First, the bad / sad news: Only about 2 minutes of footage from Maila Nurmi's Vampira show are known to exist. Although, there was a news article some years back, that said that most of the full episodes were still around, held privately by an "anonymous owner".
Now, the good news: VAMPIRA AND ME is a loving, fascinating look at Ms. Nurmi and her alter ego, told -mostly- in her own words, in the flesh! Writer / Director R. H. Greene went to great lengths to present a tribute that isn't just some fawning fanboy fiesta.
Greene allows the triumph, as well as the tragedy and pain in Ms. Nurmi's life to emerge, filling in the blank spaces. From her first donning of the Vampira persona at a masquerade party, to her meteoric rise as the dark star of KABC-TV in Los Angeles, she was larger than life. Still, though she had her time with the likes of James Dean and Elvis Presley, she ultimately fell from grace, living in obscurity and poverty. In spite of this, Maila shows great dignity and poise in her interview.
Obviously, her part in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE is covered, as is her wonderful recitation in THE BEAT GENERATION. Her later meeting with punk band, THE MISFITS is also discussed.
However, for me personally, the most arresting and haunting part of the entire documentary is Maila's singing / reciting the song, "Genocide Utopia" with the band Satan's Cheerleaders. This impromptu performance gives me the shivers, no matter how many times I hear it! The fact that she was 64 when she did it, tells us all we need to know about this incredible woman, and her blazing, undying spirit!
The movie ends with Maila and Satan's Cheerleaders performing, "I'm Damned" over the end credits. What a finale!...
Now, the good news: VAMPIRA AND ME is a loving, fascinating look at Ms. Nurmi and her alter ego, told -mostly- in her own words, in the flesh! Writer / Director R. H. Greene went to great lengths to present a tribute that isn't just some fawning fanboy fiesta.
Greene allows the triumph, as well as the tragedy and pain in Ms. Nurmi's life to emerge, filling in the blank spaces. From her first donning of the Vampira persona at a masquerade party, to her meteoric rise as the dark star of KABC-TV in Los Angeles, she was larger than life. Still, though she had her time with the likes of James Dean and Elvis Presley, she ultimately fell from grace, living in obscurity and poverty. In spite of this, Maila shows great dignity and poise in her interview.
Obviously, her part in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE is covered, as is her wonderful recitation in THE BEAT GENERATION. Her later meeting with punk band, THE MISFITS is also discussed.
However, for me personally, the most arresting and haunting part of the entire documentary is Maila's singing / reciting the song, "Genocide Utopia" with the band Satan's Cheerleaders. This impromptu performance gives me the shivers, no matter how many times I hear it! The fact that she was 64 when she did it, tells us all we need to know about this incredible woman, and her blazing, undying spirit!
The movie ends with Maila and Satan's Cheerleaders performing, "I'm Damned" over the end credits. What a finale!...