While other parts of the world experienced Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me earlier in 1992, the United Kingdom wouldn’t see David Lynch’s masterpiece until November 20 that year. Interestingly, the film’s release was almost three years after the Twin Peaks pilot was released in the country on December 8, 1989. Here’s a look back at marketing and reviews from this film about the last seven days of Laura Palmer.
UK RELEASE OF TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME ON NOV. 20, 1992
Throughout the later part of 1992, audiences would discover what happened during Laura Palmer’s last week on Earth as Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was released in theatres around the world.
On May 16, 1992, David Lynch’s film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and in Japan. A few weeks later on July 3, the film arrived in French theatres. In August, the film was released in Germany on August 20 and in the United States of America and Canada on August 28. The U.S. premiere of the film was held on August 16 as part of the first Twin Peaks Fan Festival in North Bend, Washington organized by the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce and New Line Cinemas.
Twin Peaks fans in the United Kingdom waited until Friday, November 20 to experience the next chapter of this “wonderful and strange world.”
The advertisement above was published in the Evening Standard on November 11. The ad uses the key art of Laura Palmer from the Red Diamond City Motel scene along with Special Agent Dale Cooper from a scene in the Red Room. They incorporate both the tag line, “In a town like Twin Peaks, no one is innocent” and the film’s subtitle, “These are the last seven days of Laura Palmer.”
There was an advanced screen held on Tuesday, November 17 at three UK cinemas. Distributor Guild Entertainment partnered with the Daily Mirror Xtra to give away thousands of tickets to this special event. See more about this giveaway and contest for a trip to the Real Twin Peaks in this Twin Peaks Blog article.
GUILD ENTERTAINMENT, LTD., DISTRIBUTOR OF TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
You’ll notice the advertisement included two logos – Spelling Entertainment and Guild, the latter representing Guild Entertainment, L.T.D. This company was the United Kingdom’s biggest independent home video distributor.
On August 8, it was announced Guild was purchased by French Chargeurs from venue management company Wembley pic for $36.3 million in cash with the option for additional payments. Wembley had aquired Guild in 1989 from Swedish conglomerate Esselte. The purchase by the French company helped them expand into the rest of Central Europe. Wembley sold this part of their company to help reduce debit and refocus on its core businesses.
ADDITIONAL PRINT ADS FOR TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
Additional print ads appeared in newspapers through November 20. The image above advertises the film is being released on Friday, 20th November in listed theatres and at selected cinemas across the country.
Similar advertisement from November 15, only five days until the film’s release.
On November 20, the “coming soon” messaging switched to “Stars Today.”
A similar advertisement also published on November 20.
This is how Lynch’s film was listed with movie showtimes. Clearly a double feature with Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast would be something interesting.
UK REVIEWS OF TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
I discovered a handful of reviews for David Lynch’s latest film starting with one by Lynn Power from the November 18 issue of Marylebone and Paddington Mercury. This is one of the more interesting takes because Ms. Powers fully admits she never watched the television series. She states for those who haven’t seen the series, the film will “make small sense and has little interest except perhaps as a telling indication of Lynch’s febrile imagination (ed. note: someone whose imagination is extremely active, imaginative, or emotional).”
She continues stating the film is a “metaphysical horror story, a dark meditation on the magic and extraordinary violence” of life, but one which leaves you cold. Powers concludes the film is for “die-hard aficionados.”
Here’s how the Daily Mirror described the film on November 19, 1992. This was two days after their special advanced screening of the film.
The Working Informer review on November 20,agreed about the “for the fans” take, especially with their review headline. Nods to Lynch’s weirdness are highlighted – “And if you thought the TV series was weird – prepare yourself. Lynch has pulled out all the stops for the film, from disappearing FBI agents to the cryptic Blue Rose.”
I’m glad they called out Sheryl Lee’s “high-voltage performance” as it is one of the most incredible performances captured on film.
Tom Atkinson from The Journal pens a rather interesting take about the cultish nature of Twin Peaks fans (side note – I’m glad to be a part of this “cult,” or “whole damn town” while channeling Deputy Andy Brennan’s energy).
He offer a quote from Mark Frost about the freedom Lynch and he had when making the show, “What we’d done was so foreign to [television executives] experience that they couldn’t presume to tell us how to do it any better or any different.”
Again, he concludes the film is “for the fans.”
Madeleine Harmsworth reviewed the film for the Sunday Mirror on November 22 stating the movie has a “surreal quality and haunting background music, combined with the cast’s deadpan performances” make it a mesmerizing experience.
Did she watch the same film? Just look at Ray Wise’s performance in the Mo’s Motor scene – the furtherest thing from “deadpan.”
The final review I found was from a blurb in the Bracknell and Ascot Times on November 26. The round-up stated the film was “a treat for true ‘Peakies’ but baffling for anyone else.”
I guess I’m a “true Peakie” as I can’t get enough of this film!
I’ll add additional print ads and reviews if found.
