SCORPIO RISING
Scorpio Rising is a 1963 American experimental short film by Kenneth Anger, starring Bruce Byron (whom Anger asserts was “half-crazy”) as Scorpio. Themes central to the film include the occult, biker subculture, homosexuality, Catholicism, and Nazism; the film also explores the worship of rebel icons of the era, such as James Dean and Marlon Brando (referred to by Anger as Byron’s “heroes”). Like many of Anger’s films, the film does not contain any dialogue; it instead features a prominent soundtrack consisting of 1960s pop, including songs by Ricky Nelson, The Angels, The Crystals, Bobby Vinton, Elvis Presley, and Ray Charles. (More from Wikipedia)
Wikipedia reports: “The song [“Wipe Out”] – both the Surfaris’ version as well as cover versions – has been featured in over 20 films and television series since 1964, appearing at least once a decade. First heard in Kenneth Anger’s short Scorpio Rising [1963], its most recent appearance was in Dominic Sena’s 2009 thriller, Whiteout.”
(December 2014)
