UK, 2 March 1982
63m 3s
videotape, colour, 4:3
mono, English
A British drama based on the play by Bertold Brecht with some fantasy sequences directed by Alan Clarke.
Plot Summary
Poet Baal leads a debauched life of sex and murder as he tries to chart a changing world in Germany just before the first world war. The story is told in an experimental fashion with many special effects and camera tricks.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Alan Clarke
© BBC MCMLXXXI [1981]
Producer: Louis Marks
Production Manager: Susan Box
Script Editor: Stuart Griffiths
[Based on the Play] By: Bertolt Brecht
[Play] Translated by: John Willett
Adapted for Television by: John Willett, Alan Clarke
Lighting: Sam Barclay
Senior Cameraman: Dave Mutton
Vision Mixer: Jim Stephens
VT Editor: Howard Dell
Musical Director: Dominic Muldowney
Sound: John Howell
Costume Designer: Reg Samuel
Makeup Artist: Pauline Cox
Video Effects: Dave Jervis
Designer: Tony Abbott
Graphic Designer: Rosemary Turner
Paintings by: Tom Taylor
Properties Buyer: John Bush
Technical Managers: Jeff Jeffery, Tony Bate
Production Associate: Liz Small
Assistant Floor Managers: Laura Sims, Peter Sofroniou
Production Assistant: Glenys Williams
Cast
David Bowie (Baal)
Robert Austin (Mech)
Russell Wootton (Piller)
Julian Wadham (Johannes)
Juliet Hammond-Hill (Emilie)
Jonathan Kent (Eckhart)
Wally Thomas (1st cab driver)
Roy Evans (2nd cab driver)
Michael Miller (Horgauer)
Sylvia Brayshay (Louise)
Tracey Childs (Johanna)
Paola Dionisotti (porter’s wife)
Zoë Wanamaker (Sophie)
Polly James (soubrette)
Hugh Walters (pianist)
Leon Lissek (Mjurk)
Julian Littman (Lupu)
James Duggan (1st policeman)
Bill Stewart (2nd policeman)
Brian Coburn (1st woodcutter)
P.J. Davidson (2nd woodcutter)
Michael Hughes (3rd woodcutter)
Trevor Cooper (4th woodcutter)
Alternative Titles
David Bowie in Baal
References
Periodicals
- Broadcast no.1149 (8 Mar 1982) p.16 – review (by Patrick Stoddart)
- The Listener vol.107 no.2749 (25 February 1982) p.28 – article (by John Elson)
- Television Today 3 September 1981 p.19
- Television Today 9 July 1981 p.16
Books
- Looking for a New England: Action, Time, Vision: Music, Film and TV 1975-1986 by Simon Matthews pp.75-76, 95, 191
