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Trash: A Queer Film Classic

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Synopsis

Trash, one of three inaugural titles in Arsenal Pulp Press' new film book series Queer Film Classics, delves into the legendary 1970 film that was arguably the greatest collaboration between director Paul Morrissey and producer Andy Warhol.

The film Trash is a down-and-out domestic melodrama about a decidedly eccentric couple: Joe, an impotent junkie (played by Warhol film regular Joe Dallesandro), and Holly, Joe's feisty and sexually frustrated girlfriend (played by trans Warhol superstar Holly Woodlawn). Joe is the hunky yet passive center around whom proud Holly orbits; while Morrissey intended to show that "there's no difference between a person using drugs and a piece of refuse," Woodlawn's incredible turn reverses his logic: she makes trash as precious as human beings.

The book examines the film in the context of Morrissey and Warhol's legendary partnership, with a special focus on Woodlawn's acclaimed performance: a glorious embodiment of "trash" and glamour that was so stunning, director George Cukor led a campaign (albeit unsuccessful) to win her an Oscar nomination.

Review

Another of the new titles in Arsenal Pulp's Queer Film Series is Jon Davies's Trash, a look at a collaboration between Paul Morrisey and Andy Warhol. Made in 1970, the film has become a legend. It is the story of Joe (Joe Dellasandro), an impotent junkie and Holly (Holly Woodlawn), Joe's sexually frustrated girlfriend. Joe is the center of Holly's world and it appears that the goal of director Morrisey was to show that a drug user is no better than a piece of trash but the movie does just the opposite and shows us through Holly that trash is just as valuable as are human beings. The movie is an allegory of the stars themselves as well as of the other characters in the film--the actors went from being nobodies to some bodies after this film was released. The satire is heavy and we go from one strange situation to another and we are left with the impression that "trash is truth". This little book is an "everything you ever wanted to know about `Trash' but were afraid to ask". It is full of information and Davies knows the film well.

-- Amos Lassen

Product Format Information

Book Trade Paperback: $13.49

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
ISBN: 9781551522616
Catalog #: BT2913462

Publisher : Arsenal Pulp Press

Customer Reviews

Morrisey and Warhol

Amos Lassen wrote on 04/11/2011:

Another of the new titles in Arsenal Pulp's Queer Film Series is Jon Davies's "Trash", a look at a collaboration between Paul Morrisey and Andy Warhol. Made in 1970, the film has become a legend. It is the story of Joe (Joe Dellasandro), an impotent junkie and Holly (Holly Woodlawn), Joe's sexually frustrated girlfriend. Joe is the center of Holly's world and it appears that the goal of director Morrisey was to show that a drug user is no better than a piece of trash but the movie does just the opposite and shows us through Holly that trash is just as valuable as are human beings. The movie is an allegory of the stars themselves as well as of the other characters in the film--the actors went from being nobodies to some bodies after this film was released. The satire is heavy and we go from one strange situation to another and we are left with the impression that "trash is truth". This little book is an "everything you ever wanted to know about `Trash' but were afraid to ask". It is full of information and Davies knows the film well.