CANDYMAN (1992)
With special guest Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.
Intro, Math Club, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-26:43
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 26:44-1:11:26
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:12:26-1:26:21
Director Bernard Rose
Screenplay Bernard Rose, based on “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker
Featuring Xander Berkeley, Michael Culkin, DeJuan Guy, Kasi Lemmons, Virginia Madsen, Ted Raimi, Tony Todd, Vanessa Williams
Released October 16, 1992
Budget $6 million
Box Office $25.7 million worldwide
SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS
Grad student Helen Lyle is determined to find out why the residents of the Cabrini-Green housing development in Chicago are petrified by the Candyman, a ghost who allegedly appears if you say his name in the mirror five times. After jokingly summoning him with Trevor, her philandering professor husband, Helen heads to Cabrini-Green with her pal Bernadette to interview residents and track down the truth. Instead she discovers what might just be the Candyman’s lair, an abandoned apartment laid out strangely like her own. Soon enough, she’s standing face to face with the man himself. And he hasn’t brought a bag of Skittles. This guy’s got a hook for a hand, bees on his knees, and a desire to possess Helen, who may or may not resemble the woman he once loved. After her encounter with the Man, Helen awakes to find herself on the floor of an bathroom covered in blood, her crazy nightmare just beginning.
SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO
Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. is Artistic Director of HartBeat Ensemble, Hartford’s Public Theatre and Visiting Lecturer in Theatre at Trinity College. He is also co-founder of Civic Ensemble, a community-based theatre company in Ithaca, NY. At HartBeat he has appeared in My Children! My Africa! and Possessing Harriet. For Civic, he appeared in My Children! My Africa!, Fast Blood and his adaptation of Mike Daisey’s The Trump Card. Godfrey taught for several years at Cornell University, where he co-produced and directed Eugene O’Neill’s All God’s Chillun Got Wings and The Next Storm, in collaboration with Civic Ensemble. Godfrey was Producing Artist in charge of New Artist Development for Off-Broadway’s Epic Theatre Ensemble, appearing in A More Perfect Union, Widowers' Houses (which Godfrey co-adapted with Ron Russell), and Measure for Measure, among other plays. At Epic, he also co-wrote and starred in a documentary play about the election of President Barack Obama, Dispatches From (A)mended America. Godfrey is a 2012 TCG/Fox Fellow, a participant in the TCG SPARK Leadership Program, and a lifetime member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. He has also taught at Marymount Manhattan College, Binghamton University, UConn Hartford and John Jay College. Additional New York theatre credits include The Old Settler (Primary Stages), Betty’s Summer Vacation (Playwrights Horizons), Free Market (Working Theater), Leader of the People (New Georges), and microcrisis (Ensemble Studio Theater). Favorite recess snack: Skittles.
EPISODE NOTES
Music from Candyman by Philip Glass.
Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.
TRAILER
SUPERLATIVES
The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Godfrey: Candyman has Helen and eases his hook under her dress
Eric: Candyman places his fingers in young Anthony McCoy’s mouth.
Bradford: Helen wakes up on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood, cleaver in hand, blood on walls, dead dog nearby > Fight > Arrest > Strip-searched by Rusty Schwimmer at the police station
The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Godfrey: Bernadette
Eric: Annie, the Rottweiler
Bradford: Bernadette
The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Godfrey: The psychiatrist
Eric: Trevor Lyle
Bradford: Trevor Lyle
The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Godfrey: Scene between Helen and Candyman in his lair, including the “Bee Kiss”
Eric: Helen wakes up on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood, cleaver in hand, blood on walls, dead dog nearby, fight ensues
Bradford: The bonfire at the end
The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Godfrey: Purcell
Eric: Purcell
Bradford: Purcell
FINAL LETTER GRADE
Godfrey: B
Eric: C+
Bradford: B