Narcissus (1956)

Synopsis of Narcissus

As described by P. Adams Sitney, Narcissus (Ben Moore) "wanders in desolation through an outdoor corridor formed by two rows of busts of the Roman emperors." Narcissus finds his reflection in a pool, and later in a series of three mirrors which reflect the two different aspects of his sexual identity and "love that insures one a place in the present and history," according to director Willard Maas. Narcissus was Willard Maas' most ambitious project, and probably the first feature-length underground film made in the United States to be shown to the public -- the premiere was held at a special screening in New York in 1955. Narcissus represents direct evidence of the influence of Jean Cocteau's film The Blood of a Poet among early underground filmmakers. It was given an "Award of Distinction" by the Creative Film Foundation. ~ David Lewis, Rovi

Director(s):

Bennie Moore, Ben Moore, Willard Maas

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