John Cassavetes has been called a genius, a visionary, and the father of independent film. But all this rhetoric threatens to obscure the humanism and generosity of his art. The five films included here represent his self-financed works made outside the studio system of Hollywood, on which he was afforded complete control. While about beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, and children, all of them are beautiful, emotional testaments to compassion. Cassavetes has often been called an actor's director, but this body of work astoundingly, even greater than the sum of its extraordinarily significant parts reveals him to be an audience's director. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night in stunning new transfers. Includes Charles Kiselyak's A Constant Forge, a candid biographical documentary on the life and work of Cassavetes .
This boxed set includes the following titles:
Shadows (1959) 81 min. B&W. 1.33:1 aspect ratio
Faces (1968) 130 min. B&W. 1.66:1 aspect ratio
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) 147 min. Color. 1.85:1 aspect ratio
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) 135 min. Color. 1.85:1 aspect ratio
Opening Night (1977) 144 min. Color. 1.66:1 aspect ratio
A Constant Forge (2000) 200 min. Color. 1.33:1 aspect ratio
