Icon Movies

Burroughs: The Movie is the first and only documentary to be made about and with the full participation of writer William S. Burroughs. Howard Brookner began shooting the film in 1978 as his senior thesis at NYU; with Burroughs’ cooperation it subsequently expanded into a feature completed 5 years later in 1983. The film was shot by Tom DiCillo and the sound was recorded by Jim Jarmusch; both NYU classmates. In a collaboration between Burroughs and director Howard Brookner the film explores Burroughs’ life story along with many of his contemporaries including Allen Ginsberg, Brion Gysin, Francis Bacon, Herbert Huncke, Patti Smith, Terry Southern, and Lauren Hutton. Burroughs: The Movie documents Burroughs’ long, controversial and productive life in great detail, film traveling from the American Midwest to North Africa, through defining moments of his wildly unconventional life, including several personal tragedies, charting the development of Burroughs’ unique literary style.

Genres: Documentary

Starring: William S. Burroughs, Mortimer Burroughs

Released: October 8, 1983

Runtime: 86.0

Popularity Rating: 0.401

DPI, pinball london

United States of America

Himself William S. Burroughs
Mortimer Burroughs
Lucien Carr
Jackie Curtis
Allen Ginsberg
John Giorno
James Grauerholz
Brion Gysin
Patti Smith
Terry Southern

Crew — Cinematography: Cathy Dorsey
Crew — Cinematography: Howard Brookner
Crew — Cinematography: James A. Lebovitz
Crew — Cinematography: Larry Shlu
Crew — Cinematography: Mike Southon
Crew — Cinematography: Richard Camp
Crew — Cinematography: Tom DiCillo
Crew — Sound Recordist: Jim Jarmusch
Directing — Director: Howard Brookner
Production — Executive Producer: Edouard Douek
Production — Producer: Howard Brookner