The Projectionist

Long before ZELIG, THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, and DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, there was THE PROJECTIONIST, an innovative low-budget oddity with a cult following. McCann plays the title character, a lovable nebbish who sees himself as part of every movie he's ever seen, including newsreels. In the imaginary role of Captain Flash, fearless defender of the downtrodden, McCann does battle with the Bat, who is played in McCann's dreamworld by Dangerfield (in his film debut). When he meets Balin, she immediately becomes part of his cinematic fantasy, cast as an imperiled Pauline whom McCann must save with regularity from the clutches of Dangerfield. McCann's mind movies fe...