The Films of Paul Morrissey (Cambridge Film Classics) [Paperback]

Maurice Yacowar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521389933 | ISBN-13: 978-0521389938 | Publication Date: May 28, 1993

The Films of Paul Morrissey is the first appraisal of one of the major figures of American independent cinema. An innovator in the narrative cinema that emerged from Andy Warhol's Factory, Morrissey, as established in this study, was also the force who shaped the most important films that have heretofore been attributed to Warhol. The director's experiments in the use of non-professional actors, controversial subject matter, and language are demonstrated through analysis of his most accomplished achievements, including Mixed Blood, 40 Deuce, and Spike of Bensonhurst. The Films of Paul Morrissey furthermore reveals the director's challenge to the moral, social and political values of contemporary liberalism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This new book is very welcome as the first major study of Morrissey's career. It puts into perspective the major, all-embracing, contribution that Morrissey made to films that are generally regarded as the work of Andy Warhol....I wish it well and heartily recommend it." Anthony Slide, Classic Images

Book Description

The director's experiments in the use of nonprofessional actors, controversial subject matter, and language are demonstrated through this first analysis of his most notable achievements, including Mixed Blood, 40 Deuce, and Spike of Bensonhurst.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 28, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521389933
• ISBN-13: 978-0521389938
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,919,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, if dry, look at underappreciated filmmaker, April 10, 2007

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Dr H.Alloy (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Films of Paul Morrissey (Cambridge Film Classics) (Paperback)

Paul Morrissey was responsible for Andy Warhol's most commercially successful and infamous films. After joining the Factory in the mid sixties Morrissey quickly became Warhol's defacto manager and in house filmmaker.

His output ran the whole gamut, from the experimental and extremely influential 'Flesh', 'Heat' and 'Trash' to the handsomely mounted (albeit still low budget) perversely funny gore fests 'Flesh for Frankenstein' and 'Blood for Dracula' that are perrenial cult faves. And he discovered stars Joe Dallesandro and Italian beauty Dalila DiLazzaro. Morrissey's originality and skill certainly deserves more attention as a important contributor to independent cinema.

Yacowar's book is a little prosaic and academic in style, perheaps best read as companion pieces to his commentaries on the recently remastered Frankenstein and Dracula DVD's, though ultimately this book seems only mean't for students and cinephiles.