KinoCult presents: The Doors (1991) by Oliver Stone
8 December | 19:00 | Lumiere Cinema
On Jim Morrison’s birthday and 35 years after the film’s premiere, see The Doors on the big screen.
Los Angeles, 1960s. A young poet and film student meets musician Ray Manzarek. Together with guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, they form a band that will turn poetry, psychedelia and stage provocation into the language of a generation. The film follows Morrison’s rise, his relationship with Pamela Courson, and the gradual erasure of the line between stage freedom and personal self-destruction.
Oliver Stone creates a sensual, feverish portrait of the musician and his era. Concerts are at the heart of the experience: Robert Richardson’s camera moves among bodies, lights and crowds, while the music sets the rhythm of the story.
Val Kilmer performs with his own voice in the concert scenes. Access to the original multitrack recordings allows the sound team to combine his performances with The Doors’ instrumental parts and, at times, Morrison’s own voice. Robby Krieger, John Densmore and the band’s producer Paul A. Rothchild helped prepare the cast.
In 2019, the restored film was presented in the Cinéma de la Plage programme at the Cannes Film Festival — a renewed encounter with the music and mythology of one of rock’s most influential bands.
Director: Oliver Stone
Screenplay: Randall Johnson, Oliver Stone
Cast: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley, Kevin Dillon, Kathleen Quinlan, Billy Idol
Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Editing: David Brenner, Joe Hutshing
Production design: Barbara Ling
Music: The Doors
Language: English
Subtitles: Bulgarian