Movie of the Week: The Cool World (1964)

Shirley Clarke must have been one hip chick. Between this film, The Connection, and Portrait of Jason, its obvious she ran in some very interesting circles. Read what the New York Times thought of The Cool World at the time here.

The book that inspired the film.

The soundtrack album by Dizzy Gillespie.

Black & white version of the poster.

Documentaries of note: Ain't In It For My Health & Portrait of Jason

Here are a couple of recent films I plan on seeing soon:

Shot over the last couple of years of his life in and around his home in Woodstock, NY, Ain't In It For My Health tells the story of The Band's Levon Helm.

Official website here.
Official Facebook here.

Shirley Clarke's Portrait of Jason tells the story of a one time, real life NYC character, Jason Holliday. The restored 1967 film was shot entirely in one night in Jason's room at the Chelsea Hotel. Read a terrific write up about the movie in the New Yorker here.

Official website here.
Official Facebook page here.

Kickstarter Projects of Note: Joe Meek, Stones Throw & Shirley Clarke

A Life In the Death of Joe Meek: Jimmy Page, Steve Howe & other rock/pop idols help chronicle the rise, fall & resurrection of recording pioneer Joe Meek. (Link)

Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton (This Is Stones Throw Records: A feature-length documentary about avant-garde Los Angeles-based Stones Throw Records, its culture and its enigmatic artists. (Link)

Portrait of Jason Film Restoration: Shirley Clarke's groundbreaking documentary film is in jeopardy - help us restore the print and release it for everyone to see! (Link)

Movie of the Week - Rome Is Burning (Portrait of Shirley Clarke)

In honor of Shirley Clarke's The Connection getting a revival of sorts, here is a documentary on Clarke called Rome Is Burning (Portrait of Shirley Clarke). Filmed in January 1968, it was released in 1970.

Make "The Connection"

As previously said right here on Stupefaction, "Based on Jack Gelber's play of the same name, The Connection was a 1961 movie by Shirley Clarke, and includes some fantastic footage of Jackie McLean (sax), Freddie Redd (piano), Michael Mattos (bass), and Larry Ritchie (drums) doing their thing. This movie is unfortunately unavailable these days, and I've never seen the whole thing. The soundtrack album is a corker. Listen to clips of it here."

Well, thanks to Milestone Film & Video, its available now. Currently making the rounds in some of the hipper theaters around, it appears that it will be available on DVD later this year or early next year. Keep your eyes on the Milestone site, and while you're there, be sure to pick up a copy of the unbelievable On The Bowery for an amazing film with great historical perspective.



Showtimes in NYC here.
The Connection on Facebook.