I Am a Hotel is a 1983 Canadian made for TV short musical film, written by Leonard Cohen and Mark Shekter and directed by Allan F. Nicholls.
| I Am a Hotel | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Allan F. Nicholls |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | |
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by | Leonard Cohen |
| Music by | Leonard Cohen |
Production company | Blue Memorial Video Ltd. |
| Distributed by | |
Release date | 1983 |
Running time | 28 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The storyline is based on imaginary events in the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, and the guests' (usually romantic) interactions with each other.[1]
Production edit
Leonard Cohen had the idea for the film based upon his personal experiences and his song "The Guests". It was originally intended for the Canadian pay TV network C-Channel, but when the network collapsed, the production was completed by Citytv with financial assistance from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Canadian Film Development Corporation.[2][3]
Scenes edit
Cohen features frequently, as an amused bystander ('the Resident'). Extensive dance routines in scenes 2 and 3 were choreographed by Ann(e) Ditchburn, who also dances as the Gypsy wife in scene 3. There are five scenes, each based on a Cohen song.
- "The Guests" in which the characters enter via the lobby and are taken to their rooms; The bellboy and chambermaid meet in the corridor; and the manager and his wife apparently have angry words in the lobby after which she strides off.
- "Memories" (in which the bellboy pursues the chambermaid around the laundry and ballroom)
- "The Gypsy Wife" (in which the manager's wife, in fetching attire, dances on the boardroom table)
- "Chelsea Hotel #2" (in which the two lovers try, and fail, to make love, and the admiral and diva at last face each other across the hallway)
- "Suzanne" (in which scenes of Suzanne with Cohen are interspersed with shots of the two couples reunited and dancing together, and the hotel manager distraught and then drinking at the bar)
A short epilogue repeats the opening material from 'The Guests'. The final credits give the makers as 'Blue Memorial Video Ltd' and dedicate the piece to David Blue (1941-1982).
Cast edit
- Leonard Cohen as The Resident
- Celia Franca as The Diva
- Alberta Watson as Suzanne
- Toller Cranston as The Manager
- Claudia Moore as Chambermaid
- Daniel Allman as Young Lover
- Samantha Logan as Young Lover
- Robert Desrosiers as The Bellboy
- Anne Ditchburn as The Gypsy Wife
- Leo Leyden as The Admiral
Release edit
The film was released on video in 1996.
Recognition edit
The film won a Golden Rose international television award at the 1984 Montreux TV festival in Montreux, Switzerland.[4]
References edit
- ^ Ghomeshi, Jian. "Leonard Cohen in Three Acts". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ Nadel, Ira Bruce (2007). Various Positions: A Life of Leonard Cohen (illustrated ed.). University of Texas Press. pp. 235–237. ISBN 9780292717329.
- ^ Miller, Mary Jane (1996). Rewind and search: conversations with the makers and decision-makers of CBC television drama. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 408. ISBN 9780773513655.
- ^ "Romantic Despair' Still Lives In Leonard Cohen". Toledo Blade. June 2, 1985. p. 39. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
Further reading edit
- Buckley, Peter; Rough Guides (2003). Peter Buckley (ed.). The rough guide to rock (3, illustrated ed.). Rough Guides. p. 220. ISBN 9781843531050.
- McGoogan, Kenneth (1991). Canada's undeclared war: fighting words from the literary trenches. Detselig Enterprises. p. 62. ISBN 9781550590326.
- Scobie, Stephen (2000). Stephen Scobie (ed.). Intricate preparations: writing Leonard Cohen (illustrated ed.). ECW Press. p. 131. ISBN 9781550224337.