Legendary filmmaker Peter Whitehead was at the heart of Swinging London chronicling the youth explosion the burgeoning popular music scene and the counterculture of the 1960s. Now the BFI releases two of his films for the first time; Wholly Communion (1965) and Benefit of the Doubt (1967) coupled with a new interview with Peter and additional rare footage. With over three hours of material Peter Whitehead and the Sixties is a fascinating document of the radical experimental literary and theatrical scenes of 60s London. On 11 June 1965 the Royal Albert Hall played host... to a slew of American and European beat poets for an extraordinary impromptu event - the International Poetry Incarnation - that arguably marked the birth of London's gestating counterculture. Cast in the role of historian as a man-on-the-scene and massively elevating his limited resources Whitehead constructed the extraordinary Wholly Communion from the unfolding circus. As Allen Ginsberg Lawrence Ferlinghetti Gregory Corso Harry Fainlight Alexander Trocchi and others took to the stage Whitehead confidently wandered with his borrowed camera creating a participatory and anarchic film that is as much a landmark as the event itself and launched his career. Following this success Whitehead was invited to film a controversial new play US by radical theatre director Peter Brook. Building on the provocative question of Britain's relationship to America during the Vietnam War Whitehead pushed the issue of complicity further challenging the relationship between the actors - including a young Glenda Jackson - and their performances. Steadfast and provocative in its consideration of international relations and war Benefit of the Doubt has troubling relevance to the current political climate. [show more]
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Peter Whitehead was at the heart of 1960s London, chronicling the youth explosion, the counterculture and the popular music scene. This double set includes two of his films: 'Wholly Communion' (1965) and 'Benefit of the Doubt' (1967). On 11 June 1965, the Royal Albert Hall played host to a slew of beat poets for an extraordinary impromptu event - the International Poetry Incarnation - which arguably marked the birth of London's gestating counterculture. Cast in the role of historian, Whitehead constructed 'Wholly Communion' from the unfolding circus. As the poets took to the stage, he confidently wandered with his borrowed camera, creating the participatory and anarchic film that launched his career. Following this success, he was invited to film a controversial new play, 'US', by radical theatre director Peter Brook. Building on the question of Britain's relationship to America during the Vietnam War, Whitehead pushed the issue of complicity further, challenging the relationship between the actors and their performances. Steadfast and provocative in its consideration of international relations and war, 'Benefit of the Doubt' has troubling relevance to the current political climate.
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