Resident Alien

1990 83 min Documentary

At age 73, writer and melancholy master of the bon mot, Quentin Crisp (1908-1999), became an Englishman in New York. Nossiter's camera follows Crisp about the streets of Manhattan, where Crisp seems very much at home, wearing eye shadow, appearing on a makeshift stage, making and repeating wry observations, talking to John Hurt (who played Crisp in the autobiographical TV movie, "The Naked Civil Servant"), and dining with friends. Others who know Crisp comment on him, on his life as an openly gay man with an effeminate manner, and on his place in the history of gays' social struggle. The portrait that emerges is of one wit and of suffering.

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IMDb 6.7

director Jonathan Nossiter

writer Jonathan Nossiter

cast

Quentin Crisp Self
Peter Walker The Bum
Gilbert Stafford Man on Street
Gus Rogerson Street Performer
Michaela Murphy Street Performer
John Sex Self
Felicity Mason Dinner Hostess / Writer
Fran Lebowitz Writer
Guy Kettelhack Writer
John Hurt Self - Actor
Richard Seiburth Professor
Hunter Madson Writer
Sting Singer
Michael Musto Gossip Columnist
Sally Jessy Raphael Talk Show Host (archive footage)
Shi Ringer Gay Activist
Tom Steele Self - Publisher
Al Goldstein Pornographer
Paul Morrissey Self
Lenny Dean Cabaret Performer
Robert Patrick Playwright
Penny Arcade Performance Artist
Patrick Angus Painter
Paul Bridgewater Gallery Owner
Orshi Drozdick Sculptor
Emile de Antonio Filmmaker
David McDermott Painter
Peter McGough Painter
Trey Spiegel Painters' Friend
Franco the Great Painter
Holly Woodlawn Performer / Actor
Vincent Hanlon Self

Resident Alien

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