Boom (1968)

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writers:

Tennessee Williams (play)
Tennessee Williams (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 May 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

She outlived six rich men!

Plot:

Explores the confrontation between the woman who has everything, including emptiness, and a penniless poet who has nothing but the ability to fill a wealthy woman's needs.

Plot Keywords:

Mysterious Man | Witch | Dying | Capri | Servant

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor	...	Flora 'Sissy' Goforth
Richard Burton	...	Chris Flanders
Noel Coward	...	The Witch of Capri
Joanna Shimkus	...	Miss Black
Michael Dunn	...	Rudi
Romolo Valli	...	Doctor Luilo
Fernando Piazza	...	Etti
Veronica Wells	...	Simonetta
Howard Taylor	...	Journalist

Also Known As:

Boom! (USA)
Goforth (USA) (working title)
Sunburst (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

113 min | USA:110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Capo Caccia, Sardinia, Italy

Company:

John Heyman Productions

Trivia:

James Bernard was considered to write the film score.

Goofs:

Continuity: All of Chris' belongings are in a couple of duffel bags thrown into ocean, yet when the bags are unpacked upon arriving at island, there is no water damage to either his address book or a book of poetry.

Quotes:

Flora 'Sissy' Goforth: What's human or inhuman is not for human decision.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Dirty Shame (2004)

Soundtrack:

Hideaway

You can see the occasional flash of brilliance here if you wait!

"Boom!" is a film that requires a lot of patience, and if you wait it out and can accept the meandering direction, it will give you an idea of where Tennesee Williams head was at during this time! Williams was quoted to have been pleased with this adaptation of his "The Milkman Doesn't Stop here Anymore" play. Does this film work?...Well yes and no! Meandering direction tries your patience but you do get a glimpse into the mind of a self-obsessed woman by Ms. Taylor who's seen it all and done it all and isn't used to hearing the word "NO". A tighter script would of helped. It's KINDA campy but I tend to think the term "Camp" is overused a lot by too many people. I think John Waters described this film best by declaring it "failed art". I feel the acting is ok by the actors involved. You have to pump up the volume in a film like this to draw you in! Remember Ms Taylor's character is supposed to be essentially unlikeable and shrill and there is no such thing as a happy ending in such a picture. A odd and strangely compelling film if you have the patience!