Poetry in Motion (1982)

More than 20 contemporary North American poets recite, sing, and perform their work. Several also comment. Early in the film, Charles Bukowski talks about the energy of poets and of a poem.... See full summary »

Director:

Ron Mann

Stars:

Helen Adam, Miguel Algarín, Amiri Baraka

Cast

Credited cast:
Helen Adam	...	Herself
Miguel Algarín	...	Himself (as Miguel Algarin)
Amiri Baraka	...	Himself
Ted Berrigan	...	Himself
Charles Bukowski	...	Himself
William S. Burroughs	...	Himself
John Cage	...	Himself
Jim Carroll	...	Himself
Jayne Cortez	...	Herself
Robert Creeley	...	Himself
Christopher Dewdney	...	Himself
Diane DiPrima	...	Herself
Kenward Elmslie	...	Himself
Four Horsemen	...	Themselves
Allen Ginsberg	...	Himself

Storyline

More than 20 contemporary North American poets recite, sing, and perform their work. Several also comment. Early in the film, Charles Bukowski talks about the energy of poets and of a poem. These poets are energetic performers, and their poems are meant to be heard. These poets are the children of Walt Whitman and of Charles Olson, incantatory and oratorical, radical, sometimes incorporating contemporary political imagery. Black Mountain poets, the Beats, minimalists like John Cage, the wordless Four Horsemen, Tom Waits, and others capture aspects of poets as troubadours.

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Plot Keywords:

poet | poem | book | anti narration | poetry | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1982 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 160,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sphinx Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Four Nights of a Dreamer (1971)

User Reviews

Poetry is Very Cool

Charles Bukowski was the first poet I was ever able to read,so when I saw he was in this film,I knew I had to see it.What I discovered is that Buk is not the only great poet of the 20th century.This is an amazing collection of everybody from William S. Burroughs to Tom Waits and Alan Ginsberg doing their thing and every single one of these poets is incredible.This film is a constant barrage of words and music and it could have been eight hours long and it still would have had me mesmerized.An incredible experience.