COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN
1982. 109 min. Directed by Robert Altman.
Tickets here: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/come-back-to-the-five-and-dime-jimmy-dean-jimmy-dean-2/
Inside a decrepit Woolworth’s five-and-dime store 90 miles outside Marfa, Texas, a group of women, formerly the “Disciples of James Dean” fan club, reunite on the 20th anniversary of the actor’s death. Alternating between the present 1975, and intermittent flashbacks to 1955, a dirge of secrets, confessions, and breakdowns unfurl in dazzling, phrenetic, drunken hysteria. Adapted from Ed Graczyk’s stage play, the film features a youthful Cher as the town slut, Kathy Bates as a blow-hard bully, and arguably Sandy Dennis’ most stunning (ie: unhinged) performance. Karen Black’s ‘shocking’ reveal that she was formerly Joe, now Joanne, adds to the frenzy of dated “welcome to the freak show” vibes. Our presenting artist, poet CAConrad, has seen this film over 110 times.
CAConrad has been working with the ancient technologies of poetry and ritual since 1975. They are the author of AMANDA PARADISE: Resurrect Extinct Vibration (Wave Books, 2021). Other titles include While Standing in Line for Death and Ecodeviance. The Book of Frank is now available in 9 different languages. They received a Creative Capital grant, a Pew Fellowship, a Lambda Literary Award, and a Believer Magazine Book Award. They teach at Columbia
University in New York City and Sandberg Art Institute in Amsterdam. Please visit their website
Queer|Art|Film is supported by HBO and presented in partnership with IFC.