Howl

Starring James Franco
Watch for theatrical release September 24th!

A renegade artist breaking down barriers in search of love and redemption.... an hallucinogenic ride through a prophetic masterpiece that rocked a generation.... a work of art put on trial for obscenity.... HOWL tells the unlikely story of a poem that sparked the counter-culture.

James Franco is uncanny as he channels the young Allen Ginsberg in this unconventional mash-up of poetry, politics, dreams and desire. Also featuring David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Treat Williams, Alessandro Nivola, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jeff Daniels. Animation designed by Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker (Illuminated Poems). 

Reviews

"Moments of soaring brilliance, with an elegant performance by James Franco as Ginsberg that should redefine his career."
- Betsy Sharkey, LA Times

"What other film festival would give its opening spot to a movie about a poem by Allen Ginsberg (a stellar performance by James Franco) interspersed with animation and an obscenity trial that puts freedom of speech on the stand? An exhilarating experiment that Sundance was built to nurture. Bravo!"
- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Credits

Written for the Screen and Directed by
Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman

Produced by
Elizabeth Redleaf
Christine Kunewa Walker

Produced by
Rob Epstein
Jeffrey Friedman

Executive Producers
Gus Van Sant
Jawal Nga

Director of Photography
Edward Lachman, ASC

Production Designer
Thérèse DePrez

Editor
Jake Pushinsky

Costume Design
Kurt and Bart

Music by
Carter Burwell

Music Supervision
Hal Willner

Animation Designed by
Eric Drooker

Animation Producer           
John Hays

Co-Producers
Brian Benson
Andrew Peterson
Mark Steele

Associate Producers
Peter Hale
Bob Rosenthal

Associate Producers
Ken Bailey
James Q. Chan
Kelly Gilpatrick

Line Producer
Lynn Appelle

Casting by
Bernie Telsey, CSA

 

 

 

CAST:

James Franco
as Allen Ginsberg

David Strathairn
as Ralph Mcintosh

Jon Hamm
as Jake Ehrlich

Bob Balaban
as Judge Clayton Horn

Jeff Daniels
as David Kirk

Mary-Louise Parker
as Gail Potter

Alessandro Nivola
as Luther Nichols

Treat Williams
as Mark Schorer

Jon Prescott
as Neal Cassady

Todd Rotondi
as Jack Kerouac

Aaron Tveit
as Peter Orlovsky

 

 

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