''Leuchtturm des Chaos'' ( en, Pharos of Chaos or ''Lighthouse of Chaos'') is a 1983
documentary profile of the American actor
Sterling Hayden (1916–1986).
[ ]
Synopsis
The film features discussions with Hayden concerning his life and career, intercut with clips and stills from his films.
[ It follows the actor through several long and digressive afternoon conversations with the German filmmakers aboard the barge in France on which he was living.]hashish
Hashish ( ar, حشيش, ()), also known as hash, "dry herb, hay" is a drug made by compressing and processing parts of the cannabis plant, typically focusing on flowering buds (female flowers) containing the most trichomes. European Monitorin ...
and drinks heavily throughout, telling the filmmakers that they "have a record of exactly what alcoholism is".[ Hayden recounts his shame at having co-operated with the ]House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly dubbed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloy ...
during the Second Red Scare, his pride in his achievements as a sailor, and adopts a scornful attitude toward his illustrious career as a Hollywood film icon.[
]
Critical reception
The film was shown at the 1983 Edinburgh Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all ti ...
, where it was one of a few independent film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...
s singled out for praise by critic Steve McIntyre in an otherwise disappointing event.[ She criticised the filmmakers' reluctance to rein in Hayden's "diffuseness of thought", "stilted" cinematography, inclusion of trivial and uninteresting details from the interviews, and their nonchalant and distanced attitude toward the actor.][ Maslin's review concludes:
]
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, id=0085835
1983 films
1983 documentary films
German documentary films
West German films
Documentary films about actors
1980s English-language films
1980s German films