The Balcony

US (1963): Drama

There are those who consider Jean Genet's hallucinatory play The Balcony as a work of deep profundity. There are many others who can't get through the first act without dozing. Whatever the case, the film version of The Balcony mercifully pares down Genet's excess verbiage -- which doesn't make the plot or the characters any more palatable, but which does get the audience home on time. The scene is a European brothel managed by Shelley Winters. Within the establishment's walls, customers can live out their fantasies: One man who would like to be a Bishop masturbates on a crucifix, another who wants to be a Judge flogs an under-dressed young "penitent", a third poses as a General, "riding" a whore dressed as a horse, and so it goes. Meanwhile, a revolution rages outside, and the country's genuine Bishop, Prelate, and General are killed -- as is the Queen. To keep up appearances, Winters and her customers are ordered to impersonate the deceased powers-that-were. Despite the vaunted reputation of the play and the attractive production values of the film, The Balcony is frankly a shower of slime. The sole source of interest to today's audiences is its cast of stars-to-be, including Ruby Dee, Lee Grant and Leonard Nimoy. Joseph Strick directs. (City Film/Continental) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

· Cinematography (Black and White) 1963: George Folsey

1 nomination