Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Movies
John Kirby's satirical documentary The American Ruling Class features former Harper's Magazine editor Lewis Lapham leading the viewer through a number of clips and interviews that question if America has developed a culture that runs the nation, or if it still is possible to rise up through hard work and become one of the powerful people. Among the artists and power brokers who dispense their ideas on this topic are director Robert Altman, writer Kurt Vonnegut, and folk singer Pete Seeger. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Will Eisner never became a household name, but ask nearly anyone who works in comics about him and they'll speak with admiration about one of the pioneering talents in the medium. Born in New York City in 1917, Eisner started drawing at a young age, and became involved in comics at a crucial point in their development, when comic books were moving from reprints of popular newspaper strips to tabloids featuring original material. In 1936, on the advice of his friend Bob Kane (who went on to create Batman), he created an adventure series, Captain Scott Dalton, for a new publication called Wow, What A Magazine! It was the first step in a successful career in what he called "sequential art," and in 1939, Eisner created the series The Spirit, following the adventures of a masked crime fighter patrolling the streets of a major American city. The Spirit boasted artwork with a unique, richly detailed look inspired by the shadow lands of film noir, and Eisner gave his characters an emotional depth that was unique to comics; the result was a mature creation that appealed to adults as much as youngsters, and was wildly influential on a generation of artists and writers. Eisner believed that comics were an art form long before the notion was popular, and created one of the first "graphic novels," A Contract With God, a book-length comic story of life in a Jewish ghetto. Eisner was also one of the first comic artists to control the rights to his own creations, giving him creative control over his work and a fair share of their profits. Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist is a documentary which explores the life and career of a true giant in American graphic arts; the film received its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Released from prison after serving a five year sentence for armed robbery, ex-convict Rico (Robert La Sardo) attempts to reconnect with his ex-wife and daughter in director Robert Oppel's emotionally-charged drama. Prison life was never easy, but now Rico is torn between his allegiance those who would tear him down, and his dedication to building a new life. The minefields that Rico will now walk aren't just emotional either - should he make the wrong move on the outside chances are good that Rico could suffer physically as well. Thankfully for Rico, a wise apparition named Robert (Kurt Vonnegut) will be there to help guide him and ensure that the conflicted ex-convict finally have the chance to hold his daughter close once again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert La Sardo, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., (more)
- 2000
Biography of America is a series designed to present American history as a contiguous narrative, not a randomly associated stream of events, people, and places. Each episode is designed to present a facet of American history from a wide variety of viewpoints and perspectives. Intended for use in the classroom, this set functions well as a complete telecourse or as a library of information on specific topics within American historical dialogue. The intent of each episode is to show the human side of history and to force students to think critically about the past. Each episode is augmented with archival footage and other materials from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. This particular episode examines how narrative fuses with memory to create history. The problems of separating fact from fantasy are discussed, and the program includes a discussion with author Kurt Vonnegut. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
In a small American town called Midland City, Dwayne Hoover (Bruce Willis) -- a loyal father, a successful car dealer, and a respected member of the community --lives with his wife Celia (Barbara Hershey), who's addicted to pills and TV shows, and his son Bunny (Lukas Haas), who is a weakling. What's more, his best friend and employee Harry Le Sabre (Nick Nolte) is a paranoid red-lace-lingerie fetishist. Dwayne finds short-term consolation in the arms of his secretary and mistress, Francine (Glenne Headley). As the American Dream slowly becomes his nightmare, Hoover begins to retreat into a fantasy world, filled with strange voices and fearful visions. It takes only the arrival of third-rate science-fiction writer Kilgore Trout (Albert Finney) -- whose novels are turned into fourth-rate porno comics -- at the Midland City Art Festival for things to explode. Hoover's only hope is Kilgore, whom he has raised to the status of a guru in his fantasies. However, the two men meet when time, space, and reality have already lost their meaning. Now it is only nonsense that makes sense and madness that reigns; the American dream has turned into lunacy. Breakfast of Champions, which had its world premiere during the 49th International Berlin Film Festival in 1999, is the outcome of a project in the making for over twenty years. Director Alan Rudolph wrote the script when the novel by Kurt Vonnegut was first published. However, it took all this time (and perhaps the casting of someone like Bruce Willis in order to get it financed) for the project to be realized. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Willis, Albert Finney, (more)
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. once summarized the moral of his novel Mother Night like so: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." In Keith Gordon's film adaptation of Vonnegut's book, Nick Nolte stars as Howard W. Campbell Jr., an American playwright living in Germany shortly before the U.S. entered World War II. Campbell is essentially apolitical; if he sometimes hobnobs with Nazi leaders, it's only because they're VIPs in his time, place, and social circle, and he cares for little besides his writing and his beloved wife Helga (Sheryl Lee). One day, Campbell is approached by Frank Wirtenan (John Goodman), an American intelligence agent who offers Campbell an unusual assignment -- a position as a radio commentator beaming Nazi propaganda broadcasts to U.S. troops across Europe, which in fact feature coded information that will aid the American war effort. Campbell agrees, but succeeds all too well -- he makes such a convincing Nazi sympathizer that at the end of the war, he finds it impossible to convince people he wasn't really a Nazi, and even those inclined to believe him feel he aided Germany as much as the Allies. After 15 years as a recluse in New York City, a racist tabloid prints a story about Campbell, and in 1961 he discovers himself behind bars, awaiting trial as a war criminal. Besides Nick Nolte, who gives an outstanding performance, the supporting cast also includes Alan Arkin, Frankie Faison, and Kirsten Dunst; Kurt Vonnegut Jr. also makes a cameo appearance. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Nolte, Sheryl Lee, (more)
