Joseph Strick put on some notable literary movies in the 1960s and 1970s; Tropic of Cancer, based on Henry Miller's controversial novel of the same name, is one of them. It took me many years to track down a copy of this film adaptation starring Rip Torn and James T. Callahan and, for part of the film, Ellen Burstyn (including a dash of full frontal nudity -- surprising only because it's Ellen Burstyn, in living color).
Rated X on its initial release in 1970 -- two years before Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris -- today what's still a little shocking about Tropic of Cancer is the frank, mostly sexist sexual chatter and the outrageous Miller/Torn narration. Indeed, language trumps nudity in a big way. With a little critical distance, it's pretty funny to see how clueless the guys in the film are about women. Less funny is the prevalence of various STDs and socio-economic disparities shown and discussed. One other matter: in the movie, the novel's setting is moved from the 1930s to the late 1960s, though it remains geographically centered in Paris.
Can I recommend this? To those who are crazily into literary and cultural history and don't mind sharp language, yes; for general entertainment, probably not. Most folks would much more enjoy Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris (2011).
Today's Rune: Partnership.
4 comments:
I've been intending for years to read this book. I have it on my shelves.
No need to rush~~! Seems more interesting now as part of cultural history, for daring to deal frankly with certain themes and topics, and to reiterate (unintentionally) how male chauvinism reared itself along in the "good old days."
Can't wait to see the Allen movie. Will be nice to like one for a change.
We watched a couple of old, bad, pulpy sci-fi flicks the other night that were a heck of a laugh, considering the blatant and rampant male chauvinism of the time in which they were filmed. I think they were "Queen of Outer Space" and "Mars Needs Women." GADS I'm glad I live AFTER that period in our history (not that things are perfect, but they're certainly better!)
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