Movie Ad of the Week: THE CONTEST (1977) a.k.a. THE MISS NUDE AMERICA CONTEST (1980)

James P. Blake's documentary about the 1974 Miss Nude America Pageant was filmed under the title NAKED CITY, INDIANA and first released theatrically by Trans-American in the fall of 1976 as MISS NUDE AMERICA ("A film exposing a bizarre American phenomena... and the man behind it"). The ad above is from its Madison, WI opening as THE CONTEST (from Atlas Films) on October 14, 1977. Below are two ads from 1980, when the Jerry Gross Organization re-released it as THE MISS NUDE AMERICA CONTEST.

Eww, even more Gross!

Back in March we posted our exhaustive Cinemation Industries Filmography (1968-1976) as the final installment in a week-long tribute to exploitation giant Jerry Gross' prolific and trailblazing indie film studio. Here's a follow-up filmography that covers the late Mr. Gross' subsequent companies, The Jerry Gross Organization (1979-1982) and Ambassador Pictures Corporation (1982-1983). Because there are far fewer titles to deal with in this post, we chose to list the movies in the approximate chronological order of release instead of alpabetical order. Please e-mail us with any additions or corrections you have, or leave them in the comments. Thanks!

THE JERRY GROSS ORGANIZATION

PENITENTIARY (1979) - Written and directed by Jamaa Fanaka. Followed by two sequels.

THE MAFU CAGE (1979) - Originally released in 1978 by Clouds Productions. Gross released this under several titles including DON'T RING THE DOORBELL, DEVIATION and MY SISTER, MY LOVE.

ZOMBIE (1980) - Released with no MPAA rating and the following warning: "There is no explicit sex in this picture. However, there are scenes of violence which may be considered shocking. No one under 17 will be admitted." Directed by Lucio Fulci.

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1980) - Originally released in 1978 by Cinemagic as DAY OF THE WOMAN

THE MISS NUDE AMERICA CONTEST (1980) - Originally released in 1976 by Atlas Films as THE CONTEST.

THE BOOGEY MAN (1980) - Directed by Ulli Lommel

EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD (1980) - Released with a self-applied X rating. Submitted to the MPAA by Gross in 1982 and awarded an R rating.

BLOOD BEACH (1981) - "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water -- you can't get to it."

LAURA (1981) - Directed by David Hamilton. Starring Maud Adams and Dawn Dunlap.


Announced

INSEMINOID (1981) - Released by Almi Pictures as both INSEMINOID and HORROR PLANET in 1982.

CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1981) - Released by Motion Picture Marketing (MPM), first as TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD and then as THE GATES OF HELL, in 1983.


AMBASSADOR PICTURES CORP.

KISS MY GRITS (1982) - Filmed under the title A TEXAS LEGEND. Rated R in 1981. Ambassador released it with a PG rating as KISS MY GRITS in 1982 and with an R rating as SUMMER HEAT in 1983. Produced by Anthony Quinn and directed by Jack Starrett.

BRAINWASH (1982) - Screened under the title MYSTIQUE at the 1981 Chicago International Film Festival. Rated R in 1981. Ambassador released it in 1982 as BRAINWASH and in 1983 as NAKED WEEKEND. New York opening in March 1984 as CIRCLE OF POWER.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY (1982) - Rated R in 1982. Ambassador also released it as OLIVIA and A TASTE OF SIN in 1983. Directed by Ulli Lommel.
















Compiled by Chris Poggiali