This independent, low-budget pearl from writer/director Harry Hurwitz deserved a better fate on its initial release.
Burly Chuck McCann is the lonely projectionist whose boring and tedious job leads him into flights of fantasy in which he is transformed into superhero Captain Flash, clashing with archenemy The Bat (Rodney Dangerfield) and forever rescuing and wooing his dream girl (Ina Balin).
Film clips from other movies are well used, as McCann’s daydreams lead him into adventures with fictional characters from Hollywood classics as well as historical characters.
Steve Martin and Woody Allen later blurred the line between movies and reality in films like Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), but it’s worth finding out why this early effort now enjoys a cult following.
Projectionist/Captain Flash
Chuck McCann
Girl
Ina Balin
Renaldi/The Bat
Rodney Dangerfield
Candy Man/Scientist
Jara Kohout
Friendly usher
Harry Hurwitz
TV pitchman
Robert Staats
Director
Harry Hurwitz