Film

Elaine: A Story of Lost Love

1976 · 25m

Adapted from an obscure Guy de Maupassant novella, lifted from a paperback bought by Meaney as an undergrad for 99 cents. What’s evident is Horn’s fascination for squared-off blocking and choreography, including a glimpse at a performance of Orpheus and Eurydice in minature. Star Adam Macadam brought on other members of Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater Company, many of whom would return to work on DOOMED LOVE. Featuring ancient costumes on loan from the Metropolitan Opera (repurposed from early twentieth century productions of Tosca and La Traviata), ELAINE aspires to high gothic on a shoestring budget. Horn and Meaney shot at locations including the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Washington Heights, the Frick, and the Carnegie Hall Cinema, then operated by Sid Geffen and Jackie Raynal – the programmers responsible for hosting the first-ever New York City screenings of films by Marguerite Duras, an influence on the filmmakers (alongside Daniel Schmid, Douglas Sirk and Alain Resnais.)

Adam Macadam

Maupassant

Black-Eyed Susan

Elaine

Brien Coleman

Dore Monserrat

Lisa Jane Persky

Felicie

Lola Pashalinski

Baroness Peterat

Rene Machado

Orpheus

Duncan Hannah

Julien

Ethyl Eichelberger

Ghost

Bill Gehr

Voice of Ghost

Jack Mallory

Secretary

Georg Osterman

Young Man

Richard Gibbs

Doctor

Kitty Sandern

Young Lady

Cynthia Millman

Eurydice

• Andrew HornDirector
• John MeaneyDirector

Release date

January 1, 1976

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

25m