Piero Heliczer / Venus In Furs / CBS News

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 12 Jul 2004 20:57

Hi all,

I've been puzzling over the mentions on Oliver's site (in the Live Dates, TV and Film sections) of Piero Heliczer's film Venus In Furs and the CBS Walter Cronkite show 'The Making Of An Underground Film', both from 1965.

As far as I can work out, both of these contain footage of The Velvet Underground performing Heroin in November 1965, with Heliczer joining in on saxaphone. Also, the CBS show documents the making of Heliczer's film. After that, I'm a bit stuck. Can anyone tell me:

1. Is there any difference in content (musical or visual) between the Heliczer film and the CBS show, or do they both show the same film of the same performance?

2. Is the Heliczer film silent or does it have sound?

3. Does either of these items circulate amongst collectors?

4. If yes to 3, where can I get them?!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 13 Jul 2004 09:26

Unfortunately I never had a chance to see film Venus in Furs. I know some big VU fans and collectors, but no-one confirmed me to see that film. To your questions:

1. Film Venus in Furs was shoot by Heliczer on 8mm camera. CBS TV crew was around with their video? camera, so Heliczer and CBS footage is different. You can see 3 stills from CBS on my Piero Heliczer web page, here is a direct link:
http://mujweb.cz/www/heliczer/filmography/muf.htm

2. Film had to be silent, but as far as I know Piero used music taped by CBS. By the way Piero taped some very early VU music and used it during his film projections. I think it shoud not be so diffucult to find. Unfortunately I do know have time and money to travel and visit right people.

3. I know only about excerpts from BBC Dancing in the Street documentary and BBC John Cale documentary has some CBS footage too.

Later there will be more informations about Making of an Underground Film on my web page, but you have to wait.

Best wishes

Ondrej

jimjim · Post by **jimjim** » 13 Jul 2004 11:04

Glad this has been brought up as I wanted to ask about this. Those of you that are on the jimjims list will know that I've been trying to assemble a set of VCDs with a view to creating a a 'complete' VU on Film/TV archive. There is a possibility we may put it all on one DVD in the future....however....

We are missing footage of the Piero H 'happening' & the Warhol NET interview (w/the VU performing H & VIF)..does anyone have MPEGS or AVIs. I am aware that some bits and pieces have turned in up in TV docus so sourcing it from them would be fine but the longer and uninterrupted versions would be most welcome!

If u can help, please get in touch!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 13 Jul 2004 16:48

Thanks Ondrej and Sean. Having seen the stills on your site Ondrej, I'm wondering whether the VU are actually seen performing in the CBS excerpt? Or is it simply that their music is heard in the background?

It might be an interesting project to try and gather together all the sources that contain clips from the CBS thing (so I guess the South Bank Warhol special, Dancing In The Street and the Cale doc, unless anyone knows of any others?) and try to edit together a 'definitive' version. Same with the Paraphernalia footage that has surfaced in various places (South Bank VU special, Curious, Dancing In The Street). Unfortunately I don't have all of these sources so can't do it myself... anyone else?

Re the Warhol WNET interview, I seem to remember seeing the Warhol bit on some TV show years ago - I'd guess Dancing In The Street, the BBC Cale doc or Lou's Rock 'n' Roll Heart doc. Anyone know for sure?

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 13 Jul 2004 16:57

Another thought... is Piero Heliczer still kicking around? From what I can work out his archive must be almost as important as Warhol's in terms of VU film and recordings: as well as Venus In Furs, Cale and Maclise appeared in several of his other films, and then there's the super-early 1965 VU music that he taped to play at his screenings. Yet none of it's ever surfaced, and it's barely even talked about. We need to get Rosie on the case here!

guest · Post by **guest** » 14 Jul 2004 10:53

piero stayed in Amsterdam in the 1980s and early 1990s, and a VU fan friend of mine was in reasonably regular contact with him. My friend tried very hard to get copies of anything Piero had which was VU related, but never succeeded. Piero was apparently very good at talking and asking for money etc, but never actually produced any of the goods....
but you are correct - Piero's archive shoudl in theory be a goldmine for fans of the early VU...

Gordon