Portrait of Jason

Author

Shirley Clarke

Call Number

• DVD 921 H7395P (CEN)

Browse similar titles by call number

Languages

English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Performers

Jason Holliday.

Publication Information

[Harrington Park, NJ] : Milestone Film & Video ; [New York] : Oscilloscope Laboratories, [2014]

Physical Description

1 videodisc (107 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.

Audience

Not rated.

Summary

This portrait of Jason Holliday, a black gay prostitute who dreams of a career as a nightclub performer, is drawn from twelve consecutive hours of filming in a New York City apartment. As he reminisces about his life, Holliday discusses his homosexuality and the gay subcultures in San Francisco and New York. He jokes with the off-screen filmmaker and crew and maintains a sense of humor even as he recalls hustling, heroin addiction, and jail time. Holliday also performs for the camera, impersonating female entertainers and movie personalities such as Mae West, Butterfly McQueen, and Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the wind.

Notes

"Restoration by the Academy Film Archive, Milestone Films and Modern Videofilm"--Container.

Originally released as a documentary in 1967.

Special features: The lost confrontation (7 min.) ; Where's Shirley? (25 min.) ; Jason in color! (3 min.) ; Portrait of Jason trailer (2 min.) ; Jason, before and after (2 min.) ; Butterfly (1967, 4 min.) ; Shirley Clarke in underground New York (1967, 10 min.) ; Jason unleashed (audio outtakes) (35 min.) ; Pacifica Radio interview with Shirley Clarke (1967, 53 min.) ; Jason Holliday comedy album [audio only] (1967, 54 min.; courtesy of Regina Longo).