No. 18: Mahagonny (1980)

Harry Smith’s final film; an epic four-screen projection. Smith worked on this cinematic transformation of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1929) for over ten years and considered it his magnum opus. The film was shot from 1970 to 1972 and edited for the next eight years. The “program” of the film is meticulous, with a complex structure and order. The Weill opera is transformed into a numerological and symbolic system. Images in the film are divided into categories— portraits, animation, symbols and nature— to form the palindrome P.A.S.A.N.A.S.A.P. The film contains invaluable cameos of important avant-garde figures such as Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, and Jonas Mekas, intercut with installation pieces from Robert Mapplethorpe’s studio, New York City landmarks of the era, and Smith’s visionary animation.

Director: Harry Smith
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 141 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Kurt Weill
Production: Harry Smith Film
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

brecht

More Films by Director: Harry Smith
More Films in Genre: Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is No. 18: Mahagonny about?
Harry Smith’s final film; an epic four-screen projection. Smith worked on this cinematic transformation of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1929) for over ten years and considered it his magnum opus. The film was shot from 1970 to 1972 and edited for the next eight years. The “program” of the film is meticulous, with a complex structure and order. The Weill opera is transformed into a numerological and symbolic system. Images in the film are divided into categories— portraits, animation, symbols and nature— to form the palindrome P.A.S.A.N.A.S.A.P. The film contains invaluable cameos of important avant-garde figures such as Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, and Jonas Mekas, intercut with installation pieces from Robert Mapplethorpe’s studio, New York City landmarks of the era, and Smith’s visionary animation.
Who directed No. 18: Mahagonny?
No. 18: Mahagonny was directed by Harry Smith.
Who stars in No. 18: Mahagonny?
No. 18: Mahagonny stars Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Lotte Lenya, Jonas Mekas, Robert Mapplethorpe.
How long is No. 18: Mahagonny?
No. 18: Mahagonny has a runtime of 2h 21m (141 minutes).
What genre is No. 18: Mahagonny?
No. 18: Mahagonny is a Drama film.
Where was No. 18: Mahagonny produced?
No. 18: Mahagonny was produced in United States of America.