The Argument

1999 0h 14m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 8

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Sometimes viewed as a companion piece to Lucifer Rising, Cammell’s 1972 short was left incomplete by the director and rediscovered and finished by his editor and close collaborator Frank Mazzola in 1999. The result is a visually stunning piece of work, shot in Bryce Canyon by the great Vilmos Zsigmond in glorious color and Cinemascope, with Myriam Gibril as Aisha the Witch and Kendrew Lascelles as the Director shouting a philosophical dialogue amidst the echoing rock formations.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Myriam Gibril
Aisha, the witch
Kendrew Lascelles
Nonus

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Donald Cammell
Writers: Donald Cammell
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 14-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Donald Cammell, shot by Vilmos Zsigmond. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bruce Langhorne. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Frank Mazzola shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Myriam Gibril and Kendrew Lascelles carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0244978 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Donald Cammell directs. Vilmos Zsigmond behind the camera. Bruce Langhorne scores. Frank Mazzola cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 14-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
227 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Donald Cammell, shot by Vilmos Zsigmond. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Bruce Langhorne. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Frank Mazzola shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Myriam Gibril and Kendrew Lascelles carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0244978 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.