Dionysus in '69

For the theatrical production, see Dionysus in 69 (play).

Dionysus in '69 ^[1] is a 1970 American film directed by Brian De Palma, Robert Fiore and Bruce Rubin. The film records a performance of The Performance Group's stage play of the same name, an adaptation of The Bacchae directed by Richard Schechner.^[2][3] It was entered into the 20th Berlin International Film Festival.^[4]

Dionysus in '69
Film poster
Directed by	Brian De Palma Robert Fiore Bruce Rubin Richard Schechner (play director)
Written by	William Arrowsmith Euripides
Starring	William Finley
Cinematography	Robert Fiore Bruce Rubin Brian De Palma
Edited by	Bruce Rubin Brian De Palma Robert Fiore
Distributed by	Sigma III
Release date	1970 (1970)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Cast

• Remi Barclay as Chorus/Herself
• Samuel Blazer as Coryphaeus/Chorus/Himself
• Jason Bosseau as Messenger/Chorus/Himself
• Richard Dia as Cadmus/Chorus/Himself
• William Finley as Dionysus/Chorus/Himself
• Joan MacIntosh as Agave/Chorus/Herself
• Vicki May as Chorus/Herself
• Patrick McDermott as Tiresias/Chorus/Himself
• Margaret Ryan as Chorus/Herself
• Will Shepherd as Pentheus/Chorus/Himself
• Ciel Smith as Agave/Chorus/Herself

Production

The film merges the final two performances of the play, from June and July 1969, the final one having been staged with more lighting, for better recording quality. In contrast to the previous non-recorded performances, actors are not fully naked during central scenes so as to ensure distribution to movie theaters.^[5] The film makes use of split screen to show both actors and audience involvement in parallel.

See also

• List of American films of 1970