A Bigger Splash (1973 film)

Last updated
A Bigger Splash
A Bigger Splash 1973 film poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Hazan
Written by
  • Jack Hazan
  • David Mingay
Produced by
  • Jack Hazan
  • Mike Kaplan
Starring David Hockney
CinematographyJack Hazan
Edited byDavid Mingay
Music by Patrick Gowers
Release dates
  • October 1973 (1973-10)(Chicago)
  • 5 October 1974 (1974-10-05)(United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$95,826 [1]

A Bigger Splash is a 1973 British biographical documentary film about David Hockney's lingering breakup with his then-partner Peter Schlesinger, from 1970 to 1973. Directed by Jack Hazan and edited by David Mingay, it has music by Patrick Gowers. Featuring many of Hockney's circle, [2] it includes designers Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark, [3] artist Patrick Procktor, gallery owner John Kasmin and museum curator Henry Geldzahler. [4]

Contents

Analysis

It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary, intercut with fictionalised and fantasy elements. [5] It is notable for its treatment of gay themes and its insights into Hockney's life and work. [6] [7] The film takes its title from the 1967 painting A Bigger Splash , perhaps Hockney's best-known Californian swimming pool picture [8] and his best-known artwork at all. [9] Hockney was initially shocked by its intimacy [10] but later changed his mind. [11]

Home Video

A Bigger Splash was newly restored in 4k from the original camera negative by Metrograph [12] and released on Blu-Ray by Kino Lorber in 2020.

See also

References

  1. "A Bigger Splash". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  2. www.oberon.nl, Oberon Amsterdam, A Bigger Splash (1974) - Jack Hazan | IDFA , retrieved 2023-05-05
  3. "BFI Screenonline: Bigger Splash, A (1974)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  4. "A Bigger Splash". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. www.oberon.nl, Oberon Amsterdam, A Bigger Splash (1974) - Jack Hazan | IDFA , retrieved 2023-05-04
  6. Kenny, Glenn. "A Bigger Splash movie review & film summary (2019) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  7. Anderson, Melissa (June 2019). "Melissa Anderson on Jack Hazan's A Bigger Splash". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  8. Tate. "'A Bigger Splash', David Hockney, 1967". Tate. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  9. Tate. "Understanding David Hockney's A Bigger Splash". Tate. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  10. "How 1970s Hockney film pre-empted reality TV". BBC News. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  11. French, Philip (2012-03-04). "A Bigger Splash". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  12. "A Bigger Splash". Metrograph. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  13. Variety Staff (1975-01-01). "A Bigger Splash". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  14. Hoberman, J. (2019-06-19). "A Clearer Picture of 'A Bigger Splash'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-05-05.