Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), a musical play by Terrence McNally (book), John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics). [ Broadhurst Theatre, 906 perf.; Tony, NYDCC Awards.] In a South American prison, cellmates Molina (Brent Carver), a gay window dresser sentenced for corrupting the morals of a youth, and Valentin (Anthony Crivello), a revolutionary, move from being cold strangers to close friends and even lovers under the harsh conditions they suffer together. Molina deals with the situation by fantasizing about the screen goddess Aurora (Chita Rivera) who is also the symbol of death. When Molina is freed in the hopes of leading the police to Valentin's comrades, the plan misfires and Molina is executed. Notable songs: Where You Are; Anything for Him; You Could Never Shame Me; Gimme Love. Although the Manuel Puig novel and 1984 film made for an unlikely subject for a musical, the Hal Prince–directed show was both gripping and entertaining. The Livent‐produced musical had tried out at SUNY Purchase and was rewritten in Toronto and London before arriving on Broadway where it was a critical and popular success.

• Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Gay & Lesbian Films, Prison Film
• Themes: Prison Life, Redemption, Gender-Bending
• Director: Hector Babenco
• Main Cast: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jose Lewgoy, Nuno Leal Maia
• Release Year: 1985
• Country: US/BR
• Run Time: 119 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

Political prisoner Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia) and homosexual pederast Luis Molina (William Hurt) share a Brazilian prison cell in this fantastical drama from the book by Manuel Puig. Sensitive and flamboyant, Molina helps pass the time by recounting memories from one of his favorite films, a wartime romantic thriller that just may also be a Nazi propaganda film. He weaves the characters into an ongoing narrative meant to spur Valentin's imagination and distract him from the brutal realities of political imprisonment and separation from the woman he loves. Hard around the edges, and willing to die for his political principles, Valentin nonetheless allows Molina to penetrate some of his defensive shell. An odd friendship forms between the two vastly different prisoners, the dreamer and the activist. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Valentin is being poisoned by his captors, to compel him to reveal names and secrets, and that Molina may have other agendas that belie his honesty and openness with Valentin. The intense character study builds toward a surprising conclusion. Kiss of the Spider Woman received Oscar nominations for best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay, and Hurt took home the best actor trophy for his portrayal of the soulful and conflicted Molina. The film was later adapted into a Broadway musical. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide

Review

It's surprising that Kiss of the Spider Woman didn't hit the stage until after it was filmed: Much of the narrative takes place inside the contained space of a Brazilian jail cell, all the more isolated by being boarded off from the rest of the prison. Hector Babenco's sensitive direction avoids claustrophobia by visiting dreamy images from a romantic fantasy/Nazi propaganda film, which William Hurt's Molina describes to Raul Julia's Valentin to distract him from reality. Just as quirky as it sounds, the film triumphs as a study of how imprisonment alters behavioral tendencies -- and inspires unforeseen motivations -- in the prisoners' attempts to simulate normalcy. The gruff Valentin adheres to Molina's flight of fancy and confronts an awakening sexual curiosity, while Molina, the apolitical drama queen, courts danger by agreeing to assist Valentin's rebellion. Both leads show major acting chops here, generously layering their portrayals. Spider Woman is less interesting when it ventures outside the cell, including the muddled, unsatisfying ending. But there's a lot of substance here, and more laughs than one might expect from a prison film, though this certainly strays from that genre. The details of the hokey propaganda film are especially funny. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide

Cast

• William Hurt - Luis Molina
• Raul Julia - Valentin Arregui
• Sonia Braga - Leni Lamaison
• Jose Lewgoy - Warden
• Nuno Leal Maia - Gabriel

Antonio Petrim - Clubfoot; Milton Goncalves - Secret Police; Patricio Bisso - Greta; Herson Capri - Werner; Denise Dummont - Michelle; Wilson Grey - Flunky; Nildo Parente - Leader of Resistance; Miriam Pires - Mother; Fernando Torres - Americo; Oswaldo Barreto - Molina's Friend; Walmir Barros - Agent; Elvira Bisso - Maid; Frederico Botelho - Jewish Smuggler; Ana Maria Braga - Lidia; Walter Breda - Agent; Sergio Bright - Molina's Friend; Pericles Campos - Prison Guard; Benjamin Cattan - Molina's Friend; Claudio Curi - Molina's Friend; Lineu Dias - Bank Cashier; Miguel Falabella - Lieutenant; Carlos Fariello - Jewish Smuggler; Luis Roberto Galizia - Nurse; Luis Guilherme - Agent; Kenichi Kaneko - Prison Guard; Joe Kantor - Judge; Paulo Ludmer - Rabbi; Edmilson Santos - Prison Guard; Georges Schlesinger - Jewish Smuggler; Luis Serra - Prison Doctor; Sylvio Band - Rabbi; Walter Vicca - Prison Guard

Credit

Mauro Alice - Editor; Hector Babenco - Director; Wally Badarou - Composer (Music Score); Patricio Bisso - Costume Designer; Clovis Bueno - Production Designer; Felipe Crescenti - Production Designer; Felipe Crescenti - Set Designer; Nena de Oliveira - Makeup; John Neschling - Composer (Music Score); Lee Percy - Editor; Guilherme Pereira - Makeup; Francisco Ramalho, Jr. - Producer; Rodolfo Sanchez Santinelli - Cinematographer; Leonard Schrader - Screenwriter; David Weisman - Producer; Michael Jary - Featured Music; Manuel Puig - Book Author

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