Pirate Tape poster

Pirate Tape

6.9(8)198317m1

Derek Jarman's film portrait of American writer William S. Burroughs was shot in September 1982 during his first visit to England to attend the legendary Final Academy events at the South London Ritzy Cinema. These were Burroughs-themed art and performance nights curated by Psychic TV. Jarman’s film shows Burroughs on Tottenham Court Road signing autographs with fans and inside a shop buying alcohol. The industrial soundtrack by Psychic TV features a sample of Burroughs repeating "boys, school showers and swimming pools full of 'em'". Additional footage shot by Jarman during Burroughs' visit is reported to have been confiscated by Scotland Yard in 1991 and remains lost. Jarman and Psychic TV would continue to collaborate (“magic bound us together” Jarman wrote), with Jarman directing the music video for Catalan and staring as the spokesperson in the Psychic TV video A Spokesman for the Temple of Psychick Youth.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • biography
  • short film

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Derek Jarman

Produced in

United Kingdom

Gallery

Still from Pirate Tape

Videos

No extra videos are listed for this title yet.

Release dates

  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical1 Jan 1983
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1 Feb 1987

Frequently asked questions

Pirate Tape was released on 1 January 1983.

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