Product Description

A Film by Elliot Caplan

Cage/Cunningham documents the fifty year collaboration between two revolutionary American artists, composer John Cage and choreographer Merce Cunningham. Tracing the history of their renowned and enduring collaboration, the film explores the artistic and philosophical associations that Cage and Cunningham have had with a wide range of leading figures in the art, literary, dance and music worlds.

Filmmaker Elliot Caplan combines eight years of world tour footage, archival material dating back to the beginning of their careers and interviews with principal figures involved in the Cage/Cunningham collaboration. Mr. Caplan’s daily contact with the documentary’s subjects has inspired a revealing and sensitive portrait of two men whose spirit of adventure and iconoclastic thinking have helped to revolutionize life, as well as art in the twentieth century.

Produced by Cunningham Dance Foundation
Directed, Photographed and Edited by Elliot Caplan
Written by David Vaughn
Choreography by Merce Cunningham
Music by John Cage.

With Merce Cunningham, John Cage, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Carolyn Brown, Viola Farber, Alvin Lucier, La Monte Young, Rudolf Nureyev, David Tudor, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Virgil Thomson.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40003 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-04-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Customer Reviews

Only a fleeting glimpse into the world of genius
I saw this film many years ago before I really knew anything about Cunningham. I truthfully still don't follow modern dance, but for a music experimenter like myself. It is amazing to get to really peek behind the scenes into the world of John Cage. Getting to hear his speak on many subjects. And then getting to hear about the artists who helped design some of their stage sets. Remember, this is a documentary of a lot of things AND a lot of people. David Tudor makes an appearance, as does Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and a few more.

where was the romance?
Merce recently died at 92: may he rest in peace. This program was a bit choppy. Yes, they are showing material from decades of art. However, a good director could have come up with something smoother. This work implies that Cage and Cunningham were just artistic partners. It suggests they were platonic like Ben and Jerry. It says nothing about their rainbow flag membership. They were lovers, not just good co-workers. I just saw "Carmen & Geoffrey," which granted was made decades later, but that work stated the couple was married, not just artists who got along well. Why couldn't this documentary go there? Majority people like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee get acknowledged as a couple, why can't this happen for pink triangle pairs?!