Plaster Caster (2001)

Plaster Caster is an intimate documentary portrait of legendary artist and groupie, Cynthia Plaster Caster famous for plaster casting the penises of rock stars, including, most notoriously,... See full summary »

Director:

Jessica Everleth

Stars:

Cynthia Plaster Caster, Camille Paglia, Danny Doll Rod

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Cynthia Plaster Caster	...	Herself
Camille Paglia	...	Herself
Danny Doll Rod	...	Himself
Paul Barker	...	Himself
Jello Biafra	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Arm	...	Himself
Angie Brown	...	Herself
Eric Burdon	...	Himself
Chris Connelly	...	Himself
Pamela Des Barres	...	Herself
Michael Feinberg	...	Himself (as Dr. Michael Feinberg)
Miss Mercy	...	Herself
Ed Paschke	...	Himself
Noel Redding	...	Himself
Pete Shelley	...	Himself

Storyline

Plaster Caster is an intimate documentary portrait of legendary artist and groupie, Cynthia Plaster Caster famous for plaster casting the penises of rock stars, including, most notoriously, Jimi Hendrix. The film explores how Cynthia developed her unique pursuit, follows the ups and downs of casting sessions with a shy guitarist and an extroverted glam rocker, and goes along for the ride as Ms. Caster prepares for her first gallery show in New York City. Featuring candid interviews with "castees," candidates, and commentators Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience), Jello Biafra (The Dead Kennedys), Eric Burdon (The Animals), Pete Shelley (The Buzzcocks), Jon Langford (Mekkons), Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Paul Barker (Ministry), as well as author Camille Paglia and artist Ed Paschke Plaster Caster goes beyond the mythology and asks the question, "is it really art?"

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 2003 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avenue Edit, Fragment Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Durango"
Written by Frank Meyer (as F. Meyer)
Performed by The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs (as Streetwalkin' Cheetahs)
Used by Permission

User Reviews

GREAT ROCK DOCUMENTARY

PLASTER CASTER is one of the most engaging and entertaining documentaries I've seen in the past couple of years. In the hands of a less gifted filmmaker, this could have been a completely tawdry and simplistic movie, but director Jessica Villines has made a classy and intelligent portrait of a unique artist.

Cynthia herself is a difficult person to figure out, but is thus endlessly fascinating. It's as if she's still stuck in the mindset of a 14-year-old rock groupie even though she's now in her mid-fifties. She also appears to give no consideration to the ramifications of her work. She's been making plaster casts of rock stars' penises for 30 years, but it's only now that she gets her first gallery showing? But you do have to give her credit for her excellent taste in music: the Buzzcocks, MC5, the Dead Kennedys, Mudhoney and Jimi Hendrix, just to name a few of the bands/people she's either casted or at least asked.

The film itself is also brilliantly constructed and avoids the many pitfalls that most documentaries fall into. Director Villines doesn't force any kind of viewpoint on her subject and treats Cynthia with tremendous respect. We learn more about Cynthia as a person rather than glorifying or just luridly focusing on her controversial artwork. The film is incredibly intelligent, but is totally unpretentious and an awful lot of fun.

Also featuring some great camerawork and a totally rockin' soundtrack, PLASTER CASTER has definitely earned a place among the greatest rock 'n' roll documentaries ever made.