"I've always considered movies evil; the day that cinema was invented was a black day for mankind."
-Kenneth Anger.
-Kenneth Anger.
Kenneth Anger is an avant-garde filmaker, author and occultist. Anger himself has said that his first experience with cinema was as the Changeling Prince in the 1935 film 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' directed by Max Reinhardt and William Dieterele. However, as Anger's name does not appear in the cast or credit information, there is some doubt as to whether this is actually true. Some say that the role was not played by Anger but by a little girl. The Internet Movie Database backs this theory up, crediting the part to a Sheila Brown.
He began making films around the age of nine, although his early films are now lost. His earliest film in distribution is 'Fireworks' from 1947, made when he was only 20. A landmark of both experimental and gay cinema, the film is a bizarre, disturbing dreamscape of violation, rape, and homoerotic sado-masochism. Anger shot the film over the course of a weekend while his parents were out of town.
Anger is most widely known for the collection of completed films which he refers to as 'The Magic Lantern Cycle'. These include: Fireworks (1947), Eaux D'Artifice (1953), Inaugaration of the Pleasure Dome (1954), Scorpio Rising (1963), Invocation of my Demon Brother (1969) and Lucifer Rising (1972).
He also wrote 'Hollywood Babylon' The legendary underground classic of Hollywood's darkest and best kept secrets of which the New York Times wrote: "Kenneth Anger has fashioned a delicious 306-page box of poisoned bonbons. Picking through the slag heap of the Hollywood dream factory, he has put together a truly prodigious anthology of star-studded scandal."
The book starts off with the quote "Every man and every woman is a star." by occultist Aleister Crowley.
In the late 1960's Kenneth Anger got involved with the Rolling Stones, as well as Charles Manson associate Bobby Beausoleil. Beausoleil was cast as Lucifer in Anger's proposed film 'Lucifer Rising' Until they had a falling out and Beausoleil left, taking most of the completed film with him. Beausoleil is also rumored to have buried the film's negative in the desert at one of Manson's former hangouts. The film was later re-shot and featured british singer Marianne Faithfull. Some of the footage of Beausoleil from the earlier 'Lucifer Rising' ended up in Anger's 'Invocation of my Demon Brother.'
Anger's lifelong interest in the occult can be seen throughout most of his work. From the satanic rituals in Lucifer Rising, to his use of Aleister Crowley quotes and his friendship with Church of Satan founder Anton LeVey.
Selected Works.
Fireworks (1947)
Eaux d'artifice (1953)
Scorpio Rising (1963)
Kustom Kar Kommandos (1963)
Invocation of my Demon Brother (1969)
Lucifer Rising (1972)
Amazon.com links
Kenneth Anger (Book)
Hollywood Babylon (Book)
Moonchild: The Films of Kenneth Anger (Book)
The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol 1. (DVD)
The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol 2. (DVD)
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He began making films around the age of nine, although his early films are now lost. His earliest film in distribution is 'Fireworks' from 1947, made when he was only 20. A landmark of both experimental and gay cinema, the film is a bizarre, disturbing dreamscape of violation, rape, and homoerotic sado-masochism. Anger shot the film over the course of a weekend while his parents were out of town.
"I show very few of the films I have made." - Kenneth Anger.
Anger is most widely known for the collection of completed films which he refers to as 'The Magic Lantern Cycle'. These include: Fireworks (1947), Eaux D'Artifice (1953), Inaugaration of the Pleasure Dome (1954), Scorpio Rising (1963), Invocation of my Demon Brother (1969) and Lucifer Rising (1972).
He also wrote 'Hollywood Babylon' The legendary underground classic of Hollywood's darkest and best kept secrets of which the New York Times wrote: "Kenneth Anger has fashioned a delicious 306-page box of poisoned bonbons. Picking through the slag heap of the Hollywood dream factory, he has put together a truly prodigious anthology of star-studded scandal."The book starts off with the quote "Every man and every woman is a star." by occultist Aleister Crowley.
In the late 1960's Kenneth Anger got involved with the Rolling Stones, as well as Charles Manson associate Bobby Beausoleil. Beausoleil was cast as Lucifer in Anger's proposed film 'Lucifer Rising' Until they had a falling out and Beausoleil left, taking most of the completed film with him. Beausoleil is also rumored to have buried the film's negative in the desert at one of Manson's former hangouts. The film was later re-shot and featured british singer Marianne Faithfull. Some of the footage of Beausoleil from the earlier 'Lucifer Rising' ended up in Anger's 'Invocation of my Demon Brother.'
Anger's lifelong interest in the occult can be seen throughout most of his work. From the satanic rituals in Lucifer Rising, to his use of Aleister Crowley quotes and his friendship with Church of Satan founder Anton LeVey.
Selected Works.
Fireworks (1947)
Eaux d'artifice (1953)
Scorpio Rising (1963)
Kustom Kar Kommandos (1963)
Invocation of my Demon Brother (1969)
Lucifer Rising (1972)
Amazon.com links
Kenneth Anger (Book)
Hollywood Babylon (Book)
Moonchild: The Films of Kenneth Anger (Book)
The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol 1. (DVD)
The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol 2. (DVD)
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3 comments:
Hey, thanks! Once again D's blog provides me with a cool place n the net I can send students to--saving me a ton of work, which is what really matters in life. And the quote at the top is brilliance.
It's bizarre to think "Scorpio Rising" was banned. It seems so quaint now. Although I've still had people own up to being shocked by the blasphemy when I've shown it at a school with a high proportion of evangelicals.
Matt, EXCELLENT day. Thanks for this.
Dennis,
Let me know what you think of this:
http://videoshomo.over-blog.fr/
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