Vernon, Florida is a 1981 American documentary film produced and directed by Errol Morris profiling various residents living within the town of Vernon, Florida.[1] Originally titled Nub City, this follow-up to Gates of Heaven initially focused on residents of the Southern town who cut off their own limbs as a way to collect insurance money. After Morris's life was threatened by the subjects of the film, he re-worked Nub City into Vernon, Florida.[2]
After reading an article about the citizens of Vernon, Florida's propensity for collecting insurance money after losing limbs in accidents, Errol Morris, with financial help from filmmaker Werner Herzog, spent most of a year living in the town. During this time, he tried to interview the residents about these accidents and was met with hostility, even receiving a death threat.[4]
In 1980, following the release of his first film Gates of Heaven, Morris secured funding from WNET and ZDF and returned to Vernon with the intention to make the "Nub City" documentary. After receiving further threats from the residents, including an incident in which someone tried to hit his cinematographer with a truck, Morris decided to move forward with the documentary without the "Nub City" angle, electing instead to produce a documentary about the eccentricities of the town.[4]
A review in the January 16, 1982, issue of The New York Times said of Morris' approach to the film
"He lets it all go on a bit too long, but his film is humorous, idiosyncratic and fond. The fancifulness of his subjects is something he appears to appreciate and enjoy."[8]
Gates of Heaven and Vernon, Florida: Bullshitting a Bullshitter an essay by Eric Hynes at the Criterion Collection
November 30, 2023
vernon, florida, film, vernon, florida, 1981, american, documentary, film, produced, directed, errol, morris, profiling, various, residents, living, within, town, vernon, florida, originally, titled, city, this, follow, gates, heaven, initially, focused, resid. Vernon Florida is a 1981 American documentary film produced and directed by Errol Morris profiling various residents living within the town of Vernon Florida 1 Originally titled Nub City this follow up to Gates of Heaven initially focused on residents of the Southern town who cut off their own limbs as a way to collect insurance money After Morris s life was threatened by the subjects of the film he re worked Nub City into Vernon Florida 2 Vernon FloridaDVD release coverDirected byErrol MorrisProduced byErrol MorrisCinematographyNed BurgessEdited byBrad FullerMusic byClaude RegisterDistributed byNew Yorker FilmsRelease datesOctober 8 1981 1981 10 08 New York Film Festival January 15 1982 1982 01 15 New York City Running time55 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishVarious clips of the film would later be included as intro outro segments for The Heart She Holler 3 Contents 1 Background and Nub City controversy 2 Reception 3 Home media 4 References 5 External linksBackground and Nub City controversy editAfter reading an article about the citizens of Vernon Florida s propensity for collecting insurance money after losing limbs in accidents Errol Morris with financial help from filmmaker Werner Herzog spent most of a year living in the town During this time he tried to interview the residents about these accidents and was met with hostility even receiving a death threat 4 In 1980 following the release of his first film Gates of Heaven Morris secured funding from WNET and ZDF and returned to Vernon with the intention to make the Nub City documentary After receiving further threats from the residents including an incident in which someone tried to hit his cinematographer with a truck Morris decided to move forward with the documentary without the Nub City angle electing instead to produce a documentary about the eccentricities of the town 4 Reception editThe film was met with critical acclaim 5 6 earning 100 from Rotten Tomatoes 7 A review in the January 16 1982 issue of The New York Times said of Morris approach to the film He lets it all go on a bit too long but his film is humorous idiosyncratic and fond The fancifulness of his subjects is something he appears to appreciate and enjoy 8 Home media editIt was released on DVD by MGM in 2005 9 It is available on Criterion Collection alongside Morris 1978 film Gates of Heaven 10 References edit Gates of Heaven Vernon Florida The Criterion Collection Errol Morris Profiles www errolmorris com Clips from Vernon FL Adult Swim Message Boards Archived from the original on October 2 2013 Retrieved September 30 2013 a b Resha David 8 April 2015 The cinema of Errol Morris Middletown Connecticut Wesleyan University Press ISBN 978 0 8195 7535 7 OCLC 904598386 Wilkinson Alissa Vernon Florida The New York Times Ebert Roger Vernon Florida Movie Review amp Film Summary 1982 Roger Ebert www rogerebert com Vernon Florida Rotten Tomatoes Film Vernon Florida The New York Times 1982 01 16 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2020 03 06 Vernon Florida 26 July 2005 via Amazon Vernon Florida The Criterion Collection External links editVernon Florida at IMDb Vernon Florida at AllMovie Vernon Florida at Rotten Tomatoes Gates of Heaven and Vernon Florida Bullshitting a Bullshitter an essay by Eric Hynes at the Criterion Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vernon Florida film amp oldid 1187501499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
