Tropic of Cancer (1970)

The film depicts the adventures of expatriate American writer Henry Miller and his friends, as they pursue art, money, food, and sex in Paris.

Director:

Joseph Strick

Writers:

Betty Botley (screenplay), Henry Miller (novel),

Stars:

Rip Torn, James T. Callahan, David Baur

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rip Torn	...	Henry Miller
James T. Callahan	...	Fillmore
David Baur	...	Carl
Laurence Lignères	...	Ginette
Phil Brown	...	Van Norden
Dominique Delpierre	...	Vite Cheri
Magali Noël	...	The Princess
Raymond Gérôme	...	M. Le Censeur
Ginette Leclerc	...	Madame Hamilton
Sabine Sun	...	Elsa
Sheila Steafel	...	Tania
Gladys Berry	...	American Lady
George Birt	...	Sylvester
Stuart De Silva	...	Ranji
Steve Eckardt	...	Cronstadt (as Steve Eckhardt)

Storyline

Henry is an ex-pat in Paris, cadging drinks and meals and places to sleep, giving advice about women to clueless men, flirting with the wives of acquaintances, burning bridges, and making philosophical observations. In vignettes we see his wife Mona come to Paris and leave immediately when she tastes Henry's vagabond life; he tries teaching English at a school in Dijon, takes the son of a wealthy Indian to a bordello, gets a job as a proofreader at the Herald Tribune, and helps out a pal who's in and out of an asylum and deeply in love with a whore. Can Henry make his own discovery of ecstasy?

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Plot Keywords:

proofreader | herald tribune | bordello | asylum | writer | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for strong language and sex-related dialogue

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

De kreeftskeerkring

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tropic Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1964, the film was announced as a Carroll Baker vehicle to be produced by Joseph E. Levine.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Henry Miller: This, then, this is not a movie. This is a libel, slander, defamation of character, a prolonged insult, a gob of spit in the face of art, a kick in the pants to God, man, destiny, time, love, beauty, what you will. I'm going to sing for you. A little off-key perhaps, but I will sing. I will sing while you croak. I will dance over your dirty corpse.

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Connections

Referenced in Changes (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Aufschwung (Flight)"
from "Phantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces), Op.12"
Composed by Robert Schumann
(Elsa plays it)

User Reviews

Raw, edgy, highly entertaining masterwork that perfectly captures the spirit of the novel

I'm not surprised that this great film hasn't garnered any love on this site. It's shot in a gritty, off-the-cuff fashion that leaves most filmgoers cold. However, the aesthetic employed for this story perfectly suits the seamy narrative fashion with which the novel was penned, and as such it plays beautifully.

Rip Torn, who was doing some of his best work around this time (COMING APART, PAYDAY) gives what may be his most appealing performance as Henry, the American adventure seeker (and hapless womanizer) who bounces from lady to lady and friend to friend while living in Paris. There isn't much of a plot, which is certainly in keeping with its source material, and that lends to the film's unpredictable nature (at least for those who haven't read the book).

Joseph Strick is a talented filmmaker and has made some great films (ULYSSES, PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, THE BALCONY, ROAD MOVIE), but TROPIC OF CANCER is still my favorite. Every performance is spot on, including Ellen Burstyn in a small but unforgettable role as Henry's dissatisfied wife.

Don't miss TROPIC OF CANCER, and please disregard the negative reviews here, if you're able to tolerate unconventional cinema.