Boom! (1968 film)

Infobox Film
name = Boom!


image_size =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Joseph Losey
producer = John Heyman
writer = Tennessee Williams
narrator =
starring = Elizabeth Taylor
Richard Burton
music = John Barry
cinematography = Douglas Slocombe
editing = Reginald Beck
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = May 28, 1968
runtime = 113 min
country = United Kingdom
language = English
Italian
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0062751

"Boom!" is a 1968 film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Noël Coward. It was directed by Joseph Losey and adapted from Tennessee Williams' play "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore".

ynopsis

In the film, Flora 'Sissy' Goforth (Taylor, in a part written for an older woman) is supposedly dying, and living in a large mansion on a secluded island; into her life comes a mysterious man, Angelo Del Morte (then-husband Burton, in a part intended for a very young man) and "the Witch of Capri" (Coward). The mysterious man may or may not be "The Angel of Death".

Like most of the other Taylor-Burton films of the 60's, this one was reviled by critics and audiences alike, with critics taking out most of their venom on the miscasting, the performances, and the general pretentiousness of the entire production. It was an immediate and costly bomb, garnering just $2 million in box office on a budget of $10 million (US dollars).

Since the film's release, it has become a frequent member of numerous "Worst Of Film" lists, and is, in fact, one of noted director John Waters' favorite 'bad' films.

The play from which it was adapted, considered one of Williams' lesser plays, was also a flop, closing on Broadway after just 69 performances. A later revival starred Tallulah Bankhead and Tab Hunter. This, too, flopped, closing after 5 performances.

In contrast, the soundtrack album by John Barry which featured a Johnny Dankworth/Don Black composition "Hideaway" sung by Georgie Fame, has been re-released several times and has remained popular with collectors.

John Waters' Advocacy of the Film

In recent years, the film director John Waters has presented the last remaining print of the film around at various screenings. Waters cites the film as a major influence on the development of his taste. [ John Waters, Filth 101, European Graduate School 2000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_wIxWHBR0g ]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0062751|title=Boom!