The Blank Generation
Directed byIvan Kral
Amos Poe
Produced byIvan Kral
Amos Poe
StarringPatti Smith Group
Television
Ramones
The Heartbreakers
Talking Heads
Blondie
Edited byAmos Poe
Ivan Kral
Production
company
Poe Productions
Distributed byNew Line Cinema[1]
Release date
  • 1976 (1976)
Running time
53 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Blank Generation (1976) is the earliest of the released DIY "home movies" of the 1970s punk rock scene in New York City. It was filmed by No Wave filmmaker Amos Poe and Patti Smith Group member Ivan Kral.

Synopsis

Directors and producers Kral and Poe filmed behind-the-scenes and on- and offstage footage of punk musicians before they became icons.[2][3] The project stemmed from Kral's visual diary of his experiences in New York, filming bandmates and friends with a 16mm camera.

The film includes footage of Blondie, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, The Heartbreakers, The Shirts, and Robert Gordon (then with Tuff Darts).

Production

The action is centered on the music scene in New York clubs including CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Film locations also include the Hotel Chelsea, The Bottom Line, and other spots in the Bowery and Lower East Side neighborhoods. Legal disputes between Poe and Kral ultimately resulted in the removal of Poe's name from the credits once Kral asserted copyright to the film years after its initial release.[4]

Reception

Dave Kehr of The Chicago Reader called the film "New wave's answer to The T.A.M.I. Show".[5] while Time Out New York put it at #89 on their list of the 100 Best NY Movies.[6]

Cast

Musicians featured in the film include: Clem Burke, David Byrne, Jayne County, Wayne County, Jay Dee Daugherty, Jimmy Destri, Billy Ficca, Chris Frantz, Annie Golden, Robert Gordon, Debbie Harry, Richard Hell, David Johansen, Arthur Kane, Lenny Kaye, Ivan Kral, Richard Lloyd, Walter Lure, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Jerry Nolan, Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Jeff Salen (Tuff Darts), Fred Smith, Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Chris Stein, Syl Sylvain, Johnny Thunders, Gary Valentine, Tom Verlaine and Tina Weymouth; as well as CBGB owner Hilly Kristal and others.

See also

References

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