Jack Smith

The Profile

Jack Smith (1932–1989) was an American filmmaker and performance artist associated with the 1960s underground film scene, best known for Flaming Creatures (1963).

Flaming Creatures (1963) is a landmark of the New American Cinema that drew obscenity charges after a 1964 seizure; prominent figures such as Jonas Mekas and Susan Sontag defended the film. Smith is associated with experimental/underground cinema and performance-based work.

The provided review describes Flaming Creatures (1963) as a 43-minute experimental, plotless film that documents improvised parties and cross-dressing performances. The reviewer criticizes its technical qualities but recognizes its radical, anti-bourgeois intent. The film provoked an obscenity seizure in 1964 and a prominent defense by figures like Jonas Mekas and Susan Sontag.