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Joe Dallesandro: Warhol Superstar, Underground Film Icon, Actor
The story of Warhol’s greatest superstar
The renowned photographer Francesco Scavullo has called Joe Dallesandro “one of the ten most photogenic men in the world.” Springing to fame at the beginning of the sexual revolution in films such as Flesh , Trash , and Heat , Dallesandro, with the help of his mentor, Paul Morrissey, and pop artist Andy Warhol, became a male sex symbol in the film world unlike any before him. His casual nakedness and characteristic cool in the Warhol Factory’s irreverent, now-classic films earned attention that crossed gender lines and liberated the male nude as an object of beauty in the cinema.
In this biofilmography, an update and revision of Little Joe, Superstar , Michael Ferguson explores not only Dallesandro’s Warhol years, but his troubled childhood on the streets of New York, in juvenile detention, as physique model, and on the run. Ferguson examines all of Dallesandro’s the eight made with Warhol and Morrissey, including the X-rated Frankenstein and Dracula , the post-Factory career in both art-world and low-budget films abroad, and his works as character actor upon his return to America.
Including new interviews with Dallesandro, photographs from the actor’s personal collection, and an extensive biographical section, Joe Dallesandro is the ultimate guide to an underground film icon who, according to Andy Warhol, “everyone was in love with.”
The renowned photographer Francesco Scavullo has called Joe Dallesandro “one of the ten most photogenic men in the world.” Springing to fame at the beginning of the sexual revolution in films such as Flesh , Trash , and Heat , Dallesandro, with the help of his mentor, Paul Morrissey, and pop artist Andy Warhol, became a male sex symbol in the film world unlike any before him. His casual nakedness and characteristic cool in the Warhol Factory’s irreverent, now-classic films earned attention that crossed gender lines and liberated the male nude as an object of beauty in the cinema.
In this biofilmography, an update and revision of Little Joe, Superstar , Michael Ferguson explores not only Dallesandro’s Warhol years, but his troubled childhood on the streets of New York, in juvenile detention, as physique model, and on the run. Ferguson examines all of Dallesandro’s the eight made with Warhol and Morrissey, including the X-rated Frankenstein and Dracula , the post-Factory career in both art-world and low-budget films abroad, and his works as character actor upon his return to America.
Including new interviews with Dallesandro, photographs from the actor’s personal collection, and an extensive biographical section, Joe Dallesandro is the ultimate guide to an underground film icon who, according to Andy Warhol, “everyone was in love with.”
- GenresNonfictionBiography
694 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 14, 2015
I read this entire biography in one night, one sitting - that probably tells you how much I was captivated by the read since it clocked in at about 475 pages on the galley read. To make a confession, I knew Joe Dallesandro by name, by indirect reference because of his inspiration for Megan Hart's "Collide", and also in terms of his latter film work (I'm 30 years old at the time I'm writing this review - so I'm quite a few generations younger than when many of Dallesandro's early films were released), but I had very little idea about the extent of his history. This was an eye opening read for me.
Eye-opening in more ways than one. (See what I did there?)
There's a combination of his respective history in film, in TV, as a model, and his overarching biography along with a beautiful array of photographs on the sets of his various projects and from Dallesandro's own contributions. I think Michael Ferguson did an outstanding job compiling Dallesandro's history, experiences, and influence (as well as a nice filmography at the end of the work, tracing Dallesandro's acting history to the present day). You can tell this biography was well-researched, intimate to details, and a narrative worth returning to for reference. It even features a foreword from Dallesandro himself.
A recommended read.
Overall score: 4/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Open Road Media.
Eye-opening in more ways than one. (See what I did there?)
There's a combination of his respective history in film, in TV, as a model, and his overarching biography along with a beautiful array of photographs on the sets of his various projects and from Dallesandro's own contributions. I think Michael Ferguson did an outstanding job compiling Dallesandro's history, experiences, and influence (as well as a nice filmography at the end of the work, tracing Dallesandro's acting history to the present day). You can tell this biography was well-researched, intimate to details, and a narrative worth returning to for reference. It even features a foreword from Dallesandro himself.
A recommended read.
Overall score: 4/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Open Road Media.
October 13, 2020
3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed the first part of the book which was more biographical than the rest. The rest of the book however, even though the author gives some insights into Joe’s acting or reason for working on a film, we’re primarily synopsis of Joe’s work in film & television. The included photos were a nice bonus even on a Kindle.
February 10, 2017
This is an updated version of Ferguson's 1998 book "Little Joe, Superstar: The Films of Joe Dallesandro." If you only know Dallesandro from the Andy Warhol/Paul Morrissey films (FLESH, TRASH, HEAT, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN, BLOOD FOR DRACULA), then you're im for a treat as Ferguson expertly discusses his entire film output (more than 40 films, including Blake Edwards's SUNSET, Coppola's THE COTTON CLUB, Steven Soderbergh's THE LIMEY, Louis Malle's BLACK MOON, John Waters's CRY BABY....) and his numerous TV performances (including MIAMI VICE, WISEGUY and MATLOCK). Ferguson has done his research and even the most throw-away film is given its due. Prepare to start stocking up on a lots of films from Netflix while you read this "Films of" book. He's very persuasive.
But the best part of this book is Joe Dallesandro's participation.Ferguson has not only extensively interviewed the actor but has even sat down and watched some of the fims with him. Joe's memories of each film gives the book a broader feel--almost like a biography rather than just a survey of his films. It feels as if Joe is periodically leaning over your shoulder to give you his behind-the-scenes memories of making each film...whether the memories are pleasant or not.
If you're a Joe Dallesandro fan, you will not want to miss this photo-filled salute to him and his work.
But the best part of this book is Joe Dallesandro's participation.Ferguson has not only extensively interviewed the actor but has even sat down and watched some of the fims with him. Joe's memories of each film gives the book a broader feel--almost like a biography rather than just a survey of his films. It feels as if Joe is periodically leaning over your shoulder to give you his behind-the-scenes memories of making each film...whether the memories are pleasant or not.
If you're a Joe Dallesandro fan, you will not want to miss this photo-filled salute to him and his work.
April 18, 2015
An eye opening captivating read that kept me up all night reading!
July 16, 2020
Well researched and engaging. The author does an amazing job of writing and having the reader engaged in the material. The author adding his personal life and insights only adds to the tale.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews