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Allen Ginsburg’s Howl Inspires a Film?
It’s Not What You Think / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | September 9, 2008 | Comments (27)

James_Franco_by_shad0wz0ne.jpgWoah. There at first, I thought someone had grown an elephantine pair, when the headline I saw hinted that Hollywood was going to adapt Allen Ginsburg’s Howl for the big screen, which is a bit like walking into a nursing home and turning the demented ravings of an Alzheimer’s patient into a film, except the demented ravings would probably make more sense.

Beatniks suck.

But, it turns out, they are just going to make a film about the obscenity trial launched to censor Allen Ginsburg’s book, which means instead of being a nonsensical movie, it’ll just be a dull one. But wait: There are a few neat actors who are taking roles in the film, though I’m guessing only one (David Straithern) actually read and understood Howl. The rest, I assume, will be like every goddamn college kid with a goatee at a poetry slam in the basement of their dorm — they’re going to pretend so that they fit in. The pretenders? Mary Louise Parker as the prosecution witness, Gail Parker; Paul Rudd as literary critic and defense witness, Luther Nichols; Alan Alda as the judge; Straithern as the prosecuting attorney; and James Franco as Allen Ginsberg.

Documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (An Evening with Eddie Gomez) will produce, write, and direct. Only a handful of Boomers will watch.


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Comments

Dramatization of Howl? Simpsons have been there, done that about five years ago.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 9, 2008 10:52 AM

Next thing you know they'll turn Finnegan's Wake into a movie... now that would be interesting. Or insane. You choose.

Posted by: Karen at September 9, 2008 10:54 AM

Beatniks suck.

They're called beats.

Also, fuck you.

Posted by: twig at September 9, 2008 11:01 AM

Come on, Alan Alda's a smart guy that knows what's up.

Posted by: Bucko at September 9, 2008 11:03 AM

Okay, guys. You can't expect me to respond to text with James Franco there. Even if it's a bad picture of him.

Ooh, I saw Mary-Louise Parker's name somehwere in there!

But James Franco... Hamana-hamana-hamana...

Posted by: Sofía at September 9, 2008 11:08 AM

The obscenity trial is, actually, incredibly interesting history. A movie about it during the current political climate and right-wing religious fanaticism might be very timely.

Oh, and "Howl" is a kind of awesome poem.

Posted by: pseudoliterati at September 9, 2008 11:15 AM

Yeah, I kind of think that the best minds of my generation will be able to handle Howl as a film if done correctly. I also suspect it could be easily done as a gay zombie porn movie:

"...who bit detectives in the neck and shrieked with delight in policecars for committing no crime but their own wild cooking pederasty and intoxication....and were dragged off the roof waving genitals and manuscripts, who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and screamed with joy..."

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 9, 2008 11:27 AM

And since we're on the topic of writers: Sebastian Barry just was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Woo hoo!

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 9, 2008 11:34 AM

To be fair, Franco's got quite the penchant for reading obtuse literary works most actors wouldn't touch with an assistant's assistant's script-reader using a magnifying glass. Despite the fact that he comes off high as a kite, oh, every waking second. He must be one of those brilliant stoners who gets lofty and pontificates about existentialist gay zombies.

Posted by: jbag at September 9, 2008 11:38 AM

I'll probably rent it. Sue me; I'm an English major.

My only quibble: Was Ginsberg ever as slender as James Franco? Or is Franco going to do a DeNiro and fatten up for the role?

Posted by: Jerce at September 9, 2008 11:43 AM

Please, please, please, will you have Ranylt review it? I was want to see some heads spinning.

And Jerce: I think Ginsburg came out of the womb with a significant paunch and a beard.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 9, 2008 11:47 AM

Paddy - I have only read part of the poem (it ain't my cup of tea) but wow! You need to write the script now. This needs to happen. I see it as a musicall actually.

Posted by: Brian at September 9, 2008 11:48 AM

I quite like that cast, and, indeed, it may be a really good story. I can't criticize the story and the book itself.

