William S. Burrows - A Junky's Christmas (1994 ) Claymation Christmas Noir

Directors Nick Donkin and Melodie McDaniel. 

Written by William S. Burroughs and James Grauerholz. Cinematography by Simon Higgins and Wyatt Troll, Music by Hal Willner. Animation Department animators Tim Adlide, Craig Elliott, Robert Gudan, Norman Yeend.

Starring William S. Burroughs as as himself and as, Narrator (Voice Over), and Christmas Dinner Friends Susan Ashline, Jon Blumb, Jennifer Brosseau, Susan Brosseau, John Dillon, Jose Ferez, James Grauerholz, Steven Lowe, James McCrary, David Ohle, Wes Pittman, Lou Propst, Wayne Propst, Carol Schmidt, and Charles Whitman.

Story

The full film includes a live action intro of William S. Burroughs in a room decorated for Christmas. I know what you're thinking, a junky, its gonna be a Frankie flop with Christmas rat cages from Blast Of Silence type of place. But no it's pretty posh, with a lit fireplace, tree, garland, the works. 

William S. Burroughs

Burroughs pulls a book out of his bookshelves. Intervisions and opens it to A Junky's Christmas. As Burroughs begins to read he narrates the tale in Voice Over, we cut to a Claymation areal view of NYC. Lower Manhattan to the Empire State Building and looking across the East River as the early morning sun reflects in the water, towards Brooklyn and Queens.

Its the story of Danny the Wiper. Danny tells us he was in a holding cell for 72 hrs. They let him out. It's Christmas Day. A bright cold sunny day. 

Danny the Wiper

Danny wears a greasy coat and woolen cap. Snow patches linger on the sidewalks too cold to melt.. Danny needs a fix. 

He's up in the West 90s. 

He's walking down a brownstone lock scoping out the cars for an easy score. He passes a toothy 54 Buick Roadmaster. 

He sees a Christmas present on the seat and a wing window unlocked. |He walks past it ten feet, pantomimes like he forgot something and turns around. 

The street is still empty. He walks back to the car, and crouches down. He pushes open the wing but the door of a Brownstone opens behind him. 

Danny immediately does what Danny the Wiper always does, he pull out a rag and wipes at the wing window. Danny tells the owner he's polishing the window. He doesn't buy Danny's act. Danny scurries  off fast.

Outside of a flop hotel someplace near Morningside park. Danny grabs a nice leather suitcase left in the doorway. He makes the corner and heads down a couple of blocks to the park. 

The suitcase is heavy. Danny thinks he's scored big. He finds a somewhat secluded spot and lays the suitcase on a park bench and opens it. Inside there are two long packages in brown wrapping paper tied with string. 

Danny lifts one out. It feels like meat. He unwraps it. Its the foot end of a woman's leg complete with purple painted toenails. WTF?

He takes the other package out tells us that there is no blood. Danny drops it under the bench next to the one he unwrapped. At least I got a suitcase.

He shuts the empty suitcase. He takes off to find Gimpy his buyer.

In Harrold's cafeteria he finds his fence. 

Danny: Thought you might be taking the day off.

Gimpy: I got nobody so what's Christmas to me.[The fence's eyes travel over the case looking for flaws] What was in it?

Danny: Nothing. 

Gimpy: What's the matter I don't pay enough?

Danny: I tell you there was nothing in it.

Gimpy: Ok so somebody travels with an empty suitcase. Ok [he holds up three fingers]

Danny: Fer chrisakes give me a nickel.

Gimpy: You got somebody else? Why don't he give you a nickel.

Danny: It's like I say the case was empty.

Gimpy kicks the case disparagingly.  

Gimpy: Its all nicked up and kind of dirty looking. [He sniffs suspiciously] How come it stinks like that? Mexican leather? 

Danny: So am I in the leather business? 

Gimpy peals three bills off a wad and leaves them by the napkin holder. 

Gimpy: You want? 

Danny picks them up and asks about the Greek, a local  pusher. Gimpy tells him he got busted, bummed Danny splits. He's got to find a fix.

Noirsville

This is a great little Noir tale and a Christmas Story to boot, that a friend of mine remarked "That's pretty fucked up."

The live action of Burroughs and his friends is great. The Claymation excellent, the clay characters faces very expressive. Burroughs junky slang a hoot. A nice little Noir Gem. 8/10