Because of the size of his filmography, rather than have it all on one massive page, I have broken it down into the following separate pages for easier navigation:
1952-1959
1960-1970
1971-1982
1983-1990
1991-2003
Miscellaneous
All of these pages are still VERY MUCH in progress, but I wanted to start making this data public even though I still have a lot of work left to do on them. I’ve been going in generally chronological order adding data for each film, so the earlier film entries are typically more complete than the later ones for the time being.
The oeuvre of Stan Brakhage is massive and complex, and this is an attempt to create a really definitive filmography drawing in part on historically documented and disseminated data, but predominantly and substantially on my own notes and research based on firsthand inspection of Brakhage’s original film elements in my role as the archivist overseeing the care of his films since 2004 at the Academy Film Archive.
Since I started working on his films, I’ve documented as precise as possible footage counts (and therefore running times) for his films, as well as the particular film stocks utilized for each film. I’ve noted many other technical and anecdotal details over the years as well, and all of this data will eventually be a part of this filmography.
For many years, the most complete publicly available filmography for Brakhage’s work has been the one assembled by Fred Camper, and I want to acknowledge his important work in putting it together. His filmography has definitely been a hugely helpful reference for my own over the years, especially as regards notes on certain dates, and definitely on projection speeds, among other details. It is also definitely still extremely valuable as a resource and contains much anecdotal and other information that may not be contained below.
Projection speeds are among the many vagaries of creating any kind of definitive document, along with Brakhage’s frequent approach in assembling films in numbered series. Where speeds are potentially variable, I will include running times for each, and furthermore, running times given in parentheses represent precise measurements based on frame-to-frame footage counts of an actual film print or original for the film. Although the standard silent speed for 8mm film was typically 16fps, I’ve standardized silent speed usage in this filmography at 18fps, especially since all of the 8mm films were later blown up to 16mm and would now almost exclusively be shown at 18fps or even 24fps. (But the math can be done if you really want historical 16fps running time data.) Series will be broken down in individual parts as possible, but whereas some series have been released as separate and discrete films (e.g. Sexual Meditations, Scenes From Under Childhood), others – though there may be instances of individual parts showing – have generally not (Persian Series, …(Preludes)).
Capitalization is also inconsistent, as some of his film titles are hand-scratched in standard case cursive, whereas others are in all-caps photographic titlecards. I have elected to use all-caps forms of the titles here, although I will include notes about the atypical or varying onscreen form of the title if relevant (e.g. Sirius Re-membered or “He was born, he suffered, he died.”). Titles on screen also sometimes vary from what is commonly found in print references, and in those cases (e.g. Daybreak & White Eye or Love Making) I will acknowledge this. Also, some films have copyright years on screen, and many don’t, so I will be using the most commonly accepted and agreed-upon year available when it’s not present on the film itself, nor precisely verifiable based on lab paperwork or other behind-the-scenes documents I have accessed. As the precise release/completion date is usually not known for each film, films released in the same year will be listed in alphabetical order within that year. There are exceptions to this practice where the ordering of films is known or alphabetical ordering would be contextually confusing or inaccurate.
Regarding film stocks, I’ve tried my best to provide, for each film, a list of all the film stocks employed by Brakhage in the making of a film. In some cases, the identifying edge coding of the stocks is generic or ambiguous, so I may sometimes use phrasing like “probably” or “seems to be” – this means that I’m fairly certain it’s a particular stock, but because the identification isn’t 100% definitive, I’m leaving it open to mild uncertainty. This is common with 7256 Ektachrome MS, which was a widely used stock, but happens to have a very generic edge coding, so it’s usually identifiable by eye and era context, but the generic nature of the edge coding leaves it open slightly to uncertainty. In other cases – for example with Eastman b/w reversal stocks before the 1970s – the edge coding doesn’t differentiate between, say, Plus-X, Tri-X, and 4-X, so in those cases I’ve just described a stock more generally as “Eastman b/w reversal”.
Please do let me know if you have suggestions regarding alternative and potentially more useful organization of this information! My ideal is that this (like all the filmographies on this site) will be useful to scholars, curators, and just plan fans/enthusiasts of these artists.
A simplified list of all the films is provided below to aid browsing in the different filmography pages.
