The Cut-Ups backdrop

The Cut-Ups

1966·Documentary·19m
7.1
Essentially a dizzying montage of quirky shots of legendary Beat Generation writer William S. Burroughs and noted surrealist artist Brion Gysin, this nearly 20 minute avant-garde short features repeated articulations of such random things as "Hello," "Where are we now?," and "Look at that picture" instead of music or standard dialogue. The narrative is decidedly nonlinear and perplexing, with no discernible plot whatsoever as we see images of Gysin working on his paintings and calligraphic designs and Burroughs rummaging through draws, packing a suitcase, giving a young man a physical, making a call in a phone booth, and waiting on a platform for a subway train.
Directed by Antony Balch
short film

Cast

William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
Brion Gysin
Brion Gysin

Crew

William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
Story

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Peggy Snowblood
Peggy Snowblood
The Cut-Ups
Yes hello
Yes hello
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