: Duke Mitchell. Duke Mitchell, Jim LoBianco, Peter Milo, Lorenzo Dardado, Jeanne Hibbard. Executive Producers: Sage Stallone and Bob Murawski. 83 Mins.
Lost for over 30 years, GONE WITH THE POPE stars famed nightclub performer Duke Mitchell as Paul, a paroled gangster with an unholy scheme: to kidnap the Pope and 'charge a dollar from every Catholic in the world' as the ransom". Shot in 1975, GONE WITH THE POPE was unfinished at the time of Duke Mitchell's death in 1981.
Sage Stallone and Bob Murawski of Grindhouse Releasing rediscovered GONE WITH THE POPE in 1995 and vowed to save it from obscurity. Academy Award-winning film editor Murawski (THE HURT LOCKER, ARMY OF DARKNESS) spent 15 years completing GONE WITH THE POPE from the surviving film elements. Grindhouse Releasing proudly presents the Holy Grail of exploitation cinema!
“Of all the films I have been involved with, the one that I am most proud of is GONE WITH THE POPE. Duke Mitchell didn’t live to see this masterpiece finished. I am honored to be the person to finish it for him. Completing this movie was a 15-year labor of love. No expense or effort was spared in rescuing this classic from cinematic oblivion and finishing it with the utmost quality. Our beautiful new 35mm print stands as a testament to Duke Mitchell’s unique and explosively entertaining vision.”
– Bob Murawski, Grindhouse Releasing
Special Features:
- Spectacular 2K digital restoration from the original 35mm camera negative
- Three stunning audio options - mono, stereo and 5.1 - mixed by Emmy award-winning mixer Marti Humphrey
- In-depth interviews with stars Jim LoBianco and John Murgia, cinematographer Peter Santoro, editors Bob Leighton and Robert Florio, and legendary exploitation producer/director Matt Cimber
- Footage from the 2010 Hollywood World Premiere
- Deleted scenes and bloopers
- Liner notes by acclaimed horror novelist John Skipp
- Extensive still galleries and theatrical trailer
- AND OTHER SURPRISES!
Reviews
"A GLORIOUS MASTERPIECE!" - Jeff Meyers, Detroit Metro Times
"An exemplary piece of exploitation entertainment". - Louis Albo, Los Angeles Times
"Gloriously, hilariously offensive... an incredible hybrid, with Mitchell's decidedly dated sensibility delivered in a modern, masterfully quick-cut package." -Karina Longworth, LA Weekly