National Galleries of Scotland

Released in 1968, `Flesh? proved to be a major success, marking a turning point in Warhol?s films. Throughout his career Warhol made numerous movies, many of which were experimental and pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in cinema. Yet, 'Flesh', was conceived, filmed and edited by the young filmmaker Paul Morrissey while Warhol was recovering from gunshot wounds. With it he bridged the gap between Warhol?s traditionally avant-garde films and commercial Hollywood. Featuring the lead character, Joe Dallesandro, prominently on the poster was a deliberate acknowledgement by Morrissey that the young actor?s photogenic looks would encourage viewers. Also, despite Warhol?s minimal involvement, including his name in the title draws on his celebrity as a marketing tool.