Draft:Ralph C. Bluemke

Ralph C. Bluemke (born January 11, 1941) is an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He is best known for writing directing independent and low-budget films such as I Was a Teenage Mummy (1963), Robby (1968) and The Kid and the Killers (1974) (The film was alternately titled Vengeance Trail for its VHS release). He also wrote and directed the short film Small World (1961) and had small acting roles in the direct-to-video film Invader (1992) and in Twilight of the Dogs (1995).

He is known within the film industry due to his bold and unconventional approaches as a filmmaker both in his choice of subject matter and in his directing style.

Early life
He attended Westwood Regional High School. He worked as a banker in 1960 and as a part-time manager in a Stamford theater in 1962 when he was 21 years old.

I Was a Teenage Mummy
Bluemke's fist film project was a satire on the horror film genre titled I Was a Teenage Mummy. The film starred Bluemke, Jayne Walker, Scott Mullin, Steve Emmett, Jeffrey Mullin, Allen Skinner and Micheal Harris (most of the cast were students from Long Lots Junior High School located at Westport, Connecticut, where the film was shot). It also featured a scene which was filmed at the John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Filming took place on September 1962 and the film's production was covered on the December 7, 1962 issue of The New York Times and the April 5, 1963 issue of Life Magazine. Hugh Downs invited the cast to promote the film on The Today Show. The film was also promoted by singer Pat Boone.

I Was a Teenage Mummy had its world premiere in the Staples High School auditorium in April 26, 1963. It was later booked into theaters in Fairfield and nearby counties.

Robby
Bluemke originally conceived the idea of retelling the classic Robinson Crusoe novel as a story about brotherhood and with children as the principals while working at a bank in 1960.

Seven years later, in choosing his principal actors, Bluemke first cast ten-year-old Ryp Siani in the role of Friday. Ryp was already a seasoned child actor by this time, having been brought up in a show business family, and appearing in television commercials since early childhood. Casting the role of Robby was more challenging. After looking at dozens of child actors, Bluemke finally settled on nine-year-old Warren Raum. For the role, Warren's hair was bleached platinum blond in order to symbolize the innocence of youth, and also to further contrast Ryp's dark hair and complexion.

Given the nature and location of the script, Bluemke knew from the beginning that the film would require a certain amount of nudity in order to give it a sense of realism and authenticity.

He was under the impression that the nudity depicted in the film would be condoned as natural and innocent, given the backdrop of the story, and given that the actors involved were prepubescent boys. At the time, it was much more acceptable to show child nudity than adult nudity in films, as it was considered wholesome and nonsexual. Fortunately for him, both the child actors and their parents were okay with the nudity featured in the script.

When cinematographer Al Mozell asked Bluemke how far he wanted to go in showing the actors' naked bodies, Bluemke told him to simply film the boys as if they were fully clothed. Mozell reluctantly agreed, saying, "Okay, but nudity is a no-no."

The film included lengthy shots of full frontal nudity and rear nudity of both boys. As a result, it failed to secure a wide distribution deal, in part because prospective distributors were wary about the extensive nudity featured in the film. Undaunted, the producers raised enough capital to release the film themselves, acting as their own distributor.

The film was shot on location on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico, the same island on which Lord of the Flies was shot five years earlier.

Robby had its world premiere on Broadway in New York City in August 14, 1968.

Upon its initial release, Robby received widely positive reviews from critics. Bob Salmaggi, of WINS, New York, called the film "Enchanting!...a heartwarming masterpiece." Howard Thompson of The New York Times called it "a genteel little drama, purposeful in content, perceptive in tone." Com-Collegiate News called Robby "Among the best movies of the year!...a thoughtful, artistic parable that is both heartwarming and timeless."

In addition, both actors Raum and Siani received praise for their performances in the film. Variety said "Warren Raum as Robby and Ryp Siani as Friday could put precocious Hollywood child actors to shame!" Com-Collegiate News said "Robby is played very well by young Warren Raum, and Ryp Siani displays some of the best acting a child has ever done on the screen!" Bob Salmaggi called Warren Raum "a little charmer as Robby, and Ryp Siani...absolutely perfect as Friday."

In 1978, Bluemke gave an extensive interview detailing the film's development, casting, release and distribution as well as the importance of nudity within the story. It is included as a bonus feature on the film's DVD release.

Robby was subsequently released on VHS by Top Quality Video in 1995. and on DVD by by Award Films International in 2001. Both the VHS and DVD releases featured a new score credited to composer Christopher Young, replacing the film's original score by John Randolph Eaton.