Flaming Creatures (1963)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Jack Smith

Release Date:

29 April 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Coming Out | Gay Interest | Transvestite | Rape | Homosexual

Cast

Francis Francine	...	Himself
Sheila Bick	...	Delicious Dolores
Joel Markman	...	Our Lady of the Docks
Mario Montez	...	The Spanish Girl (as Dolores Flores)
Arnold Rockwood	...	Arnold (as Arnold)
Judith Malina	...	The Fascinating Woman
Marian Zazeela	...	Maria Zazeela

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Trivia:

Seized by NYC Police at the premiere, this film was officially determined to be obscene by a NY Criminal Court.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Velvet Goldmine (1998)

Soundtrack:

China Nights

Lair of the White Worm

Film is serious business, but useful in so, so many ways.

One way is as a path to discover who people are, which is why, I think, movies are such popular date activities. I mean, on the face of it, you are two isolated souls in the theater. The bonding comes in how you share the experience.

You can tell a great deal about your future lover by discovering what sort of comedy he/she penetrates.

The next step will be the arts and perversion. Not what he or she considers perverted — that's uninteresting, where the line is. But once you cross over, you move into territory that has artists here and there forming things that may have merit.

So if you are serious about your partner, and serious about a life in film, you'll drudge through many of these "experimental" films. Some will stick and some not.

Some, like this, rely on the casual and accidental while referencing "old" art. Perversion in several dimensions, adding to enchantment, or so it is intended.

Whether this is one you will use is a matter too personal for me to fathom. But for my taste, it tries too hard in the wrong directions. Perhaps in the 60s it was useful to just fart loudly and musically for the effect. But those days are past. If you want one to look at after this, try one of Derek Jarman's little films from the 70s.

Oh shucks. I was going to recommend one but I see that some unappreciative reader has arranged to have all my comments of those removed. You can see them as extras on the DVD of "The Tempest," which is suggested viewing in any case.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.