INTERIM (1952)
THE BOY AND THE SEA (1953)
UNGLASSED WINDOWS CAST A TERRIBLE REFLECTION (1953)
DESISTFILM (1954)
THE EXTRAORDINARY CHILD (1954)
THE WAY TO SHADOW GARDEN (1954)
IN BETWEEN (1955)
REFLECTIONS ON BLACK (1955)
UNTITLED FILM OF GEOFFREY HOLDER’S WEDDING (1955) (w/ Lawrence Jordan)
THE WONDER RING (1955)
GNIR REDNOW (aka REDNOW GNIR; aka CORNELL’S RING) (1955/1958/ca.1973) (w/ Joseph Cornell)
CENTURIES OF JUNE (1955-56) (w/ Joseph Cornell)
FLESH OF MORNING (1956 VERSION) (1956)
NIGHTCATS (1956)
ZONE MOMENT (1956)
DAYBREAK AND WHITE EYE (1957)
LOVING (1957)
ANTICIPATION OF THE NIGHT (1958)
CAT’S CRADLE (1959)
SIRIUS REMEMBERED (1959)
WEDLOCK HOUSE: AN INTERCOURSE (1959)
WINDOW WATER BABY MOVING (1959)
THE DEAD (1960)
THIGH LINE LYRE TRIANGULAR (1961)
FILMS BY STAN BRAKHAGE: AN AVANT-GARDE HOME MOVIE (1961)
SARTRE’S NAUSEA (1961)
BLUE MOSES (1962)
SILENT SOUND SENSE STARS SUBOTNICK AND SENDER (1962)
MOTHLIGHT (1963)
OH LIFE – A WOE STORY – THE A-TEST NEWS (1963)
DOG STAR MAN (1961-64)
SONG 1 (1964)
SONG 2 (1964)
SONG 3 (1964)
SONG 4 (1964)
SONG 5 (1964)
SONG 6 (1964)
SONG 7 (1964)
SONG 8 (1964)
THE ART OF VISION (1961-65)
BLACK VISION (1965)
FIRE OF WATERS (1965)
PASHT (1965)
SONG 9 (1965)
SONG 10 (1965)
SONG 11 (1965)
SONG 12 (1965)
SONG 13 (1965)
SONG 14 (1965)
15 SONG TRAITS (1965)
SONG 16 (1965)
SONG 17 (1965)
SONG 18 (1965)
SONG 19 (1965)
SONG 20 (1965)
SONG 21 (1965)
SONG 22 (1965)
THREE FILMS: BLUE WHITE, BLOOD’S TONE, VEIN (1965)
TWO: CREELEY/MCCLURE (1965)
EYE MYTH (1967)
23RD PSALM BRANCH (1967)
THE HORSEMAN, THE WOMAN AND THE MOTH (1968)
LOVE MAKING (1968)
SONG 24 (1968)
SONG 25 (1968)
SONG 26 (1968)
MY MTN. SONG 27 (1968)
RIVERS (aka MY MTN. SONG 27 PART II: RIVERS) (1969)
SONG 28 (1969)
SONG 29 (1969)
AMERICAN 30S SONG (1969)
WINDOW SUITE OF CHILDREN’S SONGS (1969) (w/ the Brakhage children)
SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD (SECTION 1) (1967)
SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD (SECTION 2) (1969)
SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD (SECTION 3) (1969)
SCENES FROM UNDER CHILDHOOD (SECTION 4) (1970)
THE WEIR-FALCON SAGA (1970)
THE MACHINE OF EDEN (1970)
THE ANIMALS OF EDEN AND AFTER (1970)
SEXUAL MEDITATIONS #1: MOTEL (1970)
EYES (1971)
DEUS EX (1971)
THE ACT OF SEEING WITH ONE’S OWN EYES (1971)
WECHT (1971)
ANGELS’ (1971)
DOOR (1971)
FOX FIRE CHILD WATCH (1971)
THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM (1971)
WESTERN HISTORY (1971)
THE TRIP TO DOOR (1971)
SEXUAL MEDITATION: ROOM WITH VIEW (1971)
SEXUAL MEDITATION: FAUN’S ROOM, YALE (1972)
