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Movie Info
Hart Crane (James Franco) leaves home at 17 and becomes a renowned poet in New York City, but he drinks to excess, conceals his sexuality and becomes increasingly self-destructive toward the end of his short life.
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Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Lgbtq+
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Original Language: English
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Director: James Franco
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Producer: Vince Jolivette, Miles Levy, Caroline Aragon
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Writer: James Franco
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Release Date (Theaters): limited
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Runtime:
Cast & Crew

James Franco
Hart Crane

Michael Shannon
Emile

Stacey Miller
Peggy Cowley

Betsy Franco
Grace Crane

Dave Franco
Young Hart Crane

David Rothstadt
Poetry Reading Attendant
David Henry Gerson
Drunken Cafe Attendant
Richard Abate
Father Crane

James Franco
Director

James Franco
Screenwriter

Vince Jolivette
Producer

Miles Levy
Producer

Caroline Aragon
Producer

Christina Voros
Cinematographer

James Franco
Film Editing

Malgosia Turzanska
Costume Design

Neil Benezra
Original Music

Kristen Adams
Production Design
News & Interviews for The Broken Tower
Critic Reviews for The Broken Tower
Audience Reviews for The Broken Tower
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Oct 09, 2013
With the pretentious drivel of a biopic of poet Hart Crane(James Franco), "The Broken Tower," Franco, as writer and director, confirms what everybody who hates poetry thinks they know and why poetry slams were invented. And somehow also manages to make self-destructive behavior just as dull. Specifically, we find out that Crane had parents(Richard Abate & Betsy Franco). Otherwise, it may just seem like James Franco is about the only actor in the movie which is either a sign of an extremely low budget or extreme narcissism.(Admittedly, Michael Shannon is around here somewhere but I'm also not sure who he was supposed to be.) As I am reminded that no man is an island, I was also wondering who might have influenced Crane's poetry, not just that his advertising job made him miserable. But Franco does get points for the blow job.
walter m Super Reviewer -
Aug 04, 2012
I'm always amazed when films made about intellectuals have little to no intellectual content. The starkness of that contrast startles and befuddles me every time. It also stuns me how often this happens. The latest example is James Franco's "The Broken Tower," which focuses on avant-garde American poet Hart Crane, who killed himself in 1932 at the age of 32. Franco clearly has authentic interest in Crane, and he appears to be getting a serious education at a range of institutions, including Yale University, where as far as I know he is currently pursuing a PhD in Literature. But in this film project, only a shallow level of interest shows. Franco is drawn to Crane and his poetry, but here he doesn't have anything significant to say about Crane or his poetry. There are superficial depictions of Crane struggling to get money so he could devote himself to writing poetry and many long passages where Franco reads Crane's poetry. The recitation is not particularly engaging, by the way. And since all the poetry has already been published, I'm not sure what the benefit is of having so much of it read to us. We already can read the poetry, Mr. Franco. We're not watching your movie to find Crane's poetry, since we can already get that in a library. Film as audiobook -- not good. There are bold depictions of Crane's sex life here, including one particularly daring scene with Franco portraying Crane performing oral sex on a man. Let's just say that it's cinema verite. Franco goes down on it with real gusto and in close-up. Not many straight-male movie stars would do this. Franco appears to have forceful opposition to homophobia, which is great to see. But this is more a moral gesture than an artistic one. "The Broken Tower" may have moral force, but it has almost nothing artistic to say. The film is also rather flat-footed. Franco demonstrates really no directorial talent here. Almost every scene feels awkward and phony. Franco's acting is also skin-deep here. A noble effort, but "The Broken Tower" is ultimately a big disappointment.
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Feb 20, 2012
<i>The Truth is Indecent.</i> <b>Fail</b> This is James Franco's failed attempt in directing, producing and acting. In this slow endless film, Franco tries to highlight the melancholic life of American poet Hart Crane. Franco tries his best to make an art film, but ends up creating a piece of <b> garbage </b>. His attempt to use black and white, handheld cameras, and a slow picture is futile. He ends up creating a horrible film that instead of making you admire Hart Crane, you end up despising him. Avoid this movie <u>Hart Crane</u> : <i>"From pit to crucifix</i>
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Jan 14, 2012
Hart Crane: We all know life is a dance of death, but we can still make something of it. The Broken Tower had a noble premise surrounding the short life of American poet Hart Crane, who is played by James Franco. Not only that, the film was written and directed by Franco, and while that may sound worthy on paper, The Broken Tower fails to work on nearly any level. There are a handful of risqué scenes that furthermore adds to the longstanding rumor of James Franco's sexual orientation, and he delivers a fifteen minute long poetry monologue. Yawn. If that is not terrible enough, the film is shot as a "docudrama" and features some of the most scattershot editing ever to be featured on film; all presented in black and white. The Broken Tower is the first 2012-released film I have seen, and will most likely make it on my worst of the year list. Read the whole review at www.creedsdelight.com
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