Thee Films: 1950's - 1960's | Antony Balch | 1963 | ACMI collection

Five short films featuring the poetry and prose of the Beat writers; William Burroughs, Brion Gyson and Ian Somerville. Filmed in New York City, Paris and Tangiers, the films do not use narrative but rather incorporate avant-garde and experimental film techniques. Burroughs’ poetry, and his commitment to homo-eroticism and heroin use, feature prominently in the films. “William buys a parrot”, “The cut-ups” and “Bill and Tony” last a few minutes whilst “Towers open fire” and “Ghosts at no. 9 (Paris)” are longer films. The last film is an hour excerpt of a longer five hour epic.

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Collection

In ACMI's collection

Credits

production company

Psychic Television

co-producer

Antony Balch

William S. Burroughs

director

Antony Balch

Duration

02:00:00:00

Production places

United States

Production dates

1963

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

302379

Language

English

Subject categories

Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Beat generation

Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Beat generation

Experimental

Experimental → Experimental films - United States

Literature → American literature

Literature → Beat generation

Literature → Burroughs, William S., 1914-

Literature → Gysin, Brion

Literature → Somerville, Ian F. (Ian Ferguson)

Music & Performing Arts → Beat generation

People → Burroughs, William S., 1914-

People → Gysin, Brion

People → Somerville, Ian F. (Ian Ferguson)

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Holdings

VHS; Access Print (Section 1)

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/81305--thee-films-1950s-1960s/ |title=Thee Films: 1950's - 1960's |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=27 January 2023 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}

Thee Films: 1950's - 1960's

United States, 1963

Please note