Home Movies (film)

1979 film by Brian De Palma

August 28, 1979 (1979-08-28) (UK)

Running time

90 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$400,000Box office$89,134 (USA)

Home Movies is a 1979 independent film directed by Brian De Palma and starring Kirk Douglas,^[1]^[2] Nancy Allen, Vincent Gardenia, Keith Gordon, Theresa Saldana, and Gerrit Graham.

De Palma had been teaching film at his alma mater Sarah Lawrence College, and conceived this project as a hands-on training exercise for his students. They were given the primary responsibilities of raising money, arranging the shooting schedule, and editing the film, all under De Palma's supervision. Many of these students, such as Gilbert Adler, Sam Irvin, and Charlie Loventhal, went on to long careers of their own, producing and directing films.

Kirk Douglas plays a film instructor loosely modeled on the director himself. Keith Gordon is one of his pupils who films everything that happens at home. Many of the events that happen to Gordon's character were modeled on events from De Palma's own adolescence, particularly rivalry with a more favored brother, a mother prone to dramatic outbursts, and a philandering father.

Plot

Cast

Kirk Douglas as The Maestro
Vincent Gardenia as Dr. Byrd
Nancy Allen as Kristina
Keith Gordon as Denis Byrd
Gerrit Graham as James Byrd
Theresa Saldana as Judy

Reception

Fernando F. Croce of Slant Magazine awarded the film three stars out of four.^[3]

References

^ Martin, Judith (October 17, 1980). "'Home Movies,' As Always". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
^ De Palma, Brian (11 February 2020). "Brian De Palma Remembers Filming a Student Film With Kirk Douglas". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
^ Croce, Fernando (21 August 2006). "Review: Home Movies". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 4 December 2020.