''Kitchen'' is a 1966 feature-length

underground film An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre or financing. Notable examples include John Waters' ''Pink Flamingos'', David Lynch's ''Eraserhead'', Andy Warhol's ''Blue Movie'', Rosa von Praunheim's ''Tal ...

directed by

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...

and

Ronald Tavel Ronald Tavel (May 17, 1936 – March 23, 2009) was an American gay screenwriter, director, novelist, poet and actor, best known for his work with Andy Warhol and The Factory and the Theatre of the Ridiculous. Tavel was the founder, with th ...

starring

Edie Sedgwick Edith Minturn Sedgwick Post (April 20, 1943 – November 16, 1971) was an American actress, model and socialite who was one of Andy Warhol's superstars, starring in several of his short films during the 1960s.Watson, Steven (2003), "Factory Ma ...

and Roger Trudeau with appearances by Rene Ricard, Ronald Tavel, David McCabe, Donald Lyons, and Elektrah Lobel (aka Elektrah). The entire film takes place in the New York City apartment kitchen of Bud Wirtschafter, the sound man. The film was made in late May 1965 and premiered March 3, 1966 at the Film-makers' Cooperative in New York City.

Plot

Devised to highlight

, this directionless black and white film begins with the sounds of

sneezing A sneeze (also known as sternutation) is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. A sneeze expels air forcibly from the mouth a ...

. A classic Warhol static camera is pointed at an empty small white apartment kitchen. The voice of Sedgwick is then heard saying "Reel one of Andy Warhol's ''Kitchen'', starring

as Jo and Roger Trudeau as Mickey, special assistance Buddy Wirtschafter, scenario by

, directed by

.” Sedgwick then lists objects in the kitchen, including a "malted machine”, which is an

electric mixer A mixer (also called a hand mixer or stand mixer depending on the type) is a kitchen device that uses a gear-driven mechanism to rotate a set of "beaters" in a bowl containing the food or liquids to be prepared by mixing them. Mixers help aut ...

. Her voice then reveals the location of the scripts that are hidden on the set so that when actors forget their lines they can find them by pretending to be reading books or looking at the calendar on the wall. Sedgwick as Jo then enters the kitchen and soon Rene Ricard enters and begins washing the dishes in the sink. As Jo applies her make-up, a photographer, played by photographer David McCabe, enters, photographs her and then exits. Roger Trudeau as Mickey enters, and there is much fumbling of the written lines. Jo gets on the table to exercise, which shows her attractive legs. Mickey and Jo woodenly discuss sex while the dishwasher remains silent with his back to the camera. Jo then pretends to be Mickey's mother by giving him a faux spanking. When Mickey begins a monologue, Jo turns on the electric mixer which drowns-out all dialogue. With that, Jo starts laughing and dancing to the grinding noise. The second reel shows Jo studying her script and a male voice is heard off-screen announcing "Reel 2 of Andy Warhol's ''Kitchen'' starring Edie Sedgwick”. This is followed by announcing the other actors names as well as the technical assistance of

Gerard Malanga Gerard Joseph Malanga (born March 20, 1943) is an American poet, photographer, filmmaker, actor, curator and archivist. Malanga worked with pop artist Andy Warhol from 1963 to 1970. The New York Times referred to him as "Andy Warhol's most import ...

. The voice then includes directions to the actors. The malted machine is again turned on and then off. More aimless and passionless dialogue is exchanged as other actors, played by David McCabe, Donald Lyons, and Elektrah Lobel, enter and exit the chaotic scene. Jo spills coffee on the table. The film drifts even more towards the style of

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

as Jo burns her hand on the kitchen stove and others react to it. At that point the actors seem to believe that they are no longer being filmed and make no effort at performing.WarholStars entry
Andy Warhol's ''Kitchen'' (1965) by Gary Comenas Malanga enters to take a cold drink from the fridge as the film ends.

References

External links

*
''Kitchen'' (1965) at WarholStars
1966 films 1966 independent films 1960s American films 1960s English-language films American independent films Films directed by Andy Warhol {{1960s-US-film-stub

Plot

See also

References

External links