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Synopsis

In this acclaimed adaptation of the first novel by legendary Southern writer Flannery O’Connor, John Huston brings to life a world of vivid, poetic American eccentricity. Brad Dourif, in an impassioned performance, is Hazel Motes, who, fresh out of the army, attempts to open the first Church Without Christ in the small town of Taulkinham. Populated with inspired performances that seem to spring right from O’Connor’s pages, Huston’s Wise Blood is an incisive portrait of spirituality and evangelicalism, as well as a faithful, loving evocation of one writer’s vision. —The Criterion Collection

Director

Original

John Huston

Adventure in many forms is the theme of many of John Huston’s films. His characters are constantly searching for “the stuff that dreams are made of” (the famous closing-line of his debut film The Maltese Falcon). Huston glorified this chase despite its frequent disillusionment and false promise, since it represented a flight from the complacent virtues of ordinary life. Like Ernest Hemingway and Joseph Conrad, Huston regarded civilization as a false surface which thinly veiled a hostile nature. Only those who lived at the edge, on the margins of society were regarded by Huston as fellow travellers. In films as diverse as The Treasure of Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle and Under the Volcano, Huston celebrated men who circled the abyss; characters who are driven to plunge head first into the void.
The son of the great theatre and film actor Walter Huston (who would win an Oscar under his son’s direction for his role in The Treasure of Sierra Madre) and crime journalist Rhea Gore… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 19 wall posts.
Picture of Christopher

Christopher

15Nov12

Surely one of the most bizarre movies I have seen. Loved it.

Picture of g legs

g legs

29Oct12

There sure are a lot of crazy people in Taulkinham.

Picture of BrianFromConcentrate

BrianFromConcentrate

14Jun12

The characters, all flawed, are extremely interesting. I found myself wanting to know more about the "blind" preacher and his girl. Also would have love to see more of Hazel's past. On my way out to buy some quicklime. Maybe I'll see you later.

Picture of Pierluigi Puccini

Pierluigi Puccini

19Feb12

Decidely more tragicomic and surrealist than ever before. Another show about the love that John Huston always professed to losers.

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Reviews

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Blinded by the Light - 2.5 stars

By lolo341 on November 26, 2011

As I read Wise Blood, I kept thinking what a great film it would make. Then I found out Huston filmed an adaptation 30 years ago, and Criterion was bringing it back to life. Having seen it, I’m vastly…  read review

Destined to enjoy this movie

By Publius on July 20, 2010

I was recently drawn to a British film, Mike Leigh’s ‘Naked’ (1993) after reading the briefest of plot summaries and seeing a single film still. That night, I had a dream about that movie and conjured…  read review

Message lost in a Haze...

By OOO on January 26, 2010

This film was the skeleton of Flannery O’Connor’s Wise Blood. It never successfully realized her message of spiritual redemption through destruction. It lacked Flannery’s poetry, but nevertheless…  read review

Untitled

By Pulpwin​o on October 24, 2009

Being a huge fan of the novel I wondered how good this adaptation would be. Overall, an excellent film, but would agree that the score doesn’t always fit the story; I also think it would have been…  read review

Forum

Displaying 2 discussion topics.

A complete shift in tone

5 posts by 4 people almost 2 years ago

Wise Blood

11 posts by 8 people about 4 years ago