It was the winter of 1991.. war was in the air. There was a recession looming along with an election that would forever change America from the Reagan era to a new page..
But around February of that year, Valentine’s Day to be exact.. history was made when Anthony Hopkins appeared in just 16 minutes of a 118-minute film.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was a movie that changed the landscape of the next thirty years.. Horror coupled with true crime and mystery.. a police drama coupled with cannibalism.
The film ensured that you could not hear the word “Chianti” and not say it in the voice of Hannibal Lector..
While this film would go on to define an era of horror and crime film, another movie was in box offices that same time. As showcased by this United Artists movie ad from the Schuylkill Mall, another movie was being shown: NOTHING BUT TROUBLE.
THE FILM
This was a strange film.. one that you can’t say stands any test of time since it was looked upon even at that time is bizarre and fringe.
This was the official storyline: While attempting to seduce gorgeous lawyer Diane Lightson, wealthy gadabout Chris Thorne agrees to drive her to Atlantic City, N.J. But, when some reckless driving draws the attention of a deeply critical cop, they and the flamboyant “Brazillionaires” who tagged along end up in the court of a grotesque and vengeful judge, who has a special vendetta against the wealthy and erudite..
The setting for the film was off the New Jersey turnpike–a place called Valkenvania. Aykroyd played a Justice of the Peace named Alvin Valkenheiser.
The movie did not just star Dan Akyroyd, it was also his debut as a director. At the time, he said his screenplay, initially called GIT, was ‘Beetlejuice meets the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’
THE REVIEWS
The New York TIMES was among so many to pan the film when it was released.
They wrote this on February 16, 1991:
The movie opened at theaters here yesterday. At the first show at the West Side Cinemas, there was virtually no laughter from beginning to end, though there may have been some silent smiles.
Another review came days after its release in ’91 declaring the film the worst of all time. The Orlando SENTINEL wrote.
If you think it’s a little early in the year to be declaring the worst film of 1991, then you probably haven’t seen Nothing but Trouble. A movie more terrible than this may open by Dec. 31, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on that possibility.
The problem is that the neophyte director appears to believe that being gross, in itself, is enough. Even John Waters, in his Pink Flamingos period, realized that wit was also necessary. Besides, Waters was genuinely outrageous in a startlingly original way. The grotesquerie of Aykroyd’s film reminded me of a disturbed child trying to gross out a friend on the playground.
The movie was fraught with complexities and back stage delays. This is documented in this video from a few years ago:
The modern consensus of the film has not changed much from when it was first released. Those who enjoy it and share it to new eras of film-viewers probably do so for a few mixed reasons. Either they are nostalgic for something that appealed to their inner-weirdness as a child, or they just want to be able to find the oldest and strangest gem from the 20th century that still makes people either recoil in disgust or pause in pity.
The film was released the same weekend at SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. That is some fierce competition to take a bite out of, pun intended..
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE ended up being released in 1,600 theaters and earned $3.9 at opening. While SILENCE remained with staying power for weeks, NOTHING BUT TROUBLE was in immediately trouble and removed from most theaters within a week or two.
The movie will live in infamy.. Hated or maligned, loved or revered…
THE LOCATION!
Perhaps people in the local reading area to this website may get more fond of the movie after realizing the backwards town of Valkenvania actually stemmed loosely from the story of Centralia, which at that time was making headlines worldwide.
That’s right. While SILENT HILL boasts the most notable film with the mine fire town as subject, this film ranks there as well.
After all.. check out a scene from the movie that looks a LOT like any street COAL TOWN USA.. maybe even a highway to Mahanoy City???
Indeed that is familiar. It is Gilberton!
Back in 1990, a Hollywood crew showed up by surprise in the area to film what was then called “Valkenvania” as the Allentown MORNING CALL reported in at the time.
The Allentown MORNING CALL went into detail on July 22, 1990, writing that the film location was kept secretive .. That crews showed up and filmed various locations, including along the Morea road.
But sadly, the record that filming took place in the area is basically nonexistent, with the exception of a few hidden newspaper archives from years ago.
The Morning CALL reported the same day that because limited footage was taken in Pennsylvania–despite the town being based off of Centralia–the state did not get listed in the movie credits. According to the Film Office at the time, the footage was too limited to necessitate a mention.
Another screw job to the coal region?
At the time an employee of the Gilberton Coal Company mentioned that the crew was intrigued with the area…
It’s interesting to consider when viewing NOTHING BUT TROUBLE in the rearview mirror.
Intriguing for sure..
