Beauty No. 2 Explained

Beauty No. 2
Director:Andy Warhol
Starring:Edie Sedgwick
Gino Piserchio
Chuck Wein
Runtime:66 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Beauty No. 2 is a 1965 American avant-garde film by directed by Andy Warhol and starring Edie Sedgwick and Gino Piserchio.[1] Chuck Wein also has a role in the film but never appears onscreen. Wein wrote the scenario and is also credited as assistant director.[2]

Synopsis

The movie has a fixed point of view showing a bed with two characters on it, Sedgwick and Piserchio. The film's writer, Chuck Wein is heard speaking but is just out of view. Sedgwick is wearing a lace bra and panties, and Piserchio, wearing only jockey shorts, engage in flirting and light kissing. Wein asks Sedgwick questions seemingly designed to harass and annoy her. Piserchio is more or less a bystander not interacting with Wein.[3]

The dialogue was ad-libbed and no conclusions are reached in the film. The only conceivable climax is when Sedgwick finally becomes so mad at Wein's taunts, she throws a glass ashtray at Wein, breaking it.[4]

Reception

Beauty No. 2 was filmed in June 1965 and premiered at the Cinematheque at the Astor Place Playhouse in New York City on July 17, 1965.[5] Critical reviews were generally positive with some critics compared Edie Sedgwick's screen presence to Marilyn Monroe.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: O'Pray, Michael. Avant-garde Film: Forms, Themes and Passions. 2003. Wallflower Press. 1-903-36456-6. 123.
  2. Book: Willett, Edward. Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes. 2010. Enslow Publishers, Inc.. 978-0-766-03385-6. 72. registration.
  3. Book: Stein, Jean. Jean Stein. Plimpton, George. George Plimpton. Edie: An American Girl. 1982. Grove Press. 0-8021-3410-6. 240.
  4. Book: Crimp. Douglas. Warhol. Andy. Andy Warhol. "Our Kind of Movie": The Films of Andy Warhol. 2012. MIT Press. 978-0-262-01729-9. 29.
  5. Book: Painter. Melissa. Weisman. David . David Weisman. Edie: Girl on Fire. 2006. Chronicle Books. 0-811-85526-0. 189.