Big Time Opens Friday, May 25 2001

at the Rafael Film Center
1118 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA

Preview with director Chris Blum, Thursday, May 24, 7:30pm
Admission prices: $10/$8 (Film Institute Members)

Big Time: Long out of circulation on film and video since its original release in 1988, Big Time, the musical with Tom Waits, opens for an exclusive engagement at the Rafael Film Center. Directed by Chris Blum from an original stage show concept by Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits, it is more than a concert film. It is a musico-theatrical experience in dream time, or as Waits puts it, "Un Operachi Romantico." Staged at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco and the Wiltern in Los Angeles, this production for film draws its songs from the albums Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years, with such classics as "Cold Cold Ground," "Straight to the Top," and "Innocent When You Dream." Waits is in top form in this surreal cabaret, variously playing a rogues' gallery of characters tangled in the pipe dream of show business success. As director Blum says, "With Tom, there's a combination of so many styles there's vaudeville, burlesque, minstrel man, lounge performer, soulful balladeer, there's some mime, there's even some kabuki." The featured musicians performing with Waits are Michael Blair, Ralph Carney, Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot and Willie Schwarz. (US, 1988) 87 min. U.S. REVIVAL PREMIERE

At the special preview screening on Thursday, May 24, director Chris Blum will also screen rare clips of Tom Waits promotions and interviews.