Monster in a Box (1992)

This is the story of Spalding Gray and his attempt to write a novel. It is a first person account about writing and living, and dealing with success while trying to be successful.

Director:

Nick Broomfield

Writer:

Spalding Gray

Star:

Spalding Gray

Cast

Credited cast:
Spalding Gray	...	Himself

Storyline

This is the story of Spalding Gray and his attempt to write a novel. It is a first person account about writing and living, and dealing with success while trying to be successful.

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Plot Keywords:

writing | one man show | live performance | monologue | based on play | 

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Taglines:

He Survived "Swimming to Cambodia." Now The Adventure Continues.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1992 (USA)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$311,245

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films,Jon Blair Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Broadway production opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on January 21, 1991 and ran for 16 performances.

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Quotes

Spalding Gray: [on travelling to Nicaragua] We sign up with thirty-six fact-finding American groups. Earnest! EARNEST! I felt like TRASH!

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Connections

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

User Reviews

Spalding Gray at his best

His voice projects every emotion imaginable in a matter of seconds...fear, confusion, sarcasm, irony, sadness, hope, happiness, etc., etc. Spalding Gray is a different kind of performer, a man whose monologues have continued to enthrall and inspire me ever since I first came across them. In "Monster in a Box", Gray recounts the years he spent writing a massive nearly 2,000 page semi autobiographical novel after his mother's suicide. Constantly being sidetracked by his own, absurd misadventures, Gray's life becomes a whirlwind of comic mischief and insightful self reflection.

This piece allows the viewer to get inside the head of one of the performing arts' most underrated geniuses. Gray thankfully left his mark on the world before unfortunately deciding to have his own experience with suicide, one that be rid America of one of its greatest, funniest, and most unique talents. "Monster in a Box" is among his very best work as it combines all of the elements that made his work so fantastic and entertaining, particularly his humor and heart. Often outwardly wacky and quirkily comical, this film also contains moments of subtle poignancy. Whether this is truly a tragedy or a comedy by nature is up to the audience to decide. From my perspective, it further proves my ongoing theory that life is neither tragedy nor comedy, but rather a whirlwind of those two emotions; two emotions that aren't as clearly defined as we seem to think they are, two emotions far more similar than they appear.