Blonde Cobra

Blonde Cobra

16mm, color and b/w, sound, 33 min
Featuring Jack Smith *Images gathered by Bob Fleischner, sound-film composed by Ken Jacobs. "Jack says I made the film too heavy. It was his and Bob's intention to create light monster-movie ...
Rental formats: 16mm, Digital file
Available for sale: DVD NTSC

Stills

About

Featuring Jack Smith *Images gathered by Bob Fleischner, sound-film composed by Ken Jacobs. "Jack says I made the film too heavy. It was his and Bob's intention to create light monster-movie comedy. Two comedies, actually, two separate stories that were being shot simultaneously until they had a falling-out over who should pay for the raw stock destroyed in a fire started when Jack's cat knocked over a candle: Jack claimed it was an act of God. in the winter of '59 Bob showed me the footage. Having no idea of the original story plans I was able to view the material not as the fragments of a failure, of two failures, but as the makings a new entirety. Bob gave over the footage to me and with it the freedom to develop it as I saw fit. I think it was in late 1960 that Jack and I ignored our personal animosities long enough to record his words and songs for the sound track. The phrases he repeated into the tape recorder were mostly ones I'd at some time heard him say; most were pet phrases he loved to recite, over and over, his lessons. A very few I made up in his stlye. The procedure for recording his monologues and songs. I played him selections from my 78 collection, music from the '20's and '30's, sometimes only the beginning of a record and if he liked it would restart the record and immediately record. I don't think there was a second take of anything Any lack of clarity is due to the very second-rate equipment, third-rate, fourth-rate, we were using. I play the harp for the Madame Nescience monologue. Jack supplied the Arabic music, there's also some SAFARI IN HIFI; a Villa-Lobos string quartet speeded up; a haunting section of a children's 45. . . 'Baby Wants To Sleep". A small amount of my own previous shooting was cut into the film, the short 'drowning in newscience' color sequence near the beginning. BLONDE COBRA is an erratic narrative -no, not really a narrative, it's only stretched out in time for convenience of delivery. It's a look in on an exploding life, on a man of imagination suffering pre-fashionable lower East Side deprivation and consumed with American 1950's, 40's, 30's disgust. Silly, self-pitying, guilt-structured and yet triumphing-on one level-over the situation with style, because he's unapologetically gifted, has a genius for courage, knows that a state of indignity can serve to show his character in sharpest relief. He carries on, states his presence for what it is. Does all he can to draw out our condemnation, testing our love for limits, . . . enticing us into an absurd moral posture the better to dismiss us with a regal 'screw-=off'." -K. J. Projected quarterly at The Anthology Film Archives of New York

Programs

  • See More

    Projection Instructions

    A program of 16mm films that involve special instructions to the projectionist, curator, or spectator

    Join us for a modular program of 16mm films that involve special instructions to the projectionist, curator, or spectator, underscoring the performative dimensions of cinematic exhibition. Venues wishing to exhibit a version of the program are encouraged to curate individual combinations of films from the list below that reflect their own interests, equipment, and exhibition spaces.

Films

  • Other films by this artist in our catalogue

  • Read More
    Whirled, The (aka Four Shorts of Jack Smith)
    Experimental

    Whirled, The (aka Four Shorts of Jack Smith)
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD 16mm, color and b/w, sound, 19 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
    • Arts / Artists
  • Read More
    Little Stabs At Happiness
    Experimental

    Little Stabs At Happiness
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, sound, 15 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Baud'larian Capers
    Experimental

    Baud'larian Capers
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm DVD, color, sound, 15 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Window
    Experimental

    Window
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    The Sky Socialist
    Experimental

    The Sky Socialist
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, sound, 90 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Airshaft
    Experimental

    Airshaft
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 4 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Soft Rain
    Experimental

    Soft Rain
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Landscape / Architecture
    • Films About Film
  • Read More
    Nissan Ariana Window
    Experimental

    Nissan Ariana Window
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 14 min
    Rental formats: DVD NTSC, 16mm
  • Read More
    Tom, Tom, The Piper's Son
    Experimental

    Tom, Tom, The Piper's Son
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color and b/w, silent, 115 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Globe
    Experimental

    Globe
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, sound on separate reel(s), 22 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Urban Peasants
    Experimental

    Urban Peasants
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color and b/w, sound on separate reel(s), 60 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    The Doctor's Dream
    Experimental

    The Doctor's Dream
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm or DVD, black and white, sound, 23 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    The Winter Footage
    Experimental

    The Winter Footage
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 42 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Perfect Film
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Perfect Film
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, black and white, sound, 22 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
    • Political / Social Activism
  • Read More
    Jerry Takes a Back Seat, Then Passes Out of the Picture
    Experimental

    Jerry Takes a Back Seat, Then Passes Out of the Picture
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, color, silent, 11 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Chronometer
    Experimental

    Chronometer
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, color, sound, 22 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
  • Read More
    Keaton's Cop
    Experimental

