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Chelsea on the Rocks: New film

Posted Oct 21, 2009

The least conventional of New York’s hotels, the Chelsea is certainly not famous for its room service or in-house spa. Abel Ferrara’s forthcoming documentary Chelsea on the Rocks examines the Manhattan landmark and artist hangout on West 23rd Street.

Once the proud holder of the tallest building in Manhattan tag, the hotel was built in 1883 as a cooperative apartment building for wealthy tenants. By 1905 it was already a hotel – and went on to be filled with both creativity and debauchery for years to come.

A former home to Mark Twain, the hotel has also been a film location for Warhol’s Chelsea Girls, and less inspiring – a murder scene. Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, lived at the hotel in the 1970’s, when on October 12th, 1978, Sid Vicious woke up to discover Nancy had been fatally stabbed to death. The crime remains unsolved. Sid died the following year from a drug overdose. Bijou Phillips and Jamie Burke play the couple in this forthcoming film that are visited in a re-enacted scene by two drug dealers.

Overall Chelsea on the Rocks underlines the excessive side of the hotel's story featuring former residents and guests interviewed by director by Abel Ferrara (one employee recalls attending orgies with 60 people.) You may never complain about the noise in a hotel again.

Watch the film's trailer below.

The film is now showing in Manhattan. For more on the film and to see release dates for your country click on www.chelseaontherocks-themovie.com

Kerry Olsen

Source: Chelsea on the Rocks and The New York Times

Photo credits: Chelsea on the Rocks

 

 

TAGS: chelsea on the rocks abel ferrara ethan hawke sid vicious mark twain bob dylan film documentary the chelsea hotel