However, I did go to college and had some brainy friends in high school too and thus I learned that beat fandom can be as dull to be around as the same people forming a pot circle, except the pot doesn't feel pretentious, just exceptionally boring and "uh...yeah...I gotta get going....see you guys later!".

So I can't say this'll be bad, but I cannot get excited in the slightest.

(not to say that I don't love "Ghetto Defendant"!)

Posted by: Jay at September 9, 2008 11:54 AM

Brian:

You're right. A musical. But none of your Lloyd Webber crap. We need Philip Glass and definitely Bowie in the lead role.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 9, 2008 11:55 AM

Um, really people. You think Ginsberg was sober when he wrote Howl? Wasn't he a Merry Prankster?
Franco might be just the youngster to play Ginsberg.

I wouldn't/won't go near a theater playing this however- douchebag heaven!

Posted by: Amanda47 at September 9, 2008 11:57 AM

I shall spill blood and graveyard soil in an attempt to raise _______ The Unpronounceable if this travesty gets made.

Murder Tank, HO!

Posted by: The Wanderer at September 9, 2008 12:13 PM

"douchebag heaven"

Truth.

Posted by: Bucko at September 9, 2008 12:13 PM

David Strathairn is yummy. I should put him on my hot freebies list.

Posted by: Loob at September 9, 2008 12:55 PM

Yeah, Ranylt gets to review it! We've decided it!

I can't wait for this. And jbag's right, Franco will know what he's doing. Easily the most misused young actor in Hollywood today.

Posted by: vinniedelpino at September 9, 2008 1:29 PM

I might be wrong but wasn't the obscenity trial in the mid 70's or so?

So... ahem... anybody else remember David Cross in I'm Not There? Playing Alan Ginsberg? Reflecting roughly the same time period? And how he was a freaking dead ringer? And it was awesome?

No? Just me? damn...

Posted by: Kizzer at September 9, 2008 1:29 PM

When I was a teen and trying desperately to pretend I understood Howl, I got a chance to meet Alan Ginsberg at the Dodge Poetry Festival in NJ (I didn't go there on my own, it was a HS field trip). Anyways, he was a super douchebag and I remember yelling after him, "Fuck you Alan Ginsberg!" and it was the most exciting moment of my teenage life (so far). Seriously, he was the most douchetastic individual I've met to this day.

Posted by: Melina at September 9, 2008 7:45 PM

When I was a teen and trying desperately to pretend I understood Howl, I got a chance to meet Alan Ginsberg at the Dodge Poetry Festival in NJ (I didn't go there on my own, it was a HS field trip). Anyways, he was a super douchebag and I remember yelling after him, "Fuck you Alan Ginsberg!" and it was the most exciting moment of my teenage life (so far). Seriously, he was the most douchetastic individual I've met to this day.

Posted by: Melina at September 9, 2008 7:46 PM

When I was in high school I really loved the beat poets (ferlinghetti is still awesome to me--the rest can rot) and I had a chance to meet Alan Ginsberg at the Dodge Poetry Festival in NJ (class trip). He was so douchetastic that I screamed, "Fuck you Alan Ginsberg!" as he walked away from me and it was one of the greatest moments of my young life. Seriously, the man was a total dick.

Posted by: Melina at September 9, 2008 7:51 PM

When I was in high school I really loved the beat poets (ferlinghetti is still awesome to me) and I had a chance to meet Alan Ginsberg at the Dodge Poetry Festival in NJ (class trip). He was so douchetastic that I screamed, "Fuck you Alan Ginsberg!" as he walked away from me and it was one of the greatest moments of my young life. Seriously, the man was a total dick.

Posted by: Melina at September 9, 2008 7:52 PM

Are you gonna be ok..?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at September 9, 2008 7:53 PM

I read somewhere that Franco's taking his MFA in Creative Writing at Columbia. So he couldn't be one of them goateed poetry slam poseurs, right? Right?! That picture of him seriously isn't helping, though. He looks like the melty welded-on face inside Robocop's helmet.

Posted by: michalltogether at September 9, 2008 10:05 PM

Allen Ginsberg:

spelling his name is harder than you think.

Posted by: teacupnosaucer at September 11, 2008 7:54 PM