The Chelsea Girls
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Andy Warhol
Ondine
Angelina "pepper" Davis
International Velvet
Ronna
Brigid Polk
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
(Reel 1) In a small apartment kitchen, Nico cuts her hair, converses with her boyfriend, Eric, and plays with her son, Ari. (Reel 2) THE POPE ONDINE STORY: A self-proclaimed "pope" receives penitents and complains of his weighty responsibilities as a patriarch. Ingrid discusses her sex life with him. He grows tired of remaining in front of the camera. (Reel 3) THE DUCHESS: A young woman gives herself an amphetamine injection while discussing Andy Warhol with a friend over the telephone. (Reel 4) THE JOHN: Ed lounges on a bed, fussing and bickering with Patrick, an Irish youth whom he has just picked up. They are interrupted by friends and neighbors. (Reel 5) HANOI HANNA (QUEEN OF CHINA): Hanoi Hanna subjects the other women to sadistic verbal and physical games. (Reel 6) Hanoi Hanna continues her onslaught as another woman enters the group. (Reel 7) Ed and Patrick are interrupted by Mario, a transvestite, who insists on entertaining them and sings two songs. The youths' objections become increasingly insulting, and Mario departs in a huff. (Reel 8) THE GERARD MALANGA STORY (col): A young man is lectured at length by his "mother," as his girl friend looks on in silence. (Reel 9) THE TRIP (col): A young man on an LSD trip discourses on his sexuality, fondles himself, and teasingly removes his clothes as colored lights are projected over his body. (Reel 10) THEIR TOWN (TOBY SHORT) (col): The young man appears with the group of actors in the colors of a light show. (Reel 11) After injecting himself with methedrine, Pope Ondine receives a final penitent. She calls him a phony, thereby enraging him; he shouts verbal abuse, slaps her, and chases her around the room as persons off-camera attempt to calm them. (Reel 12) Nico, alone in her room, lies on a bed and cries to herself. Toward the end of the reel, soft rock music is heard on the soundtrack. [This description refers to the general release version; running time: 205 min. Advertisements for the New York opening refer to the following segments: "Room 723--Pope Ondine," "Room 422--The Gerard Malanga Story," "Room 946--George's Room," "Room 202--Afternoon," "Room 116--Hanoi Hanna," "Room 632--The John," "Room 416--The Trip," "Room 822--The Closet." GEORGE'S ROOM remains unidentified. In AFTERNOON, Edie entertains friends in her room. THE CLOSET involves two "children" who live in a closet.]
Director
Andy Warhol
Cast
Ondine
Angelina "pepper" Davis
International Velvet
Ronna
Brigid Polk
Ed Hood
Patrick Flemming
Mario Montez
Albert René Ricard
Ingrid Superstar
Mary Might
Ingrid Superstar
Marie Menken
Gerard Malanga
Mary Might
Edie Sedgwick
Arthur Loeb
Donald Lyons
Dorothy Dean
Nico
Randy Borscheidt
Eric Emerson
Ari
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
A few segments were filmed in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City; most were filmed elsewhere in New York City and in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Uncut reels, each 33-35 minutes in length, were projected side by side; in the general release version, the first reel appeared on the right side of the screen, and a few minutes later, the second reel began on the left. Mary Might is a pseudonym for Mary Woronov; Ingrid Superstar for Ingrid Von Scheven; International Velvet for Susan Bottomly; and Ondine for Bob Olivio.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1966
Released in United States July 17, 1990
Released in United States June 1990
Released in United States November 20, 1999
Shown at American Cinematheque, Los Angeles as part of the series "The Early Films of Andy Warhola" June 8-10, 1990.
The program of September 15, 1966 lists: "Room 732-The Pope Ondine Story;" "Room 422-The Gerard Malanga Story;" "Room 946-George's Room;" "Room 116-Hanoi Hanna;" "Room 202-Afternoon;" "Room 632-The John;" "Room 416-The Trip;" "Room 822-The Closet." When Chelsea Hotel management threatened a lawsuit, all references to rooms were omitted in subsequent screenings.
24 fps
Shot in the Summer of 1966.
Released in United States July 17, 1990 (Shown in New York City at Films Charas July 17, 1990.)
Released in United States June 1990 (Shown at American Cinematheque, Los Angeles as part of the series "The Early Films of Andy Warhola" June 8-10, 1990.)
Released in United States November 20, 1999 (Shown in New York City at the Whitney Museum of American Art November 20, 1999.)
Released in United States 1966
