Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry
| Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Donald Brittain John Kramer |
| Written by | Donald Brittain John Kramer |
| Produced by | Donald Brittain Robert A. Duncan James de B. Domville (exec.) |
| Starring | Richard Burton (readings) |
| Narrated by | Donald Brittain |
| Cinematography | Douglas Kiefer Jacques Avoine (animation) |
| Edited by | John Kramer Les Halman (sound) Abbey Jack Neidik (sound) |
| Music by | Alain Clavier |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | National Film Board of Canada |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry is a 1976 documentary film directed by Donald Brittain and John Kramer for the National Film Board of Canada.[1]
Malcolm Lowry, author of one of the major novels of the 20th century, Under the Volcano, was an English writer who spent a significant amount of time living and working in Vancouver. Due, in part, to his chronic alcoholism, his life was tortured and nomadic. Shot on location in four countries, the film combines photographs, readings by Richard Burton, and interviews with the people who loved and hated the man.
The documentary tells Lowry's story in two ways: through Lowry’s own tortured words, read by Burton, and through interviews with family members and friends, including Margerie Bonner and Arthur Calder-Marshall, who helplessly watched Lowry’s self-destruction.
Though some have criticized its pedestrian, literal linking of words and images and unrevealing interviews, Volcano is a powerful work that (as one critic wrote) "goes beyond conventional documentary" to reveal "a Picasso-like multi-perspective truth."[2]
Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry is included as a bonus feature on the Criterion Collection DVD release of Under the Volcano.[3]
Awards[edit]
- 27th Canadian Film Awards, 1976:
- Best Documentary
- Best Direction
- Best Film Editing
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Music Score
- Best Non-Dramatic Script
- Chicago International Film Festival: Nominee, Best Documentary, 1976
- 49th Academy Awards: Nominee: Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film, 1977[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry". nfb.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry". cfe.tiff.net. Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ WISE, WYNDHAM. "Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ^ "The 49th Academy Awards (1977) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ^ "NY Times: Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2011. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
External links[edit]
- Watch Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry on the NFB website
- Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry at IMDb
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- 1976 films
- 1976 documentary films
- Canadian documentary films
- Best Short Documentary Film Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
- Documentary films about writers
- Films directed by Donald Brittain
- National Film Board of Canada documentaries
- 1970s English-language films
- 1970s Canadian films
- Biographical documentary film stubs
- Arts documentary film stubs