DramaHistory

The Broken Tower

- The truth is indecent

Docudrama about American poet Hart Crane, who committed suicide in April 1932 at the age of 32 by jumping off the steamship SS Orizaba.

Release Date : 2012-04-27

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Made In Film-LandRabbit Bandini ProductionsFocus Features

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Hart Crane

Original Name : James Franco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Cowley

Original Name : Stacey Miller

Gender : Female

Character Name : American Man in Paris

Original Name : Vince Jolivette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mother Crane

Original Name : Betsy Franco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Hart Crane

Original Name : Dave Franco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Poetry Reading Attendant

Original Name : David Rothstadt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Drunken Cafe Attendant

Original Name : David Gerson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Movie Theater Attendant

Original Name : Sean Patrick Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angry Boxing Fan

Original Name : Gary Abrams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Poetry Enthusiast

Original Name : Ira Berkowitz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emile

Original Name : Michael Shannon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father Crane

Original Name : Richard Abate

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alfred Stieglitz

Original Name : Paul Mariani

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Truck Driver

Original Name : Dylan Goodwin

Gender : Male

Character Name : French Cafe Owner

Original Name : Caroline Aragon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deckhand

Original Name : Sebastián Celis

Gender : Male

Reviews

Kenneth Axel Carlsson

@brekkil

2021-06-23

This movie is about the life and death of the poet, Hart Crane (James Franco). It details his life, working for his father, trying to find time for his poetry, but also about his love life as a gay man. It is actually a very straightfoward movie, shot chronological, but does have some elements of poetry in the images as well (especially in the beginning of the movie), although not as much as I would have loved. The images themselves are mostly black and white, made with a handheld camera that makes the images very lively and nervous. These are good choices for a movie of this character. It has the feel of a documentary, although it clearly is not. Another trick that the movie uses, is to divide the movie into chapters, or as they call them, _Voyages_. Each voyage also has a subtitle or description that lets us know what to expect. It ties in well with the literary tradition. James Franco clearly have a lot of admiration and love for Hart Crane, which makes him very believable in the role. Hart Crane is a fragile man, who only wants to write poems and be alive. He has no great expectations of life, but doesn't feel like the world understands nor accepts him. In another (minor) role as Hart's lover, we see one of my favorite actors, Michael Shannon. I like it when big actors take on minor roles like this, it shows that they aren't just in this game for the money, but to tell important stories. This would most likely be considered to be a B-movie, whatever that actually means, but when you look closer, it actually makes a very believable setting and the actors are great in their roles. All the choices concerning the colours, the nervousness of the handheld camera and the messy editing, those are, I think, on purpose. The emphasize the feel of Hart Crane, as they make sure we get right under his skin. _Last words... a bold movie that dares be different, much like Hart Crane himself. It is not a huge movie by any means, and yet, it is a very personal and emotional movie if you dare get involved in the Voyages of Hart Crane. For whatever it's worth... this movie gave me a reason to look up the name Hart Crane and, perhaps, emerge myself in his poems. At least, a book now resides on the shelves... with the name Hart Crane._