Pull My Daisy 1959
"Is Holy Holy?"
Pull My Daisy (1959) is a raw, 26-minute black-and-white gem that captures the chaotic spirit of the Beat Generation like no other film.
Director: Alfred Leslie
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pull My Daisy (1959) about?
The film follows a railway worker whose quiet dinner with a bishop is upended when his wife invites a group of bohemian friends. Their unscripted antics turn the evening into an improvised battle of wit and irreverence against societal expectations.
Who directed Pull My Daisy?
Pull My Daisy was co-directed by Alfred Leslie, with cinematography by Robert Frank. The film's raw visual style helped cement its place as a defining artifact of the Beat Generation.
Who stars in Pull My Daisy?
The cast features Beat icons Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Peter Orlovsky, and Larry Rivers, alongside David Amram.
Is Pull My Daisy (1959) worth watching?
Absolutely—if you appreciate offbeat, dialogue-driven films with historical significance. Its 26-minute runtime packs a punch, blending comedy, drama, and jazz into a rebellious snapshot of the 1950s avant-garde.
How long is Pull My Daisy?
Pull My Daisy runs for 26 minutes.
About Pull My Daisy (1959) — A Beat-Generation Comedy Classic in 26 Minutes
Pull My Daisy (1959) is a raw, 26-minute black-and-white gem that captures the chaotic spirit of the Beat Generation like no other film. Directed by Alfred Leslie, with Robert Frank behind the camera, this short comedy-drama unfolds as a railway brakeman's unpretentious dinner with a visiting bishop spirals into pure Bohemian mayhem. His wife's invitation to a man of the cloth quickly gets hijacked by a ragtag crew of beatnik artists—led by the legendary Neal Cassady's real-life friends—whose unfiltered energy and improvised antics transform the evening into a defiant celebration of spontaneity. The film's off-the-cuff dialogue, jazz-infused score by David Amram, and Kerouac's free-verse narration pulse with the rebellious, free-spirited ethos of 1950s counterculture.
Crafted from Jack Kerouac's play and filmed in a documentary-style haze, Pull My Daisy (1959) feels less like a scripted story and more like a time capsule of late-'50s Greenwich Village life. Kerouac himself appears alongside Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, and Gregory Corso, their presence lending the production an authentic, almost accidental vibe. Between the clinking glasses and improvised riffs, the film pokes fun at social norms while championing artistic freedom—a tightrope walk between satire and sincerity that makes it endlessly quotable. Whether you're a Beat Generation devotee or a curious newcomer, Daisy's 26-minute runtime is a lightning bolt of wit and rebellion you won't forget.