A Bigger Splash (1973 film) explained

A Bigger Splash
Director:Jack Hazan
Starring:David Hockney
Music:Patrick Gowers
Cinematography:Jack Hazan
Editing:David Mingay
Runtime:105 minutes
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Gross:$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, it includes designers Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark,[2] artist Patrick Procktor, gallery owner John Kasmin and museum curator Henry Geldzahler.

Analysis

It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary, intercut with fictionalised and fantasy elements. It was a groundbreaking production at the time and remains notable for its treatment of gay themes and its insights into Hockney's life and work.[3] [4] The film takes its title from the 1967 painting A Bigger Splash, perhaps Hockney's best-known Californian swimming pool picture[5] and his best-known artwork at all.[6] Hockney was initially shocked by its intimacy[7] but later changed his mind.[8]

Home Video

A Bigger Splash was newly restored in 4k from the original camera negative by Metrograph[9] and released on Blu-Ray by Kino Lorber in 2020.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Bigger Splash. Box Office Mojo. January 24, 2020.
  2. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Bigger Splash, A (1974) . 2023-05-05 . www.screenonline.org.uk.
  3. Web site: Kenny . Glenn . A Bigger Splash movie review & film summary (2019) Roger Ebert . 2023-05-04 . www.rogerebert.com/ . en.
  4. Web site: Anderson . Melissa . Melissa Anderson on Jack Hazan's A Bigger Splash . 2023-05-04 . www.artforum.com . June 2019 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Tate . 'A Bigger Splash', David Hockney, 1967 . 2023-05-03 . Tate . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Tate . Understanding David Hockney's A Bigger Splash . 2023-05-03 . Tate . en-GB.
  7. News: 2012-01-27 . How 1970s Hockney film pre-empted reality TV . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-05-05.
  8. News: French . Philip . 2012-03-04 . A Bigger Splash . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-05-03 . 0261-3077.
  9. Web site: A Bigger Splash . 2023-08-27 . Metrograph . en-US.
  10. Web site: Variety Staff . 1975-01-01 . A Bigger Splash . 2023-05-04 . Variety . en-US.
  11. News: Hoberman . J. . 2019-06-19 . A Clearer Picture of 'A Bigger Splash' . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-05 . 0362-4331.