Jack Smith

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.

For:Fans of experimental and underground cinema, film students and scholars interested in 1960s avant-garde film.