Vernon, Florida (film)
{{Short description|1981 film by Errol Morris}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Vernon, Florida
| image = Vernon, Florida.jpg
| alt =
| caption = DVD release cover
| director = Errol Morris
| producer = Errol Morris
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| narrator =
| starring =
| music = Claude Register
| cinematography = Ned Burgess
| editing = Brad Fuller
| studio =
| distributor = New Yorker Films
| released = {{Film date|1981|10|8|New York Film Festival|1982|1|15|New York City}}
| runtime = 55 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Vernon, Florida is a 1981 American documentary film produced and directed by Errol Morris profiling various residents living within the town of Vernon, Florida.[https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1097-gates-of-heaven-vernon-florida Gates of Heaven/Vernon Florida|The Criterion Collection] 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.errolmorris.com/content/profile/singer_predilections.html|title=Errol Morris: Profiles|website=www.errolmorris.com}}
Background and "Nub City" controversy
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.{{Cite book |last=Resha |first=David |title=The cinema of Errol Morris |date=8 April 2015 |isbn=978-0-8195-7535-7 |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |location=Middletown, Connecticut |oclc=904598386}}
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.
Reception and legacy
The film was met with critical acclaim,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/watching/recommendations/vernon-florida|title=Vernon, Florida|first=Alissa|last=Wilkinson|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vernon-florida-1982|title=Vernon, Florida Movie Review & Film Summary (1982) - Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|website=www.rogerebert.com}} earning 100% from Rotten Tomatoes.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vernon_florida/|title=Vernon, Florida|website=Rotten Tomatoes }}
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."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/16/movies/film-vernon-florida.html|title=Film: 'Vernon, Florida'|date=1982-01-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-06|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
Various clips of the film would later be included as intro/outro segments for The Heart, She Holler.{{cite web|url=http://boards.adultswim.com/t5/The-Heart-She-Holler/Clips-from-Vernon-FL/m-p/68958743 |title=Clips from Vernon, FL - Adult Swim Message Boards |access-date=September 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002170337/http://boards.adultswim.com/t5/The-Heart-She-Holler/Clips-from-Vernon-FL/m-p/68958743 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 }}
Home media
It was released on DVD by MGM in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00094AS5Y/ref=dp_mv_of_dp_0/137-5756288-6826448|title=Vernon, Florida|date=26 July 2005|via=Amazon}} It is available on Criterion Collection alongside Morris' 1978 film Gates of Heaven.{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/28356-vernon-florida|title=Vernon, Florida|website=The Criterion Collection}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0083281}}
- {{rotten-tomatoes|vernon_florida}}
- [https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3501-gates-of-heaven-and-vernon-florida-bullshitting-a-bullshitter Gates of Heaven and Vernon, Florida: Bullshitting a Bullshitter] an essay by Eric Hynes at the Criterion Collection
{{Errol Morris|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vernon, Florida (Film)}}
Category:American documentary films
Category:Films directed by Errol Morris
Category:Films produced by Errol Morris
Category:Washington County, Florida
Category:1981 documentary films
Category:Documentary films about Florida