Flesh (1968)

Director:

Paul Morrissey

Writer:

Paul Morrissey (writer)

Release Date:

27 May 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian Scene | Nudity | Male Full Frontal Nudity | Lesbian Mother | Gay Parent

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Joe Dallesandro	...	Joe, the Hustler
Geraldine Smith	...	Geri, Joe's Wife
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Patti, Geri's Lover
Candy Darling	...	Candy, a Transvestite
Jackie Curtis	...	Jackie, a Transvestite
John Christian	...	Joe's Customer
Maurice Braddell	...	The Artist
Geri Miller	...	Terry
Louis Waldon	...	David, the Gymnast

Also Known As:

Andy Warhol's Flesh
Flesh (France) [fr]
Flesh (Finland) [fi]
Sarka (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:XXX (Nova Scotia) (video rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Norway:18 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:(Banned) (1970) | UK:18 | UK:X (1971) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Factory Films (I)

Trivia:

UK censor John Trevelyan was wary of issuing the film a cinema certificate and suggested to the distributors that the film be shown on a club basis. When it was initially shown at the Open Space Theatre in London in February 1970 the cinema was raided by police who attempted to seize the film, leading Trevelyan himself to hastily rush to the cinema and vigorously defend the movie against possible prosecution, calling the police action 'unjustified and preposterous'. In the light of this incident Trevelyan was able to grant the film an uncut 'X' certificate.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During a scene with the go-go dancer, Candy and Jackie alternately call her by the character's first name (Terry) and that of the actress playing her (Geri Miller).

Movie Connections:

Featured in Factory Days: Paul Morrissey Remembers the Sixties (2006) (V)

lots of flesh, lots of fun for the crew

Because this flick is the first feature fruit of a long lasting collaboration between Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol and Joe Dallessandro, it is too much obvious that it was mostly made for having fun among themselves. The script is quite loose, the dialogues are too obviously improvised, one even suspects that there probably is no script at all, just thematic concepts: prostitution, addiction and poverty (which all seem to continue in the following films Trash and Heat).

Joe Dallessandro reveals unashamedly his gorgeous body at any chance, to the hungry eyes of other addicts (not only drug addicts).



Although the whole film seems like amateurish, especially the scene with other hustlers at the park is very intriguing, like a documentary project.

I would not recommend to see this by itself, but watching the trilogy (Flesh, Heat and Trash) altogether will be much enlightening.