Part of Shocktober, Music City Mondays and Ken Russell x4
Fascinated by the psychedelic ceremonies of a Mexican tribe who exhibit shared hallucinatory states while under the influence of a tincture of indigenous mushrooms, Harvard abnormal psychology professor Edward Jessup (William Hurt) begins to experiment with the drug in a sensory deprivation chamber. As the experiments continue, Jessup shows signs of both mental and physical devolution, eventually leading to his phasing in and out of material existence. Inspired equally by the mad scientist tropes of classic science fiction films like THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE FLY and the pseudo-scientific exploits of ‘60s psychedelic practitioners like Timothy Leary and Carlos Castaneda, Ken Russell’s ALTERED STATES is a fantastic and frightening trip into the deepest, darkest recesses of human consciousness. Written by Paddy Chayefsky with an original score from modern composer John Corigliano.
Program Note from Ken Russell:
Early 1979… After a tiring day at the Burbank Studios working on ALTERED STATES I was out for an evening of relaxation with a much loved and familiar masterpiece the memory of which was blown into oblivion by the music of a name totally unfamiliar to me — John Corigliano. Reading from my program that he was a contemporary composer, I braced myself for 30 minutes of plinks and plunks that pass for music these days. I was in for a shock, a surprise, a revelation.
Not since Bartok’s Miraculous Mandarin have I been so excited in the concert hall. Here were sounds of magic and grandeur I had long since despaired of hearing from a modern musician… If only he would compose the music for ALTERED STATES instead of some commercial hack we directors are usually saddled with, I thought wistfully. But that’s just a dream.
I should have known better — Hollywood is the place where dreams come true.
