Movie Review of Gone with the Pope at E Street Cinema's Midnight Madness in Washington D.C

Landmark's E Street Cinemas hosts Midnight Madness every Friday and Saturday at midnight. The films range from artistic to cult favorites.Gone with the Pope (aka Kiss the Ring) is a 70s exploitation flick starring, written, directed, and produced by Duke Mitchell. It follows a gangster who wants to ransom the Pope for a dollar to every Catholic in the world. Originally shot in 1975 in remained unfinished in a parking garage until Grindhouse Releasing owners Sage Stallone and Bob Murawski offered to finish the film. The film is touring the country for limited showings and then will be released on DVD with tons of extras. I was lucky enough to catch one of these screenings at E Street Cinema's in Washington D.C.

*************************SPOILERS, Can you dig?***********************

The film is in the make it up as you go style of Rudy Ray Moore's Dolemite films. If Ed Wood made the Godfather this would be it. The film starts with a bunch of ex-convicts paid kill a bunch of guys at the same time in different cities. After the success of the hit they go for a boat trip and then their leader Paul decides that he wants to kidnap the Pope and ransom him off. The others are reluctant, but go along. They keep the Pope on the boat and he convinces the others that it isn't worth it. The film just ends and you get the feeling it started as one thing and then just never got finished. The film is exploitation at its finest with all the over the top sex and violence you've come to love.

Gone with the Pope didn't have the usual fanfare that other movies do, but I believe it will form its own cult following. It was shown in theater 3 which is one of the smaller screens, but the audience did participate at times with laughing and clapping at the more ridiculous moments.

"People of the United States: Judges, cops, all the law; I got somethin for ya! Take this! And stick it up in ya mother's twat!" - Paul

Upcoming Midnight Madness

May 28 & 29: The Room
June 4 & 5: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
June 11 & 12: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
June 18 & 19: 2001: A Space Odyssey
June 25 & 26: The Room
July 2 & 3: Troll 2
July 9 & 10: The Room (With Writer/Director/Star Tommy Wiseau)
July 16 & 17: Birdemic: Shock and Terror

Film Information

- Format: 35 MM
- Studio: Grindhouse Releasing
- Rating: Unrated
- Run Time: 83 min
- In theaters now

Theater Information

-Address: 555 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Phone: 202-452-7672 (Automated)
-Parking: Entrance on 11th Street between "E" & "F" Streets Validate parking at box office
-Closet Metro: One block from Metro Center (Orange, Green, Red, Blue lines)
-Tickets: Box Office and online
-Food: Movie candy, hot dogs, vegan and vegetarian choices. The hotdogs are boiling hot and awful every time I go, do not get them.
-Drink: Wine, Beer, Water, Soda
-Screens: 8
-Gift Cards: Yes

Previous Midnight Madness Reviews

The Room
The Human Centipede

If you enjoyed this Film you may also enjoy:

- Dolemite
-The Godfather
- Big Money Hustlas