Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis (2006)

A mesmerizing collage of images and audio from the life and work of Jack Smith, the underground filmmaker, photographer, performance artist, and anti-capitalist, who worked in New York from... See full summary »

Director:

Mary Jordan

Writer:

Mary Jordan

Stars:

Jack Smith, Nayland Blake, Ira Cohen

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jack Smith	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nayland Blake	...	Himself
Ira Cohen	...	Himself
Tony Conrad	...	Composer
Richard Foreman	...	Himself
Ivan Galietti	...	Himself
Helen Gee	...	Limelight Gallery founder
Robert Heide	...	Himself
Henry Hills	...	Himself
Gary Indiana	...	Himself
Ken Jacobs	...	Himself
Mike Kelley	...	Artist
George Kuchar	...	Himself
Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt	...	Himself
Sylvere Lotringer	...	Himself

Storyline

A mesmerizing collage of images and audio from the life and work of Jack Smith, the underground filmmaker, photographer, performance artist, and anti-capitalist, who worked in New York from the '60s until his death in 1989. Highlights include the story behind the Supreme Court case over the banning of his 1963 classic Flaming Creatures.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ο Τζακ Σμιθ και η καταστροφή της Ατλαντίδας

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tongue Press

Technical Specs

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jack Smith: Doctor, doctor, tell me, please... Is my brain a germ or a disease?

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Connections

Referenced in Here Comes Godot: Tax and Snacks (2014)

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Soundtracks

Country Swing
Original music for this film created by Joel Diamond (as Joel A. Diamond)
with violin by Karen Waltuch (as Karen Waltruch)

User Reviews

One of the best documentary films I've seen - watch it

Highly intelligent and well researched, this film by Mary Jordan and produced by Ken Peralta is the definitive film on Jack Smith. The editing of Jack's art and the art of the film is so well integrated that you not only see the many mediums of Smith but you get a psychological examination of one of the most unknown influences of the 20th century. The 93 minute movie rarely slows down as we see a young mind overflowing with angst and creativity, followed by his influencing of Warhol and later greats like Perry Ferrell and Richard James. I found this in the same special club of great movies like "Crumb" and "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse." A definite must-see for those unaware of Jack Smith's world or well versed in his art.