SEXUAL MEDITATION: OFFICE SUITE (1971)
SEXUAL MEDITATION: HOTEL (1972)
SEXUAL MEDITATION: OPEN FIELD (1972)
EYE MYTH EDUCATIONAL (1972)
THE PRESENCE (1972)
THE PROCESS (1972)
THE RIDDLE OF LUMEN (1972)
THE SHORES OF PHOS: A FABLE (1972)
THE WOLD-SHADOW (1972)
GIFT (1973)
SINCERITY (1973)
THE WOMEN (1973)
AQUARIEN (1974)
CLANCY (1974)
DOMINION (1974)
FLIGHT (1974)
“HE WAS BORN, HE SUFFERED, HE DIED.” (1974)
HYMN TO HER (1974)
SKEIN (1974)
SOL (1974)
STAR GARDEN (1974)
THE TEXT OF LIGHT (1974)
THE STARS ARE BEAUTIFUL (1974)
SHORT FILMS: 1975 (1975)
SINCERITY II (1975)
SHORT FILMS: 1976 (1976)
GADFLIES (1976)
SKETCHES (1976)
WINDOW (1976)
TRIO (1976)
REMBRANDT, ETC., AND JANE (1976)
HIGHS (1976)
DESERT (1976)
AIRS (1976)
ABSENCE (1976)
THE DREAM, N.Y.C., THE RETURN, THE FLOWER (1976)
TRAGOEDIA (1976)
THE DOMAIN OF THE MOMENT (1977)
THE GOVERNOR (1977)
SOLDIERS AND OTHER COSMIC OBJECTS (1977)
BIRD (1978)
BURIAL PATH (1978)
CENTRE (1978)
DUPLICITY (1978)
DUPLICITY II (1978)
NIGHTMARE SERIES (1978)
PURITY AND AFTER (1978)
SINCERITY III (1978)
SLUICE (1978)
THOT FALN (1978)
POLAVISION FILMS (1978-1979)
@ (1979)
CREATION (1979)
DUPLICITY III (1980)
SINCERITY IV (1980)
SINCERITY V (1980)
MADE MANIFEST (1980)
OTHER (1980)
SALOME (1980)
MURDER PSALM (1980)
THE ROMAN NUMERALS SERIES (1979-80)
AFTERMATH (1981)
THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS (1981)
NODES (1981)
RR (1981)
UNCONSCIOUS LONDON STRATA (1981)
THE ARABIC NUMERALS SERIES (1980-82)
HELL SPIT FLEXION (1983)
EGYPTIAN SERIES (1984)
TORTURED DUST (1984)
JANE (1985)
CASWALLON TRILOGY (1986):
THE AERODYNE (1986)
FIRELOOP (1986)
DANCE SHADOWS BY DANELLE HELANDER (1986)
CONFESSION (1986)
THE LOOM (1986)
NIGHT MUSIC (1986)
LOUD VISUAL NOISES (silent version) (1986)
LOUD VISUAL NOISES (sound version) (1988)
THE DANTE QUARTET (1987)
KINDERING (1987)
I… DREAMING (1988)
MARILYN’S WINDOW (1988)
MATINS (1988)
RAGE NET (1988)
FAUSTFILM: AN OPERA (1987)
FAUST’S OTHER: AN IDYLL (1988)
FAUST 3: CANDIDA ALBACORE (1988)
FAUST IV (1989)
VISIONS IN MEDITATION #1 (1989)
VISIONS IN MEDITATION #2 (1989)
VISIONS IN MEDITATION #3 (1990)
VISIONS IN MEDITATION #4 (1990)
BABYLON SERIES (1989)
BABYLON SERIES #2 (1990)
BABYLON SERIES #3 (1990)
CITY STREAMING (1990)
THE THATCH OF NIGHT (1990)
VISION OF THE FIRE TREE (1990)
PASSAGE THROUGH: A RITUAL (1990)
GLAZE OF CATHEXIS (1990)
THREE HAND-PAINTED FILMS (1990)
AGNUS DEI KINDER SYNAPSE (1991)
A CHILD’S GARDEN AND THE SERIOUS SEA (1991)
CHRIST MASS SEX DANCE (1991)
DELICACIES OF MOLTEN HORROR SYNAPSE (1991)
