Once Upon An El
Synopsis
"The poet Daisy Aldan (who brought Gerard Malanga into the world of experimental filmmaking) directed a beautifully evocative and impressionistic documentary, Once Upon an El, in 8mm color with a 7 1/2 ips tape soundtrack. The 15-minute film's cast included John Ashberry, James Broughton, Chester Kallman, Frank O'Hara, Olga Petroff, Kermit Sheets, and other luminaries of the Avant-Garde, the soundtrack was composed by Storm de Hirsch. Once Upon An El documented the activities of a group of writers and composers...[demonstrating] against the demolition of New York's Third Avenue elevated railway (FMC 1967, 7-8) , which was demolished anyway" - Wheeler Winston Dixon
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
January 1, 1955
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Daisy Aldan
- Original Title
- Once Upon An El
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 21m
- Production Studios
- Folder Editions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Daisy Aldan
Department Leadership Roster
Daisy Aldan
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Once Upon An El.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Once Upon An El.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Once Upon An El
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Once Upon An El about?
"The poet Daisy Aldan (who brought Gerard Malanga into the world of experimental filmmaking) directed a beautifully evocative and impressionistic documentary, Once Upon an El, in 8mm color with a 7 1/2 ips tape soundtrack. The 15-minute film's cast included John Ashberry, James Broughton, Chester Kallman, Frank O'Hara, Olga Petroff, Kermit Sheets, and other luminaries of the Avant-Garde, the soundtrack was composed by Storm de Hirsch. Once Upon An El documented the activities of a group of writers and composers...[demonstrating] against the demolition of New York's Third Avenue elevated railway (FMC 1967, 7-8) , which was demolished anyway" - Wheeler Winston Dixon
Who directed Once Upon An El?
Once Upon An El was directed by Daisy Aldan.
Who stars in Once Upon An El?
The principal cast of Once Upon An El includes James Broughton, Frank O'Hara, Kenward Elmslie, Jane Freilicher, Grace Hartigan.
When was Once Upon An El released and how long is it?
Once Upon An El was released in 1955 with a total runtime of 21m.