Portrait of Jason

Starred Review. In 1966, experimental filmmaker Clarke sat up all night with her neighbor "Jason Holliday," an over-the-top gay black man with dreams of putting on a nightclub act. Jason's 12-hour monolog was edited down to become this film, which scandalized viewers. Jason tells stories about working as a houseboy for rich white women, hustling, and conning people out of money. He sings and does impressions. Self-aggrandizing and self-absorbed, Jason is not exactly likable. He is never without a cigarette, a joint, or a drink in his hand, and he seems drunk or high most of the time. Nevertheless, there is something touching about this man who is clearly playing the clown in order to cope with the casual racism and homophobia of a pre-Stonewall America. The film is more interesting in retrospect than on first viewing. Several worthy bonus tracks include a radio interview with Clarke and a fascinating piece on the detective work involved in restoring the film. VERDICT An important example of cinema verite and an artifact of gay history that should be seen by anyone interested in either of those subjects. A warning: some of the topics discussed, including sexual acts, are not for the faint of heart.-David Gibbs, Lib. of Congress, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.