Naked Lens: Beat Cinema

by Jack Sargeant (Editor)

The Naked Lens is a vital collection of essays and interviews focusing on the most significant interfaces between the Beat writers, Beat culture and cinema. Films by, featuring or inspired William S Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Charles Bukowski, Brion Gysin, Anthony Balch, Ron Rice, John Cassavetes, Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Klaus Maeck, Gus van Sant, and many others. Including interviews with writers such as Allen Ginsberg, directors such as Robert Frank and actors such as Taylor Mead. Plus detailed examination of key Beat texts and cult classics such as Pull My Daisy , Chappaqua , Towers Open Fire and The Flower Thief ; verite and performance films such as "Shadows", "Don't Look Back" and "Wholly Communion"; B-movies such as "The Subterraneans", "Beat Generation" and Roger Corman's "Bucket of Blood"; and Hollywood-style adaptations from "Heart Beat" and "Barfly" through to Cronenberg's "Naked Lunch".

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Collections, Cult Classics

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Rick Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hip and informative, just like me!

[Matt Hancock]

Worth buying alone for the essay by Genesis P-Orridge and interviews with Mekas, Ginsberg, and Gysin.

[John Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great but readable. I was familiar with some of the films and directors before reading it. Looking at some of the films that were new to me on YouTube was not a helluva lot of fun; most being deadly boring and unwatchable. I guess it's the nature of experimental avant-garde film. (Maya Deren is certainly an exception, and in my book, Stan Brackhage (spelling?)). I ordered a DVD of "Chappaqua" based on reading about it in Naked Lens and I was sorely disappointed. It set me back 20 bucks---oh well, at least I satisfied my curiosity. The films of Harry Smith: horrible. Jack Smith's "Normal Love?" Also horrid. I( didn't re-watch "Pull My Daisey"---I found it unbelievably corny the first time.)

Try some of the films of Richard Kern (1980s). (not in book---which is 50s--60s underground film). And Maya Deren (1940s).

[Mike Everleth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beat cinema is a totally overlooked genre that Sargeant brings his always illuminating analysis to, bringing together many nearly forgotten films to the fore.