Expert: Alberto - 7/3/2004

Question
As far as I know, in every later John Landis  movie somewhere you will see a movie poster of his first film entitled Shlock (later renamed the The Banana Monster). And the phrase "see you next wednesday."

I was wondering if you know the origin of this and whether there are any other things he puts in every movie.

Answer
>As far as I know, in every later John Landis  movie somewhere you will see
>a movie poster of his first film entitled Shlock (later renamed the The
>Banana Monster). And the phrase "see you next wednesday."
>
>I was wondering if you know the origin of this and whether there are any
>other things he puts in every movie.

Its is not correct that the "Schlock" poster appears in every Landis movie -in fact I remember seeing it in "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "Thriller" only.

Other recurring references in his movies are:

Song "The Girl from Ipanema" (often used as background music)
Gorillas
Children Max and Rachel Landis are always thanked in the end titles
Famous directors' cameos

Following here, an excerpt from my book on John Landis, soon to be published in english by New Academia (http://www.newacademia.com/index2.html)

1971-2004 (and continuing), SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY

  Landis' cinema abound with in-jokes, for friends, cinephiles and the most attentive viewers. Among famous directors' (but even friends and relatives) cameos, and the connections between different movies, the most recurrent item is the fictional movie "See You Next Wednesday". It is one of the many screenplays written by Landis when he was a teenager, even before Yugoslavia: today, the director calls it a sort of pretentious musical autobiography. The title comes from Landis' affection for "2001: A Space Odyssey":  «See You Next Wednesday» is the last line that David Bowman receives from Earth, before all contacts are interrupted. It is a message from his parents for his birthday.
  The title does not appear in every Landis movie: he claims he puts it in every time that he uses in new movies some characters and scenes from that old story. Probably bound never to appear as a movie on its own, "See You Next Wednesday" is the world's only example of a transversal picture which only exists hidden in other pictures, and which grows -year after year- in unpredictable ways.
  Following these lines, the lazy viewer will find the list of all the title's appearances. But this book's author recommends to stop reading at the end of this very paragraph. In reading the solution, you don't win anything and, in exchange, you lose the amusement of joining the search. And amusement, in Landis' cinema, is always prioritaire.

"Schlock"

At the beginning of the scene where Schlock discovers movies, to the right of the door to the movie theater: it is a dinosaur film poster. In following shots, the poster is switched with "King Kong Vs. Godzilla" and then "The Blob".

"The Kentucky Fried Movie"

It's the title of the "Feel-A-Round" movie, as can be seen on the marquee. Inside the theater, the title also appear on a poster. Nearby there's also a "Schlock" poster.

"Animal House"

It is not there, but it has been. It appeared in a scene cut from the final montage.

"The Blues Brothers"

A huge poster with a giant King Kong ape. The Bluesmobile, pursued by the Good Ole Boys, runs just in front of it. Among the names on the poster you can read Carl LaFong, the name of Landis' character in the film (credited in "¡Three Amigos!" as the voice of the turtle).

"An American Werewolf in London"

It's the porno movie David sees at the end, before his final mutation. In the "American Werewolf" end title, the names of the actors are credited in a separate list: «See You Next Wednesday cast». Posters of the film may be noted on the right of the frame in one of the corridors of the subway, before the murdering of the distinguished man.

"Coming Soon"

A huge "Ben Hur"- style title appears among those of authentic films in the fast editing which closes the program.

"The Twilight Zone"

One of the lines spoken in German translates to "See You Next Wednesday".

"Trading Places"

On a wall in Jamie Lee Curtis' home, a poster with a boy and a girl who sit on a rock at sunset, and watch towards the horizon.

"Thriller"

Just before Jackson leaves the theater to reach his girlfriend, there's time to hear a line from the horror the two have been watching. Excited voices: «It's written in blood!» «What does it say?» «See you next Wednesday!».

"Into the Night"

In the Paul Mazurski trailer, just before David Sosna sends him away, Jeff Goldblum takes the telephone turning his back to a book shelf. There's a framed poster on it, partially hidden by other objects. To the left of the shelf, though, there's another copy of the poster: it's a sort of mini-skirted Juno, laid under the full moon and holding a gun.

"Spies Like Us"

At the end of the training period, the head of the division receives Chase & Aykroyd in his office. Behind his back -in three shots- a posters asks to join the Army: it shows a young soldier with a knapsack and the caption is «See you next Wednesday». It's the first time the phrase is not referred to a movie.

"Coming to America"

A long shot of a subway stop shows the huge poster of a SF movie, with a tight-dressed space girl holding a ray gun. The first name on the list of players is Jamie Lee Curtis.

"Dream On - The First Episode"

It's a line of dialogue. Pushing his german housemaid out of the door, Martin says: «See You Next Thursday». With a strong german accent she answers: «Vednesday».

"Oscar"

Lieutenant Toomey makes a phone call to the two men who spy Provolone from the house opposite. Out of the window, behind the man who answers the phone, you can see a square with a movie theater on the marquee of which part of the phrase can be read (on a VHS tape, though, the writing is almost indistinguishable).

"Innocent Blood"

In front of the Melody Lounge, Macelli frees the newly-vampirized  Lenny from the car trunk, and welcomes him in the family. High, behind the car, the phrase is in black on a yellow background.

"The Stupids"

Buster and Petunia chain their bikes to a post that turns out to be part of a bus. When the bus drives away, dragging the two bikes along, you can notice a poster with a very National Geographic-like gorilla. This time the film is starring Brian Benben, from "Dream On".

"Blues Brothers 2000"

Another SYNW cut in the editing. A huge poster with dinosaurs was hanged on a roof you could see through the Aretha Franklyn car dealership while "Blue" Lou Marini was failing to convince a customer.