A 1987 American Concert Film directed by Jonathan Demme and capturing a performance of playwright Spalding Gray's one-man show of the same name, which explores his trip to Asia as he prepared for his acting role in the 1984 film The Killing Fields.
It was released on March 13, 1987.
Tropes for the film:
- Do Not Taunt Cthulhu:Athol Fugard: Spalding! The sea's a lovely lady when you play in her. But if you play with her, she's a BITCH! Play in the sea, yes, but never play with her. You're lucky to be here! You're lucky to be ALIVE!
- Hell on Earth: Spalding Gray thinks the world is bad enough as is.Spalding: Who needs metaphors for hell, or poetry about hell? This actually happened, here on this earth. Pregnant mothers disemboweled, eyes gouged out. Kids, children, torn apart like fresh bread in front of their mothers. And this went on for years until two million people were either systematically killed or starved to death.
- Holiday in Cambodia: Played straight in the movie, which follows Spalding Gray's adventures in Thailand between shooting days for The Killing Fields.Farewell, to the fantastic breakfasts, free every morning. You walked down and there they are waiting on you with the papaya, mango, and pineapple like I'd never tasted before. Farewell, to the Thai maids with the king-sized cotton sheets and the big king-sized beds. Farewell, to the lunches. Fresh meat flown in America, daily. Roast potatoes, green beans and roast lamb, at 110 degrees under a circus tent, according to British Equity. Farewell to the drivers with the tinted glasses and the Mercedes with the tinted windows. Farewell to the cakes, and teas and ices every day exactly at four o'clock. Farewell to those beautiful smiling people. Farewell to that single, fresh rose in a vase on my bureau in the hotel every day. And just as I was climbing into that first-class seat, and wrapping myself in a blanket, just as I was adjusting the pillow from behind my head, and having a sip of that champagne, and just as I was adjusting and bringing down my Thai purple sleep mask, I had an inkling, I had a flash. I suddenly thought I knew what it was that had killed Marilyn Monroe.
- "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer: Spalding Gray swears he's not making anything up – except that the banana sticks to the wall. You'll know it when you hear it.
