New Restoration

“As beautiful and timeless as The Wizard of Oz.”

John Waters, Artforum

In 1963—the year of Scorpio Rising, Flaming Creatures, and Warhol’s first films—physique photographer James Bidgood began working on an ambitious homoerotic film fantasy he called Pink Narcissus. For over six years, he filmed his star, Bobby Kendall, using 8mm Kodachrome and later 16mm Ektachrome stock on numerous lavish sets, most built in the confines of his cramped Manhattan apartment. After many delays, the film’s backers grew tired of waiting for a finished film and dropped Bidgood from the project. Bidgood repudiated their version, and when Pink Narcissus was released in 1971, his credits for producing, directing, writing, and photography were listed as ​“Anonymous.” Nearly thirty years later, Bidgood reclaimed his role as the visionary creator of this queer cinema classic and became a major influence on artists ranging from Pierre et Gilles to David LaChapelle and Steven Arnold. —Michael Lumpkin, UCLA Film & Television Archive

“A kind of gay Fantasia, part underground extravaganza, part romantic porn.”

Village Voice

“A benchmark of underground gay cinema.”

William Van Meter, The New York Times
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