Howl [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Robert Epstein Robert Epstein

Overview

James Franco stars as Allen Ginsberg in Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's biopic that blends traditional narrative storytelling with documentary-style footage and vivid animation to paint a compelling portrait of the famed Beat poet. For many historians, the counterculture was conceived the moment Ginsberg's landmark poem "Howl" was put on trial. On October 7, 1955, the charismatic young poet stunned audiences at San Francisco's Six Gallery with the first-ever public reading of "Howl." Two years later, Ginsberg was standing before fierce prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (David Strathairn) and ultra-conservative judge Clayton Horn (Bob Balaban) to defend his most famous work against accusations of obscenity. In addition to offering a detailed reenactment of that historical trial, Howl also recounts the early life events that molded Ginsberg into one of the most vital and outspoken voices of his generation, and features an animated visualization of the poem created by former Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker, and a score by Carter Burwell. Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, and Alessandro Nivola co-star.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/04/2011
UPC:	0896602002951
Original Release:	2010
Rating:	R
Source:	Oscilloscope
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:24:00
Sales rank:	34,364

Special Features

James Franco in conversation with directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman - an all new feature length audio commentary; Holy! Holy! Holy! The Making of Howl - featuring directors Epstein and Friedman and stars James Franco, Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, Treat Williams, Bob Balaban, poet Anne Waldman, and others; Directors' research tapes - original interviews with Ginsberg's friends and collaborator Eric Drooker, Peter Orlovsky, Tuli Kupferberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Steven Taylor; Allen Ginsberg reads Howl - never before seen footage from a performance in 1995 at the Knitting Factory in New York; Allen Ginsberg reads Sunflower Sutra and Pull My Daisy - never before seen footage from a performance in 1995 at the Knitting Factory in New York; Q&a with directors Epstein and Friedman moderated by John Cameron Mitchell at the Provincetown Film Festival

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

David Strathairn	Ralph McIntosh
Treat Williams	Mark Schorer
Todd Rotondi	Jack Kerouac
Jon Prescott	Neal Cassady
Aaron Tveit	Peter Orlovsky
Heather Klar	Actor
Rob Tode	Actor
Chad Scott	Actor
Stephanie Schmiderer	Actor
Sean Patrick O'Reilly	Actor
Allyson Reilly	Actor

Technical Credits

Jeffrey Friedman

Rob Epstein

Elizabeth Redleaf	Producer
Christine Kunewa Walker	Producer
Gus Van Sant	Executive Producer
Jawal Nga	Executive Producer
Jeffrey Friedman	Screenwriter
Rob Epstein	Screenwriter,Producer,Screenwriter,Director