Magick Lantern Cycle
Synopsis
Cinematic magician, legendary provocateur, and author of Hollywood Babylon, Kenneth Anger was a unique figure in post-war American culture. His iconic short films are characterised by a mystical-symbolic visual language and phantasmagorical-sensual opulence that underscores the medium’s transgressive potential. Anger’s work fundamentally shaped the aesthetics of 1960s and 1970s subcultures, the visual lexicon of pop and music videos and queer iconography. These nine films form the basis of Anger’s reputation as one of the most influential pioneers of avant-garde film and video art. Fireworks, 1947, 14 min Puce Moment, 1949, 6 min Rabbit's Moon, 1950/1971, 16 min Eaux d'Artifice, 1953, 13 min Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, 1954, 37 min Scorpio Rising, 1964, 28 min Kustom Kar Kommandos, 1965, 3 min Invocation of My Demon Brother, 1969, 11 min Lucifer Rising, 1981, 27 min
Top Cast
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Kenneth Anger
Dreamer / Hecate / The Magick / The Magus
Bobby Beausoleil
Lucifer / Self
Bill Seltzer
Second Sailor
Gordon Gray
First Sailor
Yvonne Marquis
Hollywood Star
André Soubeyran
Pierrot
Claude Revenant
Harlequin
Nadine Valence
Columbine
Samson De Brier
Lord Shiva / Osiris / Nero / The Great Beast
Marjorie Cameron
The Scarlet Woman / Kali
Joan Whitney
Aphrodite
Katy Kadell
Isis
Renate Druks
Lilith
Anaïs Nin
Astarte
Paul Mathison
Pan
Curtis Harrington
Cesare / Slave / Sleep-walker
Peter Loome
Ganymede
Carmilla Salvatorelli
Lady
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 10, 1974
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 25, 2009
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kenneth Anger
- Screenplay & Story
- Kenneth Anger, Ernest D. Glucksman
- Original Score
- David Raksin, Jack Brooks, Mick Jagger, Bobby Beausoleil
- Original Title
- Magick Lantern Cycle
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 49m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger, Ernest D. Glucksman
David Raksin, Jack Brooks, Mick Jagger, Bobby Beausoleil
Curtis Harrington, Kenneth Anger, Chris O'Dell
Kenneth Anger
Department Leadership Roster
Kenneth Anger
Director
Kenneth Anger
Writer
Kenneth Anger
Editor
Curtis Harrington
Director of Photography
Kenneth Anger
Director of Photography
Ernest D. Glucksman
Writer
Mick Jagger
Original Music Composer
Chris O'Dell
Director of Photography
Bobby Beausoleil
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Magick Lantern Cycle.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Magick Lantern Cycle
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Magick Lantern Cycle about?
Cinematic magician, legendary provocateur, and author of Hollywood Babylon, Kenneth Anger was a unique figure in post-war American culture. His iconic short films are characterised by a mystical-symbolic visual language and phantasmagorical-sensual opulence that underscores the medium’s transgressive potential. Anger’s work fundamentally shaped the aesthetics of 1960s and 1970s subcultures, the visual lexicon of pop and music videos and queer iconography. These nine films form the basis of Anger’s reputation as one of the most influential pioneers of avant-garde film and video art. Fireworks, 1947, 14 min Puce Moment, 1949, 6 min Rabbit's Moon, 1950/1971, 16 min Eaux d'Artifice, 1953, 13 min Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, 1954, 37 min Scorpio Rising, 1964, 28 min Kustom Kar Kommandos, 1965, 3 min Invocation of My Demon Brother, 1969, 11 min Lucifer Rising, 1981, 27 min
Who directed Magick Lantern Cycle?
Magick Lantern Cycle was directed by Kenneth Anger.
Who stars in Magick Lantern Cycle?
The principal cast of Magick Lantern Cycle includes Kenneth Anger, Bobby Beausoleil, Bill Seltzer, Gordon Gray, Yvonne Marquis.
When was Magick Lantern Cycle released and how long is it?
Magick Lantern Cycle was released in 1974 with a total runtime of 2h 49m.
Who composed the musical score for Magick Lantern Cycle?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Magick Lantern Cycle was composed by David Raksin, Jack Brooks, Mick Jagger, Bobby Beausoleil.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Magick Lantern Cycle?
Magick Lantern Cycle holds official age classifications: GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).