In 1993, Trey Parker directed, wrote, and co-scored a black comedy musical film, Cannibal! The Musical, while studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The film is loosely based on the true story of Alferd Packer, the only person convicted of cannibalism in America. Here’s how Troma Entertainment, which has made the film freely available on its YouTube channel, describes the plot:
The sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, Packer tells his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Prye as he awaits his execution. And his story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Colorado Territory, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unthinkable horrors, including toe-tapping songs! Packer and his five wacky mining buddies sing and dance their ways into your heart…and then take a bite out of it!
Although released more than 20 years ago, Cannibal! The Musical now lives on — not just as a film, but also as a musical. Just this past year, it was staged as a theatrical production in Toronto. Parker’s other little musical, The Book of Mormon, the winner of 9 Tony Awards, can be seen on Broadway.
Cannibal! The Musical has been added to our meta collection, 4,000+ Free Movies Online: Great Classics, Indies, Noir, Westerns, Documentaries & More.
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This film is a classic. It took me several attempts to watch it all the way through without falling asleep but the payoff was evident when I succeeded. The music is infectious and there are a couple of memorable lines. And Stan Brakhage. My wife and I went to Colorado Territory for our honeymoon and saw some of the cool sites. We even found Alferd Packer’s grave. The director’s commentary on the DVD is not to be missed.