A stunning new documentary from globally renowned UK film distributor Dogwoof, Truman and Tennessee (12) examines two of the greatest American writers of the 20th Century.
It's in virtual cinemas and on demand from April 30th. Available to watch on Dogwoof on Demand.
Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams were friends and frenemies for the best part of forty years: this documentary captures the complexity of the relationship that flip-flopped between fondness and bitchy distain.
The mid 20th Century backdrop for this film salutes an era when their talents were a vital part of America’s cultural life and harks back to two previous films The Capote Tapes (2019) and I am Not Your Negro (2016) about James Baldwin.
Most of us will have accessed Truman and Tennessee’s work through their films and this documentary is liberally peppered with clips of their star studded screen adaptations. Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly and Williams was always disappointed with his films because the censors invariably changed the endings and thus the meanings of his screen adaptations. But as film lovers we have embraced their films, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Streetcar Named Desire are much lauded, loved and respected films.
Vreeland has diligently raided the archives to create this rich, visually appealing collage of photographs, tv interviews, magazine articles, clippings and comments to illustrate a vivid picture of how the two men saw themselves.
This story is told in their own words and reminds us what witty, eloquent and self aware individuals they were.
Both men struggled with celebrity, Capote admitting that he ‘wouldn’t have chosen this life’ because of the constant pressure to succeed but we are lucky they did and this film will surely propel one seek out their films and books to revisit their towering achievements.
When you purchase the film a Q&A with the director Lisa Immordino Vreeland in conversation with Jason Solomons, radio and TV presenter and film critic is included.
Click here to link to the film. No6 receives a share of the ticket price.
For more info, including the trailer, head to trumantennessee.co.uk