A few months ago I heard about the Allen Ginsberg biopic “Howl,” and asked the production company if there were any upcoming screenings. There weren’t, as the film had yet to find a distributor.
It’s got one now, and is scheduled for release on September 24. The film focuses on the poet’s 1957 obscenity trial and stars James Franco as Ginsberg.
In addition to smoky coffeehouse scenes, “Howl” will also include various courtroom scenes with dueling ’50s lawyers. One of them, Ginsburg’s attorney, is played by Jon Hamm, aka Don Draper on “Mad Men.”
While a student at Columbia, Ginsberg met Jack Kerouac and other Beat writers. And though he later went all countercultural and hairy, he never completely abandoned a taste for the Ivy League Look. — CC
I was apprehensive when I read about Franco being cast in this because my first thought was “way way too damn handsome,” but he is NAILING Ginsberg’s voice and mannerisms.
Great post. I quite enjoy checking out your blog. You do a fantastic job with it. I hope you’ve been having a wonderful week.
Mr. Ginsberg was opposed to the status quo, and yet seems to have adopted their way of dress. Unfortunately, I find most that dress this way rather too uptight and conventional otherwise in thought and manner. Nice to see there are those like Giuseppe of “An Affordable Wardrobe” and “The Chap” with its Anarcho-Dandy spirit!