CRACK GLASS EULOGY (1992)
INTERPOLATIONS 1-5 (1992)
UNTITLED (FOR MARILYN) (1992)
BOULDER BLUES AND PEARLS AND… (1993)
BLOSSOM GIFT/FAVOR (1993)
AUTUMNAL (1993)
EPHEMERAL SOLIDITY (1993)
THE HARROWING/TRYST HAUNT (1993)
STELLAR (1993)
STUDY IN COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE (1993)
THREE HOMERICS (FOR BARBARA FELDMAN) (1993)
BLACK ICE (1994)
CANNOT EXIST (1994)
CANNOT NOT EXIST (1994)
CHARTRES SERIES (1994)
ELEMENTARY PHRASES (1994) (w/ Phil Solomon)
FROM: FIRST HYMN TO THE NIGHT – NOVALIS (1994)
THE MAMMALS OF VICTORIA (1994)
NAUGHTS (1994)
I TAKE THESE TRUTHS (1995)
WE HOLD THESE (1995)
I… (1995)
IN CONSIDERATION OF POMPEII (1995)
PARANOIA CORRIDOR (1995)
THE “b” SERIES (1995)
EARTHEN AERIE (1995)
THE “LOST” FILMS (1995)
SPRING CYCLE (1995)
…(PRELUDES) 1-6 (1995)
…(PRELUDES) 7-12 (1996)
…(PRELUDES) 13-18 (1996)
…(PRELUDES) 19-24 (1996)
BEAUTIFUL FUNERALS (1996)
BLUE VALUE (1996)
CONCRESCENCE (1996) (w/ Phil Solomon)
THE FUR OF HOME (1996)
POLITE MADNESS (1996)
SEXUAL SAGA (1996)
THROUGH WOUNDED EYES (1996) (w/ Joel Haertling)
TWO FOUND OBJECTS OF CHARLES BOULTENHOUSE (1996)
COMMINGLED CONTAINERS (1996)
THE CAT OF THE WORM’S GREEN REALM (1997)
LAST HYMN TO THE NIGHT – NOVALIS (1997)
DIVERTIMENTO (1997)
SELF SONG & DEATH SONG (1997)
SHOCKINGLY HOT (1997)
YGGDRASILL: WHOSE ROOTS ARE STARS IN THE HUMAN MIND (1997)
“…” REEL ONE (1998)
“…” REEL TWO (1998)
“…” REEL THREE (1998)
“…” REEL FOUR (1998)
“…” REEL FIVE (1998)
THE BIRDS OF PARADISE (1998)
TWO FILMS: THE FEMALE MYSTIQUE AND SPARE LEAVES (FOR GORDON) (1998)
COUPLING (1999)
CLOUD CHAMBER (1999)
CRICKET REQUIEM (1999)
THE DARK TOWER (1999)
THE EARTH SONG OF THE CRICKET (1999)
THE LION AND THE ZEBRA MAKE GOD’S RAW JEWELS (1999)
MOILSOME TOILSOME (1999)
STATELY MANSIONS DID DECREE (1999)
WORM AND WEB LOVE (1999)
PERSIAN SERIES 1-5 (1999)
PERSIAN SERIES 6-12 (2000)
PERSIAN SERIES 13-18 (2000)
DANCE (2000)
THE GOD OF DAY HAD GONE DOWN UPON HIM (2000)
WATER FOR MAYA (2000)
THE JESUS TRILOGY AND CODA (2000)
ROUNDS (2001)
GARDEN PATH (2001) (w/ Mary Beth Reed)
LOVESONG (2001)
LOVESONG 2 (2001)
LOVESONG 3 (2001)
LOVESONG 4 (2001)
MICRO GARDEN (2001)
NIGHT MULCH & VERY (2001)
OCCAM’S THREAD (2001)
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL (2002)
LOVESONG 5 (2002)
SONG OF THE MUSHROOM (2002) (w/ Joel Haertling)
ASCENSION (2002)
RESURRECTUS EST (2002)
MAX (2002)
SB (aka ONE MINUTE FOR VIENNA) (2002)
SEASONS… (2002) (w/ Phil Solomon)
PANELS FOR THE WALLS OF HEAVEN (2002)
STAN’S WINDOW & WORK IN PROGRESS (2003)
CHINESE SERIES (2003)
LIGHTSTRUCK 