The Longest Most Meaningless Movie in the World
Encyclopedia
The Longest Most Meaningless Movie in the World is an underground
movie made in the UK
that runs to 48 hours long. No actual footage was shot for the project, which instead consists entirely of outtakes, commercials, strips of undeveloped film, academy leader, and other filmic castoff material, creating a seemingly endless stream of newsreel and stock footage
. Some portions of the film consist of the same commercial, repeated over and over again, for more than half an hour. Strips of 35mm still picture film are also included in the film; at times, the images are run upside down, and in reverse.
The film was produced by Anthony Scott in association with the Swiss Film Centre, London
. The first public screening of the film took place at The New Arts Lab in Drury Lane, London, in the Summer of 1968. It was also screened in 1969 at Cybervironment Plus, an experimental arts festival organised by Simon Chapman, and at the La Cinémathèque française
in October 1970.
Once the longest film ever made when first released, but was pushed back in 1987 by The Cure for Insomnia
, which runs for 87 hours, and is now in the number five spot behind Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki)
, which runs for 10 days, Cinématon
(2010), which runs for 152 hours, Matrjoschka
(2006), which runs for 95 hours, and The Cure for Insomnia
.
Underground film
An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing.-Definition and history:The first use of the term "underground film" occurs in a 1957 essay by American film critic Manny Farber, "Underground Films." Farber uses it to refer to the work of...
movie made in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that runs to 48 hours long. No actual footage was shot for the project, which instead consists entirely of outtakes, commercials, strips of undeveloped film, academy leader, and other filmic castoff material, creating a seemingly endless stream of newsreel and stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
. Some portions of the film consist of the same commercial, repeated over and over again, for more than half an hour. Strips of 35mm still picture film are also included in the film; at times, the images are run upside down, and in reverse.
The film was produced by Anthony Scott in association with the Swiss Film Centre, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The first public screening of the film took place at The New Arts Lab in Drury Lane, London, in the Summer of 1968. It was also screened in 1969 at Cybervironment Plus, an experimental arts festival organised by Simon Chapman, and at the La Cinémathèque française
Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française holds one of the largest archives of films, movie documents and film-related objects in the world. Located in Paris, the Cinémathèque holds daily screenings of films from around the world.-History:...
in October 1970.
Once the longest film ever made when first released, but was pushed back in 1987 by The Cure for Insomnia
The Cure for Insomnia
The Cure for Insomnia, directed by John Henry Timmis IV, was officially the world's longest movie, according to Guinness World Records, as of its release in 1987. Running 5,220 minutes in length, the movie has no plot, instead consisting of artist L. D...
, which runs for 87 hours, and is now in the number five spot behind Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki)
Modern Times Forever (Stora Enso Building, Helsinki)
Modern Times Forever is a 2011 film by Danish artists' group Superflex. It is currently the longest film ever made, lasting 240 hours . The film shows centuries of decay, compressed into the span of the film, marking Helsinki's Stora Enso building; the building it was originally screened in front...
, which runs for 10 days, Cinématon
Cinématon
Cinématon is a 162-hour long experimental film by French director Gérard Courant. It was the longest film ever released, until 2011. Composed over 33 years from 1978 until 2011, it consists of a series of over 2,432 silent vignettes , each 3 minutes and 25 seconds long, of various celebrities,...
(2010), which runs for 152 hours, Matrjoschka
Matrjoschka
Matrjoschka is a film made and produced by the German artist Karin Hoerler in 2006. At 95 hours of playtime it is the third longest experimental film by time....
(2006), which runs for 95 hours, and The Cure for Insomnia
The Cure for Insomnia
The Cure for Insomnia, directed by John Henry Timmis IV, was officially the world's longest movie, according to Guinness World Records, as of its release in 1987. Running 5,220 minutes in length, the movie has no plot, instead consisting of artist L. D...
.