Distributor to Destroy Bruce Campbell's Reputation

"That is the inevitable outcome of the release of Going Back on DVD," said Darlene Cypser of Bifrost Distribution. "During the twenty years that Going Back has been hidden away, Bruce Campbell has unfairly gained a reputation as a "B" actor who can only pull off low budget horror and comedy roles."

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard," are reported to have been the last words of Sir Donald Wolfit, a British actor who died in 1902. In many of Bruce Campbell's movie roles his character is frenetically trying to avoid the former while accomplishing the latter. Yet in a world saturated with low budget horror movies and television action series, Bruce's performances stand out. Why?

"The answer was given to me last year by Clay Adams on the set of a horror flick called The Shadow Walkers," Darlene continued. "I was praising the way he could take some of the most poorly written lines in the script and make them work. Clay said you have to, especially in the world of soap operas where the entire story line might be changed a half hour before shooting begins. I realized that is what distinguishes a great actor from a good actor: Any actor can perform well with a great script and a great director pulling the best out of him. It takes a great actor to make his performance shine no matter what material he is given."

Bruce Campbell has talent enough to take any cliché and make it sound original, and that skill is a hint at the untapped talent he has. Going Back may not be Oscar material, but it provides a glimpse of Bruce's skill as a serious dramatic actor. Going Back is neither a horror or action film, and while Bruce does get a chance to use some of his wry wit, it is not a comedy either. Going Back is a touching coming-of-age drama; a story about growing up, a story about the twists and turns life can take.

In Going Back Bruce Campbell and Christopher Howe play a pair of young men who decide to explore the Michigan countryside for a couple of weeks before going off to college. They are befriended by a lonely farmer named Jack and decide to stay in his bunkhouse. Christopher Howe's character, Clee, becomes attached to Jack as a father figure, while Brice, played by Bruce Campbell, falls for a local girl. They return home and go on with their lives but four years later fond memories of those times draw them back only to have their dreams shattered by reality.

In Bruce Campbell's book, If Chin's Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor, he wrote about Going Back: "Up to this time, I had mastered the prolonged scream, the horrific recoil, the slam against a wall, but I had never had to do what would be considered acting. Going Back was fun because there wasn't an ounce of blood of anywhere in sight--just a strange thing called dialogue."

But there is more to acting than words. There is the sentimental tilt of the head; the devastated look in the eyes. At 24 years old, Bruce did it quite well. "Once you watch Going Back you are forced to conclude that Bruce Campbell is a serious dramatic actor of skill," Darlene said. "But I'm the not the first person to attack Bruce Campbell's B reputation. The word's been leaking out."

In February 2003 Adam Nayland wrote in "Eye Weekly," that Bruce Campbell was "an underrated actor with more range than even his fans may credit him with…." In December 2003, Jack Garner wrote in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: "Campbell's version of an elder Elvis actually deserves Oscar consideration."

Bifrost Distribution is releasing Going Back on DVD October 17th. Will Bruce survive?

IMDb listing for Going Back: www.imdb.com/title/tt0085602

Official movie website: www.goingbackthemovie.com