An introduction to the American underground film

by Sheldon Renan

Sheldon Renan has written in this book the first comprehensive study of the American 'Underground Film,' an art form which is receiving great recognition at the present time, and which also is the subject of considerable controversy. The author covers in depth every aspect of this exciting new field of artistic expression : he discusses subject matter, elements of style and technique, and the ways that underground films are made; he gives a general history of the avant-garde film in America and provides detailed accounts of the careers and films of twenty-six of the most prominent film-makers; he tells about some of the stars of these films, analyzes the workings of the underground 'Establishment,' and ends his book with a look at the future of expanded cinema and computer films. In an invaluable appendix Mr. Renan lists the great majority of the films discussed in the book, giving specific data for each, together with the names of the distributors from which the may be rented for showings. Also included are nearly 100 photographs taken from the films and showing some of the film-makers

Genres: Film, Reference

318 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Zac Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible resource! I'm intimately familiar with the British underground and European avant-garde but, for reasons that often escape me, vast portions of the New York and West Coast independent movements of filmmakers are completely alien to me.
Oh of course, the ongoing write ups of Deren, Brakhage and Mekas where familiar territory (and take a shot every time Renan mentions Jack Smiths seminal 'Flaming Creatures') but so much of this was new to me. What a trove, many hours of happy watching ahead.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this used in the late 70's when access to underground film screenings was limited. However, I lived in Berkeley, CA. The Pacific Film Archive, Canyon Cinema and several San Francisco arts groups made it easier to see underground works at the time. The book traces film back to the earliest film directors whose work was classified as "avant-garde". There are profiles of key directors and stars of underground and expanded cinema.
The appendix lists 34 pages of underground films with directors and where to purchase or rent them. Written in 1969, the sources are outdated. However, many of the films are available on YouTube. The book is an incredible source.

[Craig Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I acquired An Introduction to the American Underground Film by Sheldon Renan over thirty years ago as an unwanted donation to the old Mississauga Central Library. As with The Trials of OZ, which was another donations reject to the same location, I have finally decided to read it and weed it from my personal library. Why did I wait three decades to read these books? They were both wonderful! I suppose that with the Renan work the cover was unappealing and some of the film stills inside were a bit–dare I say–frightening. It surprised me how rapidly I got through it. I was genuinely disappointed when I finished it.

As a fan of Andy Warhol’s cinematic oeuvre, and a viewer of many of his films from the black-and-white times in the early sixties when it really was him behind the camera, I anticipated his section in the Gallery of Film-Makers chapter. This book was published in 1967 and references material up to 1966. Thus Warhol’s later work, like the infamous 25-hour movie **** from 1967, was not covered. That the book came out at a time when Warhol was still making movies was one of its appeals. I also believe that the author’s age–Renan was 26–contributed to its accessibility.

Bruce Conner, a director profiled in the Gallery of Film-Makers, gave me a double-take when I realized that a short film he made entitled Breakaway, about Antonia Christina Basilotta, was about none other than one of my favourite choreographers and recording artists, Toni Basil. As a fan of the dancer and singer I immediately recognized her full name. And this was in 1966. I wonder if Renan recognized her stage name when Basil burst into international fame in the early eighties.

Renan spent the first half of the book defining the term “underground” film, and writing about the history of the genre before this specific name took hold. Whether “avant-garde” or “experimental”, the name may have changed with the times but the end product was often the same. In the past I had always found books that talked about films to be boring reads if I hadn’t seen the films under discussion. With this book however I drank up all of the descriptions as Renan discussed experiments in film editing, speed, projection, lighting and even film manipulation through painting and scratching. The future was in computers and the catch-all term “expanded cinema”, which combined media such as television, dance, projection methods and could involve audience participation–even using the audience to project the movies onto.

[Jacob Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real rogues gallery. Literally the lot of them nutcases. You have to be in this Underground. Once borrowed this book in uni thinking it would lead me to more exploitation pictures, wrong Underground, son. This was the first book to really document these avant garde filmmakers and it takes you through every movement. Acting as a sort of hangout with all their styles being looked in to, how one in this game makes their money and where one exhibits these films/how thats changed. Belson, Deren, Anger, Brakhage, Bunuel. All the greats are covered as well as dudes you may have missed. Going from cinemas birth, even pre cinema and it's future. Surprisingly captures the scene perfectly and it's predictions on the expansion of the medium were fantastic considering the time it was written. Then again, as the final line says, "it is only light and time that link all forms of cinema, past, present and future".

[Martin Raybould · Rating 4 out of 5]

A happy discovery in a second hand bookshop (next to a guide to The Sound of Music!) Written when most of the underground directors were alive and kicking against the mainstream film culture. An insightful guide to the main players - a good read and a valuable refernce source.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little jewel of a book for art in film enthusiasts.