This article is about Faces of Death, the film. For the rap album of the same name, see Faces of Death (album).

Faces of Death, also released under the title The Original Faces of Death, is a 1978 mondo film, lasting roughly 105 minutes, which guides viewers through explicit scenes depicting a variety of ways to die. It is often billed as Banned in 40 Countries, with that number varying with the years. The film has, in fact, been banned (at least temporarily) in New Zealand, Australia, Norway and Finland. The film was written and directed by John Alan Schwartz (credited as "Conan le Cilaire" for directing and "Alan Black" for writing). Schwartz was also the second unit director, credited this time as "Johnny Getyerkokov". He also appears in one of the segments in this film, as the leader of the alleged flesh eating cult in San Francisco area, and puts in cameo appearances in several other films in this series. This film stars Michael Carr as the narrator, and 'creative consultant' called "Dr. Francis B. Gröss". John Alan Schwartz has gone on record as saying this film's budget was $10,000 and there are estimates that it has grossed more than $35 million dollars worldwide in theatrical releases, not including rentals. It was ranked #50 on Entertainment Weekly's "Top 50 Cult Films of All-Time" in 2000. 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Faces of Death is a 1993 underground album by rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (who at the time were known as B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Mondo film is a documentary film, more precisely a pseudo-documentary, usually depicting sensational topics and scenes. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Narrator is the entity within a story that tells the story to the reader. ...

Although several of the "human death" scenes are obviously faked, some of the footage is genuine. Famous scenes of death from the media are included, such as stock footage of a napalm bombing in Vietnam, various newsreel footage, and wartime footage of Hitler. Also featured are the actual on-camera deaths of a variety of animals, including seals being clubbed to death and animals being killed on the slaughterhouse line. Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ... Workers and cattle in a slaughterhouse. ...

A noted scene includes the killing of a monkey, which is then prepared and served to patrons of a gourmet restaurant. This scene is faked. Most camera angles don't actually show the monkey's head, simple film editing makes this part realistic. Monkey brain is a controversial delicacy, often attributed to the Chinese, but found in countries around the world. ...

A number of Faces of Death sequels were made, each with a lower production quality than the last. The first four films and Faces of Death: Fact or Fiction? (a "documentary" on the making of the series) were written and at least partially directed by John Alan Schwartz. Faces of Death 5 and 6 were made up entirely of highlights from the first four films, with no new footage at all, and released in some countries where the original films were originally banned. The first three starred Carr as "Dr. Gröss", although The Worst of Faces of Death (consisting of highlights from the first three installments) instead featured Schwartz's brother, James Schwartz, as "Dr. Louis Flellis". Flellis explains that he accidentally killed "Dr. Gröss" while operating on him the prior week. However, in Faces of Death IV, Flellis explains the absence of Dr. Gröss by stating that he had taken his own life, having been driven insane as a result of witnessing so much death. This clearly contradicts Flellis' previous assertion.

Some of the actors and special makeup/effects crew have reportedly come forward to try to obtain credit for their work on this film. Most of these people were not in any union at the time of filming. This is the reasoning for the brief credits which helped make the film seem more realistic.

This film was spoofed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien where various Muppets were shown either dead or in the process of dying. Late Night with Conan OBrien is an American late night talk show on NBC, that is also syndicated world-wide. ... John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together The Muppets are a group of puppets and costume characters created by Jim Henson and the company he created. ...

In 2006, it was announced that Rogue Pictures is developing a new version of the film, with director J.T. Petty attached.^[1] Rogue Pictures is a division of Focus Features, the specialty film division of Universal Studios, which is a division of NBC Universal. ...

Series

The films in the series were:

• Faces of Death (1978)
• Faces of Death 2 (1981)
• Faces of Death 3 (1985)
  • Co-written by Veronica Lakewood
• The Worst of Faces of Death (1987)
  • A highlight of the goriest scenes from the first three films
• Faces of Death 4 (1990)
  • Co-directed by Susumu Saegusa and Andrew Theopolis
• Faces of Death 5 (1995)
  • Released in Germany, consists entirely of footage recycled from previous Faces of Death films.
• Faces of Death 6 (1996)
  • Released in Germany, consists entirely of footage recycled from previous Faces of Death films.
• Faces of Death: Fact or Fiction? (1999)
  • Mockumentary about the purported legend of Faces of Death, consisting of new interviews and footage from the previous Faces of Death films

// Events February 1 - Bob Dylans film Renaldo and Clara, a documentary of the Rolling Thunder Revue tour premieres in Los Angeles, California March 1 - Charlie Chaplins coffin is stolen from a Swiss cemetery 3 months after burial March - Leigh Brackett completes the first draft for Star Wars Episode... Faces of Death, also released under the title The Original Faces of Death, is a 1978 mondo film, lasting roughly 85 minutes, that takes on a documentary appearance as it guides viewers through explicit scenes depicting a variety of ways to die. ... // January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. ... Faces of Death 3 (reportedly also known as Fear) is the second sequel to the 1978 mondo film Faces of Death. ... // Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson Rambo: First Blood Part II, starring Sylvester Stallone Rocky IV, starring Sylvester Stallone The Color Purple, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Adolph Caesar Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and... Direct to video compilation of highlights from the first three Faces of Death films. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is the final, real sequel to Faces of Death, in that it is the last sequel to include any original footage. ... // Chris Rock and Adam Sandler join SNL February 4 - Actor Tom Cruise and actress Mimi Rogers divorce. ... Generally regared as being a desperate attempt to keep this series alive, this direct to video release consists of highlights from the earlier films. ... // March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation November - After a six-year hiatus, the James Bond film series resumes with the successful GoldenEye. ... Another direct to video compliation of the highlights of the earlier Faces of Death series. ... This is a list of film-related events in 1996. ... // April 17 - Star Wars fans begin lining up at movie theaters in Westwood and Hollywood to buy tickets for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Similar works

Death Faces. A mock documentary about cannibalism.
Traces of Death. Produced similarly to Faces of Death, these films predominantly consist of authentic death scenes.
Mondo Cane. Produced before Faces of Death, featuring a similar concept.
Terrorists, Killers And Middle-East Wackos. A shockumentary containing captured footage of death. Death Faces, also released as Death Faces IV, Dying: Last seconds of Life, and (in a re edited version) Beyond Reality, is a mockumentary about cannibalism released directly to video originally in 1988. ... Traces of Death is a 1993 direct-to-video release of various footage similar to the style of Faces of Death, directed by Damon Fox. ... Mondo Cane (A Dogs World, also a mild Italian curse) is a semi-documentary movie made in 1962 by Italian filmmakers Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi. ... Terrorists, Killers & Middle-East Wackos AKA Terrorists, Killers And Other Wackos (UK Banned title) Terrorists, Killers And Middle-East Wackos is a shockumentary video from the makers of Bumfights. ...

Notes

Variety is a daily magazine for the entertainment industry. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Faces of Death presented by Gorgon Video
• Lifting the mask from 'Faces of Death' (St. Petersburg Times article, October 26, 2000)
• Shot-by-shot description, with criticism, from the alt.folklore.urban archive, concluding that the first film showed probably three human deaths
• Internet Movie Database entries:
  • Faces of Death
  • Faces of Death 2
  • Faces of Death 3
  • The Worst of Faces of Death
  • Faces of Death 4
  • Faces of Death 5
  • Faces of Death 6
  • Faces of Death: Fact or Fiction?