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Francis Francine, Sheila Bick, Joel Markman, Mario Montez, Judith Malina ... see more see more... , Marian Zazeela , Piero Heliczer , Kate Heliczer , La Monte Young , Angus MacLise , Ronald Tavel , Irving Rosenthal , Tony Conrad , Marc Schliefer , Arnold Rockwood

One of the most celebrated of all underground films, Flaming Creatures excited national censorship controversies in its day and was even denounced (and screened!) in the halls of the U.S. Senate. Jack... read more read more... Smith had hit a nerve with his delirious tribute to the 1940s screen star Maria Montez. (The soundtrack even includes a chunk of her 1943 release Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.) A hilarious and startling version of Arabian exotica, Flaming Creatures was shot on backdated black-and-white film stock, creating an overexposed and archaic quality to its images -- a world of uncontrollable sexual energy where women and transvestites primp, pose, dance, romance, and sometimes assault each other. ~ Nicole Gagne, Rovi

Flixster Users

60% liked it

199 ratings

Unrated, 42 min.

Directed by: Jack Smith

Release Date: January 1, 1963

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Flixster Reviews (24)


  • November 24, 2010
    I hated this stupid experimental movie, I had to watch it for a class. That's an hour I'll never get back. Anyway, it's slow and boring and annoyingly redundant. I don't recommend it.
  • fb1142797643
    September 16, 2011
    fb1142797643
    An ugly, tedious, amateurish film, composed of cavorting drag queens, random breast-squeezing and, oh yes, something resembling a tongue-in-cheek, tongue-in-pussy gang rape. The filmmaking is more about editing than direction -- a chaotic collage of handheld close-ups. Though "Fl... read moreaming Creatures" is only 42 minutes, I can't imagine sitting through it without taking at least one cleansing break. I needed about 10, myself.

    If you automatically applaud any movie that depicts the homosexual lifestyle, shows genitals or looks like it was made for $20, don't miss this.
  • October 12, 2010
    If you can make sense of this movie, you've gotta be a weirdo! Okay, I'll admit, I created a story in my head while watching it, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed this movie. I hate experimental movies, I watched this for a class. I found this movie slow, annoying, and repetitiv... read moree. For some reason some people like that.
  • July 21, 2010
    Jack Smith's infamous 42 minute barrage of transvestites, drag shows, hermaphrodites, breasts, flaccid penises, drug orgies and a cunnilingual rapist that influenced a slew of filmmakers from John Waters to Guy Maddin. Most people call it pretentious and pointless. I found it to... read more be sexually absurd, so therefore quite brilliant.
  • March 14, 2010
    Ha, ha... they really have this ... gosh, whatta bad cult film. To say its "weird, experimental & homocentric" is putting it lightly lol. See it to say you have.
  • September 13, 2008
    "Is there a lipstick that doesn't come off when you suck cock?

    John Waters definitely loves this film, with its transvestite vampires, drag queens, and grotesque orgies of flaccid penises and bouncing breasts, all shot on poor filmstock.

Critic Reviews


Dan Callahan
February 2, 2005
Dan Callahan, ToxicUniverse.com

Jack Smith's Flaming Creatures took the avant garde to a new level. Full Review

Nora Sayre
May 9, 2005
Nora Sayre, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 5, 2005
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Constantine Verevis
February 5, 2005
Constantine Verevis, Senses of Cinema

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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