Lucifer Rising (film)
Encyclopedia
"Lucifer Rising" is a short film by director Kenneth Anger
. The film was completed in 1972 but was only widely distributed in 1980.
to act and compose the soundtrack. The film was abandoned in 1967 because Anger claimed the film footage had been stolen by Beausoleil. (Beausoleil and others said that Anger had simply spent all the money for the film.)
Anger then used some of the existing footage in another short film, "Invocation of My Demon Brother
". Beausoleil was convicted of killing Gary Hinman under the orders of Charles Manson
in 1970.
Anger began filming again several years later, with British singer Marianne Faithfull
appearing in the film. Chris Jagger, brother of Mick Jagger
, had a falling out with Anger during the filming and most of his parts were excised from the final product. Beausoleil wrote and recorded the music in prison.
Led Zeppelin
guitarist Jimmy Page
, who composed a soundtrack for the film which was ultimately unused, makes a brief appearance. A bearded Page holds an Egyptian stele
while gazing at a portrait of occultist Aleister Crowley
. Crowley associate Gerald Yorke
is credited as "Thelemic consultant."
Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger is an American underground experimental filmmaker, occasional actor and author...
. The film was completed in 1972 but was only widely distributed in 1980.
History
Anger began filming around 1966, hiring a young musician named Bobby BeausoleilBobby Beausoleil
Robert Kenneth "Bobby" Beausoleil is a convicted American murderer and associate of the Charles Manson "Family" who is serving a life sentence. He killed music teacher and fellow associate Gary Hinman on July 27, 1969, and has been imprisoned since his arrest for that crime...
to act and compose the soundtrack. The film was abandoned in 1967 because Anger claimed the film footage had been stolen by Beausoleil. (Beausoleil and others said that Anger had simply spent all the money for the film.)
Anger then used some of the existing footage in another short film, "Invocation of My Demon Brother
Invocation of My Demon Brother
Invocation of My Demon Brother is an 11 minute film directed, edited and photographed by Kenneth Anger. The music was composed by Mick Jagger playing a Moog Synthesizer. It was filmed in San Francisco at the Straight theater and the Russian Embassy.According to Kenneth Anger, the film was...
". Beausoleil was convicted of killing Gary Hinman under the orders of Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
in 1970.
Anger began filming again several years later, with British singer Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
appearing in the film. Chris Jagger, brother of Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, had a falling out with Anger during the filming and most of his parts were excised from the final product. Beausoleil wrote and recorded the music in prison.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, who composed a soundtrack for the film which was ultimately unused, makes a brief appearance. A bearded Page holds an Egyptian stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
while gazing at a portrait of occultist Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
. Crowley associate Gerald Yorke
Gerald Yorke
Major Gerald Joseph Yorke was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire. He was born and died in Tewkesbury. Yorke made a single first-class appearance for the team, during the 1925 season, against Glamorgan...
is credited as "Thelemic consultant."
Cast
- Kenneth AngerKenneth AngerKenneth Anger is an American underground experimental filmmaker, occasional actor and author...
- The Magus - Bobby BeausoleilBobby BeausoleilRobert Kenneth "Bobby" Beausoleil is a convicted American murderer and associate of the Charles Manson "Family" who is serving a life sentence. He killed music teacher and fellow associate Gary Hinman on July 27, 1969, and has been imprisoned since his arrest for that crime...
- Himself - Donald CammellDonald CammellDonald Seaton Cammell was a Scottish film director who enjoys a cult reputation thanks to his debut film Performance, which he co-directed with Nicolas Roeg.-Biography:...
- Osiris - Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
- Lilith - Myriam Gibril - Isis
- Chris Jagger - Man in Yellow Tunic
Soundtrack listing
Personnel
- Kenneth AngerKenneth AngerKenneth Anger is an American underground experimental filmmaker, occasional actor and author...
- liner notes, photos - Bobby BeausoleilBobby BeausoleilRobert Kenneth "Bobby" Beausoleil is a convicted American murderer and associate of the Charles Manson "Family" who is serving a life sentence. He killed music teacher and fellow associate Gary Hinman on July 27, 1969, and has been imprisoned since his arrest for that crime...
- electric guitar, bass guitar, liner notes, label design, photos - Toby Dammit - art direction, design
- Steve Grogan - electric guitar
- Richard Sutton - keyboards, Fender Rhodes
- Andy Thurston - drums
- Tim Wills - Fender Rhodes
- Page Wood - poster design
- Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (journalist)Michael Moynihan is an American journalist, publisher and musician. He is best known for co-writing the book Lords of Chaos, about black metal....
- liner notes (2005 Arcanum reissue)
External links
- Rotten Tomatoes
- Interview at beausoleil.net