Event

ARCHIE'S BETTY

dir. Gerald Peary, 2015
US. 70 mins.

A kaleidoscope of compulsion, comics history, and passionate fandom, ARCHIES BETTY starts as a light and straightforward documentary on the origins of the Archie Comics gang. But soon, the story twists into a strange small town mystery when director Gerald Peary discovers that his well-known, 25-year-old, article on the subject might have been a little inaccurate. Original Archie artist Bob Montana left more loose ends than clues as to who Archie, Betty, Veronica, Moose, Jughead - and even Mr. Weatherbee and Ms Grundy - might have been inspired by. Naturally, the residents of Montanas hometown of Haverhill seem to all be sure that they know the real story. But whos right?

Packed with interviews from Archie Comics writers and artists, Archie historians, Montanas classmates, and Peary himself, ARCHIES BETTY is the culmination of the directors lifelong obsession with the Riverdale gang.

A delightful, touching, and appropriately comic." - Ross McElwhee

Its such a fun and touching personal documentary. Highly recommended
for viewers of all ages from birth to beyond the infinite. Even if you are not
a comic book fan, you will love the story this movie tells. If you are nostalgic
for the 1950s, you will be in seventh heaven. Joseph McBride, film historian and biographer