From Hancock Park to the Galapagos: An unsolved murder mystery and its connection to LA

San Francisco based filmmakers

Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller have long wanted to make a documentary about an unsolved murder mystery that took place seventy years ago in a Utopian community in the exotic

Galapagos Islands.

But it wasn’t until they discovered a treasure trove of film in a USC archive that they were able to accomplish their goal. The archival material was footage gathered by the late G. Allen Hancock, a wealthy banker who, among other things, was the namesake and developer of Los Angeles’ Hancock Park. Enchanted by news of the community forming there, he made numerous trips to the Galapagos, bringing along a film crew.

That film is the basis of recently released The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden. The filmmakers are in town for screenings this weekend at the Laemmle Royal, where they’ll talk to the audience after the 7 pm shows on Friday and Saturday.

For the film schedule, visit this link.

Here’s our chat with Dan Geller about how this archival footage made this work possible:

Watch the trailer here: