Don Coscarelli is asking for the public’s help to locate the negative for his fantasy film.
Will you join the quest to findThe Beastmaster?
Then he sold the house and now he [doesnt] know where it is.
MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Eventually, the film inspired two film sequels and a syndicated TV show.
Beastmasterwas cowritten by Coscarellis friend Paul Pepperman.
In the years since the films release, Pepperman has switched careers and now works as a financial advisor.
But he is well aware of the films large following.
I dont walk around saying [I wroteBeastmaster], he says, with a chuckle.
But it does come up.
Usually theyll say, ‘Are you kidding me?
Oh my god, I love that film, thats the first movie I saw naked breasts in!
So theres still lot of notoriety involved.
Thats the beauty of film.
Theres a back-up plan, but its just not as good as the original.
The filmmaker is also keen to properly showcase the work of the movies cinematographer, Oscar-winner John Alcott.
He was Stanley Kubricks guy, says Coscarelli.
He didClockwork Orange, he shotThe Shining.
He won an Academy Award forBarry Lyndon.
So, for what exactly should people be looking?
Theres a chance I just went into a dumpster, never to be seen again.
But there are a lot of rabid film collectors out there.
A lot of times they gather up this stuff and its of uncertain lineage.
This would be an open license [to] be a hero to a generation ofBeastmasterfans.
There is good news for those fans, regardless of whether the director succeeds in his quest.
People have asked over and over and over [about a remake] says Pepperman.
How can that be?
Its like, Uh, we dont have the rights.
Now, thank goodness, its coming to fruition.
A lot of latchkey kids watched that movie over and over again.
Now theyre adults, and, with luck, some of them are running studios.
So, well see what happens.
Hey,Beastmaster’s on.
