I Am a Hotel
Encyclopedia
I Am a Hotel is a 1983
Canadian
made for TV short musical film
, written by Leonard Cohen
and Mark Shekter and directed by Allan F. Nicholls
.
The storyline is based around imaginary events in the King Edward Hotel
in Toronto
, and the guests' (usually romantic) interactions with each other.
had the idea for the film based upon his personal experiences and his song The Guests. It was originally intended for the Canadian pay TV network C-Channel, but when the network collapsed, the production was completed by City TV with financial assistance from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) and the Canadian Film Development Corporation.
There are five scenes, each based around a Cohen song.
A short epilogue repeats the opening material from 'The Guests'. The final credits give the makers as 'Blue Memorial Video Ltd' and dedicate the piece to David Blue (1941-1982).
international television award at the 1984 Montreux TV festival in Montreux, Switzerland.
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
made for TV short musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
, written by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
and Mark Shekter and directed by Allan F. Nicholls
Allan F. Nicholls
Allan F. Nicholls born April 8, 1945 in Montreal, Quebec, is a Canadian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, composer and musician. He was nominated for both a BAFTA and WGA award for his writing on the 1978 film A Wedding. He is often credited as Allan Nicholls.Allan was lead...
.
The storyline is based around imaginary events in the King Edward Hotel
King Edward Hotel (Toronto)
The King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Canada is part of the Le Méridien chain of hotels. Officially known as the Le Méridien King Edward Hotel, it is also colloquially called the King Eddy.-Location:...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and the guests' (usually romantic) interactions with each other.
Production
Leonard CohenLeonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
had the idea for the film based upon his personal experiences and his song The Guests. It was originally intended for the Canadian pay TV network C-Channel, but when the network collapsed, the production was completed by City TV with financial assistance from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC) and the Canadian Film Development Corporation.
Scenes
Cohen features frequently, as an amused bystander ('the Resident'). Extensive dance routines in scenes 2 and 3 were choreographed by Ann(e) Ditchburn, who also dances as the Gypsy wife in scene 3.There are five scenes, each based around a Cohen song.
- 1 The Guests in which the characters enter via the lobby and are taken to their rooms; The bellboy and chambermaid meet in the corridor; and the manager and his wife apparently have angry words in the lobby after which she strides off.
- 2 Memories (in which the bellboy pursues the chambermaid around the laundry and ballroom)
- 3 The Gypsy wife (in which the manager's wife, in fetching attire, dances on the boardroom table)
- 4 Chelsea Hotel # 2 (in which the two lovers try, and fail, to make love, and the admiral and diva at last face each other across the hallway)
- 5 Suzanne (in which scenes of Suzanne with Cohen are interspersed with shots of the two couples reunited and dancing together, and the hotel manager distraught and then drinking at the bar)
A short epilogue repeats the opening material from 'The Guests'. The final credits give the makers as 'Blue Memorial Video Ltd' and dedicate the piece to David Blue (1941-1982).
Cast
- Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
as The Resident - Celia FrancaCelia FrancaCelia Franca, was the founder of The National Ballet of Canada and its artistic director for 24 years ....
as The Diva - Alberta WatsonAlberta WatsonFaith Susan Alberta Watson , known professionally as Alberta Watson, is a Canadian movie and television series actress.-Early life:...
as Suzanne - Toller CranstonToller CranstonToller Shalitoe Montague Cranston, CM is a Canadian figure skater and painter. He is the 1971-1976 Canadian national champion, the 1974 World bronze medalist, and the 1976 Olympic bronze medalist....
as The Manager - Claudia MooreClaudia MooreClaudia Moore is a dancer and choreographer who resides in Toronto, Canada. She is the artistic director of MOonhORsE dance theatre...
as Chambermaid - Daniel Allman as Young Lover
- Samantha Logan as Young Lover
- Robert Desrosiers as The Bellboy
- Anne Ditchburn as The Gypsy Wife
- Leo Leyden as The Admiral
Recognition
The film won a Golden RoseRose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
international television award at the 1984 Montreux TV festival in Montreux, Switzerland.
External links
- I Am a Hotel at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- I Am a Hotel at the Leonard Cohen files