The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati

1996 film by Michael McNamara
  • September 8, 1996 (1996-09-08) (TIFF)
Running time
95 minutesCountryCanadaLanguageEnglish

The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati is a Canadian film, released in 1996.[1] Directed by Michael McNamara and starring Alan Williams, the film was an adaptation of Williams' Cockroach trilogy of one-man theatrical shows.[2]

Synopsis

Based on a series of plays by Alan Williams, an aging hippie and rock-fanatic-turned-stand-up-comic who calls himself ‘The Captain’ (Williams), convinces a couple of novice filmmakers (Deborah Drakeford and Oliver Dennis) to help him record his ‘pure thoughts’ – a filmic testament of his experiences and observations of the past three decades. What follows is a series of wildly complex, sardonic anecdotes and theories about rock ‘n’ roll, hero-worship, hallucinations, drugs, madness, paranoia, rebellion, nuclear dread and the search for individual integrity in a world on the brink of cultural and physical destruction.

The title references the 1973 novelty song "The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati", by Rose and the Arrangement (a.k.a. Possum).

Cast

  • Alan Williams as The Captain
  • Deborah Drakeford as Novice filmmaker
  • Oliver Dennis as Novice filmmaker
  • Diane Niac
  • Peter Steponaitis
  • Danielle Pedard
  • Michael Olesen

Reception

The film garnered Williams a Genie Award nomination for Best Actor at the 18th Genie Awards.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Review: ‘The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati’". Variety, October 14, 1996.
  2. ^ "Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati features Windsors back alleys". Windsor Star, July 25, 1996.
  3. ^ "Sweet Hereafter leads the Genie award pack". The Province, November 5, 1997.
  • The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati at IMDb


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