A Bigger Splash (1973 film)

A Bigger Splash
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Hazan
Written by
  • Jack Hazan
  • David Mingay
Produced by
  • Jack Hazan
  • Mike Kaplan
StarringDavid Hockney
CinematographyJack Hazan
Edited byDavid Mingay
Music byPatrick Gowers
Release dates
  • October 1973 (1973-10) (Chicago)
  • 5 October 1974 (1974-10-05) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$95,826[1]

A Bigger Splash is a 1973 British biographical documentary film about David Hockney's lingering breakup with his then-partner Peter Schlesinger, from 1970 to 1973. Directed by Jack Hazan and edited by David Mingay, it has music by Patrick Gowers. Featuring many of Hockney's circle,[2] it includes designers Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark,[3] artist Patrick Procktor, gallery owner John Kasmin and museum curator Henry Geldzahler.[4]

Analysis

It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary, intercut with fictionalised and fantasy elements.[2] It is notable for its treatment of gay themes and its insights into Hockney's life and work.[5][6] The film takes its title from the 1967 painting A Bigger Splash, perhaps Hockney's best-known Californian swimming pool picture[7] and his best-known artwork at all.[8] Hockney was initially shocked by its intimacy[9] but later changed his mind.[10]

Home video

A Bigger Splash was newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative by Metrograph[11] and released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber in 2020.

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Bigger Splash". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Oberon Amsterdam, "A Bigger Splash (1974) - Jack Hazan", IDFA, retrieved 5 May 2023
  3. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Bigger Splash, A (1974)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ^ "A Bigger Splash". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. ^ Kenny, Glenn. "A Bigger Splash Movie Review & Film Summary (2019)". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  6. ^ Anderson, Melissa (June 2019). "Melissa Anderson on Jack Hazan's A Bigger Splash". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  7. ^ "'A Bigger Splash', David Hockney, 1967". Tate. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Understanding David Hockney's A Bigger Splash". Tate. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ "How 1970s Hockney Film Pre-empted Reality TV". BBC News. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  10. ^ French, Philip (4 March 2012). "A Bigger Splash". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. ^ "A Bigger Splash". Metrograph. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. ^ "A Bigger Splash". Variety. 1 January 1975. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  13. ^ Hoberman, J. (19 June 2019). "A Clearer Picture of 'A Bigger Splash'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 May 2023.