    Keaton's Cop
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, black and white, silent, 18 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Opening The Nineteenth Century:  1896
    Experimental

    Opening The Nineteenth Century: 1896
    Ken Jacobs

    16mm, black and white, sound, 9 min
    Rental format: 16mm
  • Read More
    Disorient Express
    Experimental

    Disorient Express
    Ken Jacobs

    35mm, black and white, silent, 30 min
    Rental format: 35mm
    • Films About Film
  • Read More
    Make Light On Film (with Pulfrich filters)
    Experimental

    Make Light On Film (with Pulfrich filters)
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 15 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    New York Street Trolley
    Experimental

    New York Street Trolley
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, black and white, sound, 10 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    A Tom Tom Chaser
    Experimental

    A Tom Tom Chaser
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, black and white, silent, 10 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • Appropriation / Detournement
  • Read More
    Star Spangled To Death
    Experimental

    Star Spangled To Death
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, color and b/w, sound, 440 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Mountaineer Spinning
    Experimental

    Mountaineer Spinning
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 26 min
  • Read More
    Nervous Magic Lantern: Spiral Nebula
    Experimental

    Nervous Magic Lantern: Spiral Nebula
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 45 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy: Bye, Molly
    Experimental

    Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy: Bye, Molly
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 90 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Insistent Clamor
    Experimental

    Insistent Clamor
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 22 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Krypton Is Doomed
    Experimental

    Krypton Is Doomed
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 34 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Let There Be Whistleblowers
    Experimental

    Let There Be Whistleblowers
    Ken Jacobs

    DVD, sound, 18 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Appropriation / Detournement
  • Read More
    Pushcarts Of Eternity Street
    Experimental

    Pushcarts Of Eternity Street
    Ken Jacobs

    Video, black and white, sound, 10 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Capitalism: Slavery
    Experimental

    Capitalism: Slavery
    Ken Jacobs

    black and white, silent, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Political / Social Activism
  • Read More
    Two Wrenching Departures

    Two Wrenching Departures
    Ken Jacobs

    black and white, sound, 90 min
  • Read More
    Ken Jacobs DVD Box Set: RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE LOST WORLD, RETURN TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, and ANAGLYPH TOM (TOM WITH PUFFY CHEEKS)
    Experimental

    Ken Jacobs DVD Box Set: RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE LOST WORLD, RETURN TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, and ANAGLYPH TOM (TOM WITH PUFFY CHEEKS)
    Ken Jacobs

    anaglyph 3-d color and b/w, sound, 303 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Capitalism: Child Labor
    Experimental

    Capitalism: Child Labor
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 14 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Children / Youth
    • History
    • Political / Social Activism
  • Read More
    Ken Jacobs's Blu-Ray Compilation #1
    Experimental

    Ken Jacobs's Blu-Ray Compilation #1
    Ken Jacobs

    color and b/w, sound, 42 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    The Surging Sea of Humanity
    Experimental

    The Surging Sea of Humanity
    Ken Jacobs

    color, silent, 11 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • Appropriation / Detournement
  • Read More
    Amorous Interludes
    Experimental

    Amorous Interludes
    Ken Jacobs

    color and b/w, silent and sound, 14 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • History
    • Technology
  • Read More
    Return to the Scene of the Crime
    Experimental

    Return to the Scene of the Crime
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 93 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • Appropriation / Detournement
  • Read More
    ANAGLYPH TOM (Tom With Puffy Cheeks)
    Experimental

    ANAGLYPH TOM (Tom With Puffy Cheeks)
    Ken Jacobs

    anaglyph 3-d color, sound, 109 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    The Scenic Route
    Experimental

    The Scenic Route
    Ken Jacobs

    color and b/w, sound, 25 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Razzle Dazzle the Lost World

    Razzle Dazzle the Lost World
    Ken Jacobs

    color and b/w, 90 min
    Rental formats: DVD NTSC, Digi Beta NTSC
  • Read More
    The Day Was a Scorcher
    Documentary
    Experimental

    The Day Was a Scorcher
    Ken Jacobs

    color, silent, 8 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Hot Dogs at the Met
    Experimental

    Hot Dogs at the Met
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 10 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Children / Youth
    • Family
  • Read More
    Jonas Mekas In Kodachrome Days
    Experimental

    Jonas Mekas In Kodachrome Days
    Ken Jacobs

    color, silent, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Walkway
    Experimental

    Walkway
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 8.2 min
    Rental format: mini DV NTSC
    • Environment / Nature
  • Read More
    The Pushcarts Leave Eternity Street
    Experimental

    The Pushcarts Leave Eternity Street
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 13 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • History
  • Read More
    Seeking the Monkey King
    Experimental

    Seeking the Monkey King
    Ken Jacobs

    color, sound, 40 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Another Occupation
    Experimental

    Another Occupation
    Ken Jacobs

    color and b/w, sound, 14 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Ethnographic
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • Political / Social Activism