- 1995
- R
Sean Astin stars as the title character in this creepy made-for-cable adaptation of the Kurt Vonnegut classic. Set in a future America, where a small, elite group controls the masses, teen Harrison Bergeron is chosen to lead a movement that promotes mediocrity. Christopher Plummer stars as John Klaxon, the mastermind behind the attempt to uniformly dumb-down Americans. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This made-for-cable-TV anthology is comprised of four provocative tales from one of America's most famous idealistic cynics, Kurt Vonnegut. The stories are "All The King's Horses," "Next Door," "The Euphio Question," and "Fortitude." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Self-made wealthy guy Rodney Dangerfield decides he needs a better education--and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Dangerfield joins his son Keith Gordon at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Sally Kellerman forms a strong bond with Dangerfield, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, (more)
- 1985
D.P. is also known as Displaced Person, the original title of the Kurt Vonnegut short story from which this TV drama is adapted. As World War II winds down, a young black boy is raised by an order of nuns in a small German town. The locals tease the boy, claiming that his long-lost father is an African-American GI from the occupation troops. The eager youth heads off to be reunited with the man (Stan Shaw) alleged to be his father. D.P. originally aired May 6, 1985, on PBS' American Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
To overcome his shyness, hardware store clerk Christopher Walken gets involved with his local community theatre group. Proving himself a powerful stage presence, Walken is cast as Stanley Kowalski in the group's upcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Still, he remains as bashful as ever offstage-at least until he meets his "Stella", phone-company employe Susan Sarandon. Touchingly adapted from a story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the 60-minute Who Am I This Time? was originally an installment of PBS' American Playhouse anthology. It made its debut on February 2, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
- PG
This dismal sci-fi comedy is based on a novel by Kurt Vonnegut and features Jerry Lewis and Madeline Kahn in dual roles as wealthy, respected parents who give birth to two gigantic, and ugly twins. The appalled parents try to keep them hidden away for they do not know that their "children" are really alien ambassadors who have come to help make the Earth a better place. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Madeline Kahn, (more)
"Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time." These opening words of Kurt Vonnegut's famous novel make an effective and short summary of a haunting, funny film. For the screen, director George Roy Hill faithfully renders Vonnegut's black anti-war comedy about Pilgrim (well played in a low key by Michael Sacks), who survives the horrendous 1945 fire bombing of Dresden then lives simultaneously in his past as a naïve American POW and in the future as a well-cared-for zoo resident on the planet Tralfamadore (with zaftig Valerie Perrine as his mate). In the present, he's a middle-aged optometrist in Ilium, NY. If this sounds like a bit of a jumble -- it is. But viewers willing to watch carefully will find the movie as intricate and harmonious as Glenn Gould's plaintive renderings of the Bach keyboard pieces that decorate its soundtrack. It's not essential, but fans who read the short, poetic book will find it a treat in itself, and it will help them appreciate Hill's genius in bringing this "Children's Crusade" to the screen. In addition to Sacks, there are noteworthy performances by Ron Leibman (Norma's union man in Norma Rae) as Pilgrim's crazed nemesis and by radio/TV/movie legend, John Dehner as the arrogant Professor Rumfoord. Hill, of course, came to this film from a big hit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and went on to triumph with The Sting one year later. The elaborate medieval and baroque architecture of pre-bombing Dresden was represented authentically in the film by scenes from Prague, since much of Dresden's architecture was lost to the bombing, and that city, in any case, was deep in East Germany, thus inaccessible at the time of filming. ~ Michael P. Rogers, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, (more)
- 1971
- R
Based on a play by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Happy Birthday, Wanda June takes us to the Ryan household, where Penelope Ryan (Susannah York) has learned to accept the death of her husband Harold, a supremely macho explorer and big game hunter who married her when she was working as a carhop. He disappeared in the jungles of the Amazon eight years ago and has never returned; as one character puts it, "Not even Mutual of Omaha believes he's alive anymore." Since then, Penelope has becomes educated, independent, and engaged to Norbert Woodley (George Grizzard), a doctor. Only Paul (Steven Paul), Harold's son, still believes that his father might still be alive. Paul turns out to be right after all when Harold (Rod Steiger) comes marching home after eight year in a jungle hell, only to discover nothing is as he left it, Penelope is an entirely different person, and his ideal of masculinity has become an anachronism. Meanwhile, someone picks up a cake at half price with the inscription "Happy Birthday, Wanda June," and in time we learn of Wanda June's sad fate and visit with her new friends in the Kingdom of Heaven. While Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was vocally unhappy with this adaptation of his play, it's actually quite accurate to its source and features several fine performances, especially William Hickey, reprising his stage role as Harold's sidekick, Looseleaf Harper. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Steiger, Susannah York, (more)
