The Black Hole of the Camera: The Films of Andy Warhol

337 Pages·2012·2.32 MB·English

by  J.J. Murphy

The Black Hole
of the Camera
The Films of Andy Warhol
J. J. Murphy
University of California Press
Berkeley • Los Angeles • London
The Black Hole of the Camera
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous
contribution to this book provided by a Hamel Family
Grant through the Department of Communication Arts
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Black Hole
of the Camera
The Films of Andy Warhol
J. J. Murphy
University of California Press
Berkeley • Los Angeles • London
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished
university presses in the United States, enriches lives around
the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social
sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported
by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic
contributions from individuals and institutions. For
more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2012 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Murphy, J. J., 1947–
 The black hole of the camera : the films of Andy Warhol /
J. J. Murphy.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978–0-520–27187–6 (cloth : alk. paper)

isbn 978–0-520–27188–3 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Warhol, Andy, 1928–1987—Criticism and

interpretation. I. Title.
pn1998.3.w366m68 2012
709.2—dc23 2011032948
Manufactured in the United States of America
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally
responsible and sustainable printing practices, UC Press
has printed this book on Rolland Enviro100, a 100%
post-consumer fiber paper that is FSC certified, deinked,
processed chlorine-free, and manufactured with renewable
biogas energy. It is acid-free and EcoLogo certified.
For Nancy Mladenoff
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction: Try Not to Blink 1
1. The Early Films of Andy Warhol: Obeying the Machine 15
2. Scenarios by Ronald Tavel: We Have Your Number 50
3. Films Made with Chuck Wein: Mind Games 93
4. The Sound Portraits: Doing Ourselves 124
5. Expanded Cinema: Come Blow Your Mind 152
6. The Sexploitation Films: Enticing the Raincoat Crowd 191
7. Paul Morrissey Films: Confidential Stories 228
Conclusion: The Factory of the Future 246
Notes 257
Selected Filmography 283
Bibliography 287
Index 291
This page intentionally left blank
Illustrations
Figures
1. Screen Test: Ann Buchanan, 1964 / 3
2. John Giorno; Sleep, 1963 / 21
3. Freddy Herko, Billy Name, John Daley, and James Waring;
Haircut (No.1), 1963 / 23
4. John Palmer and Andrew Meyer; Kiss, 1963–64 / 25

5. Blow Job, 1964 / 27
6. Robert Indiana; Eat, 1964 / 29
7. Empire, 1964 / 33
8. Henry Geldzahler, 1964 / 36
9. Taylor Mead and Naomi Levine; Tarzan and Jane Regained,
Sort Of . . . , 1963 / 40
10. Ondine, Gerard Malanga, and Walter Dainwood;
Couch, 1964 / 45
11. Soap Opera (aka The Lester Persky Story), 1964 / 47
12. Philip Fagan; Screen Test # 1, 1965 / 57
13. Mario Montez; Screen Test # 2, 1965 / 61
14. Marie Menken and Ronald Tavel; The Life of Juanita
Castro, 1965 / 65
15. Trainer and horse; Horse, 1965 / 71
16. Gerard Malanga; Vinyl, 1965 / 75
17. Gerard Malanga and Edie Sedgwick; Vinyl, 1965 / 76
ix