...And Introducing...A Bunch of People!
Our very first episode of the Cinema Wellman podcast was about actress Tilly Losch and the fact that she received a credit that isn't always given in a movie, the "...and Introducing" credit. And Tilly deserved that credit! We love Tilly!
Today we'll look at more 14 more actors and actresses who have been treated with that special credit. The odd thing about this list is that we'll only be dealing with five movies!
That's right! Today we're talking "Multiple Introductions!" One of the films on today's list actually had the nerve to "introduce" us to FIVE PEOPLE!
What I love about this credit is seeing when they got it (not always their first role, and I think that should be a rule...), along with where these people went after getting it.
A point of clarification about "credited roles." For this project, I'm not counting work on a television series or in a made for TV movie, only feature film roles and shorts in which the person received a credit. Uncredited roles were also ignored. Some of these movies should have been ignored, but that's on me.
We'll begin with a dog of a movie.
Cynthia Smith & Allen Fiuzat
Benji (1974)
I hated this movie, but that's not why we're here. We're here for the talent today, and talent may be too strong a word for some of these actors on this list. No offense to Cynthia and Allen.
Cynthia Smith's film resume consists of a total of four credits, and this was her very first. So this is legit. Unfortunately, it seems she was typecast as Benji's owner (2 theatrical Benji movies plus a Benji TV movie), but she was nominated for a "Young Artist Award" in 1980 for the Benji TV Christmas movie. She also attended Texas Tech University, so I'm sure she went on to better things than Benji could offer.
Her co-star, Allen Fiuzat, has only two credits to his credit. Benji was his first, and the only other movie he made was 1977's Benji sequel For the Love of Benji. Later in life he was the co-owner of a successful Jazz bar in Nashville, TN, which he sold in 2004. I wonder if he used his Benji money to buy the bar!
Honlenny Huffington, Kiara Howard, & Vincent the Goat
Bad Lucky Goat (2017)
Bad Lucky Goat is a delightful Colombian film about two siblings who accidently kill a bearded goat with their father's truck. We once again have dual "introductions" for child actors in movies involving animals. Bad Lucky Goat runs circles around Benji as far as the movies go. At least Vincent the Goat doesn't save the kids from kidnappers like that showboat Benji.
Honlenny Huffington made this movie and that's it. No idea what he's up to now, but he was very good in this movie!
Kiara Howard has one additional credit aside from this, but that's as "Poetry Fan 3" in a short film titled Definition of Manhood. And there were SEVEN "Poetry Fans" credited, so I'm not sure that was much of a meaty role for her.
I wasn't able to discover any other film work for Vincent the Goat, and believe me, I looked. Hopefully he didn't end up in the catering tent.
Ingrid Boulting & Theresa Russell
The Last Tycoon (1976)
Another film I hated! I think this made an earlier monthly Bottom 5 list on the podcast. Awful rubbish. But let's talk about Ingrid and Theresa.
Ingrid Boulting was a ballerina and model before taking a shot at acting. She has a total of 10 credited roles, and The Last Tycoon was her 8th! This makes zero sense to me. She was 80% through her credited roles before she received the "...and Introducing..." credit. Born in South Africa, she was the iconic face of Biba Cosmetics in 1968. Ingrid later founded a yoga studio in California.
Kate Winslet & Melanie Lynskey
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Kate Winslet is, by far, the most recognizable name on today's list. She is a SEVEN TIME Oscar nominee and won an Academy Award for her performance in 2008's The Reader. She also made that piece of crap movie about a big boat that sank. She's currently Mare in the Emmy Award winning "Mare of Easttown" which I've heard is very good. I haven't seen it since it's not a movie.
Ms. Winslet's resume now boasts 49 credited roles, and Heavenly Creatures was her very first. Another "legit" credit. She is an extremely talented actress whose movies I don't always like, but that doesn't keep me from recognizing how strong a performer she is.
Winslet's co-star in this movie, which was directed by Peter Jackson (he did all of those elf movies), is Melanie Lynskey. This film was also her first screen credit, so ring that "legit" bell once again! Even though her film credits total 53 (the most on today's roster), you may only know her from her 63 episodes of "Two and a Half Men" as the stalky neighbor Rose. I'm here to tell you that she's much better than that garbage. A lot of things are better than that show.
Heavenly Creatures is a very interesting and sometimes troubling film, but it's worth a look if you like thrillers. You can't take your eyes off of Winslet and Lynskey when they're on the screen together.
Melanie Lynskey trivia! She was the first person to kiss Kate Winslet on screen.
And we have NOT saved the best for last!
Karrie Emerson, G.T. Taylor, Bridget Holloman, Keith Fisher & David Hawk
Evils of the Night (1985)
Oh my, was this a mess! This 1985 ultra low-budget horror film features horror legend John Carradine, Julie "Catwoman" Newmar, AND Tina "Ginger" Louise! They shot their scenes in ONE DAY!
This film uses stock footage from "Battlestar Gallactica" for the spaceship! There are two adult film actresses making their one and only appearances in mainstream films! Here are actual credit tags assigned to the cast; "Young Man on Beach & Garage," "Girl Applying Lotion," "Girl Applying Lotion #2," "First Guy Having Sex," and, since he wasn't alone, "First Girl Having Sex."
Carradine, Newmar, and Louise were all well beyond the need for introduction, but the filmmakers did choose to introduce us to this quintet!
Karrie Emerson: 3 credited roles, this was her 2nd
G.T. Taylor: her 1st and ONLY credited role, Legit!
Bridget Holloman: 5 credited roles, this was her 2nd
Keith Fisher: 2 credited roles, this was his first: Legit!
David Hawk: his 1st and ONLY credited role, Legit!
So, to recap, Evils of the Night handed out "...and introducing..." credits like Skittles to a group that went on to make a total of only SEVEN OTHER MOVIES! Nick Cage makes seven movies in a month!
Let's quickly take a look at those seven movies, just to double check that I'm not missing a diamond in the rough somewhere.
Karrie Emerson: Sun Bather in White Dog (1982), and Linda Stanton in Chopping Mall (1986)
Bridget Holloman: Bonnie May in Slumber Party '57 (1976), Sexy Nurse in Stoogemania (1987), Blonde Woman in The Empty Mirror (1996), and Rachel Whittman in Subway Cafe (2004)
Keith Fisher: Patient in Cyberon (2000)
The check is complete, and zero diamonds were found. Not even a fugazi!
Well, that's it for today. Time to roll those closing credits. Our next episode will be December's Top 10 and Bottom 5, and December was an awesome movie month here at Cinema Wellman.
I hope you'll join me for that, and until then...take care.
Keep up with everything Cinema Wellman!
Coming Soon!
December Screenings: Top 10/Bottom 5
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