I'm a huge fan of Art/Concept/the Making of... books for films.
I always thought Prince's films would have some cool 'making' books...
It actually could still happen with all the information, photos, etc that is out there.
The concept(s) for this movie are very interesting and very interwoven with the music

and even some pre 1986 ideals of course

What would a book like like to you, if you are a fan of this kind of presentation?

I am nothing without your touch my love,

I am nothing without your kiss.
2 spend each night in your arms,

my flower is my idea of bliss.
2 not hear your voice each day is 2 die 7 times by God's wrath.

If I was anything more than human,

I'd be the water in your bath.

concepts of death, love and Venus/Aphrodite ....

concepts of seeing a b/w movie IN COLOR

jfenster said:

concepts of seeing a b/w movie IN COLOR

DEFINATELY, color images especially of the outfits and certain iconic scenes in color

a section with a flow of color images from the beginning to the end of the movie

Concept drawings 4 the Under the Cherry Moon promotional material

PHOTO: JEFF KATZ PHOTOGRAPHY ©PAISLEY PARK ENTERPRISES, INC.

images from the alternative ending must be included

November 1985: Nice, France

p 94

chapter 7

Possessed: the Rise & Fall of Prince

Back in France, the shooting of Under the shooting of Under the Cherry Moon limped to a close

On the set in Nice, Prince seemed conflicted about Christopher Tracy, the character he had created for himself to play in the film. This charismatic, sexy, and somewhat snide piano player was hardly a sympathetic figure, and Prince's plan all along had been for Tracy to die at the end of the film, representing his own symbolic transcendence of these character flaws. But Warner Bros. preferring (as film studios invariably do) a happy ending, pshed him to conclude with Tracy reforming and heading off into the sunset with lover interest Mary (Scott-Thomas).

The alternative ending was shot, and publicist Howard Bloom, viewing a cut of the film where Tracy survives, found himself believing in the character's redemptive journey. "Warner Bros. insisted on him getting the girl at the end, and it really worked," Bloom remembered. "This little asshole character that was so hard to identify with, you bonded with by the end."

But Prince favored the original ending. In the final cut, Tracy died (the victim of an assassination) with the result, in Bloom's view, that any meaning in the film was also destroyed.

I believe this part in the film was much longer

In a book I would include their outfits. Prince's seem partially Liberace inspired.
The horses running the Hippodrome etc

CherryMoon57 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

images from the alternative ending must be included

November 1985: Nice, France

p 94

chapter 7

Possessed: the Rise & Fall of Prince

Back in France, the shooting of Under the shooting of Under the Cherry Moon limped to a close

On the set in Nice, Prince seemed conflicted about Christopher Tracy, the character he had created for himself to play in the film. This charismatic, sexy, and somewhat snide piano player was hardly a sympathetic figure, and Prince's plan all along had been for Tracy to die at the end of the film, representing his own symbolic transcendence of these character flaws. But Warner Bros. preferring (as film studios invariably do) a happy ending, pshed him to conclude with Tracy reforming and heading off into the sunset with lover interest Mary (Scott-Thomas).

The alternative ending was shot, and publicist Howard Bloom, viewing a cut of the film where Tracy survives, found himself believing in the character's redemptive journey. "Warner Bros. insisted on him getting the girl at the end, and it really worked," Bloom remembered. "This little asshole character that was so hard to identify with, you bonded with by the end."

But Prince favored the original ending. In the final cut, Tracy died (the victim of an assassination) with the result, in Bloom's view, that any meaning in the film was also destroyed.

It may have been the less popular choice, but by opting for a 'French ending', Prince had nevertheless remained consistent with the film setting.

[Edited 8/8/19 14:08pm]

Pictures of some of the handwritten script pages are available to view here (large format pictures). It looks like Jill Jones was included in the original script...

CherryMoon57 said:

I need to know more about the Venus connection.

OldFriends4Sale said:

CherryMoon57 said:

I need to know more about the Venus connection.

Here's a few that are not necessarily connected to the plot of Under The Cherry Moon, but that are linked to recurrent themes and references in Prince's work and visuals:

Created sometime between 130 and 100 BC, the statue [Venus De Milo] is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. [...]

'It is currently on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The statue is named after Aphrodite's Roman name, Venus, and the Greek island of Milos, where it was discovered.[...]

In the autumn of 1939, the statue was packed for removal from the Louvre in anticipation of the outbreak of war. Scenery trucks from the Comédie-Française transported the Louvre's masterpieces to safer locations in the countryside.[8] During World War II, the statue was sheltered safely in the Château de Valençay, along with the Winged Victory of Samothrace and Michelangelo's Slaves.'

The statue is also connected to the St Mark's quadriga one of the main possible reference in 'The Belle of St Mark' - via the 'Venus the Medici' (both were snatched from Italy by Napoleon then returned in 1815):

'The great fame of the Venus de Milo during the nineteenth century owed much to a major propaganda effort by the French authorities. In 1815, France had returned the Venus de' Medici (also known as the Medici Venus) to the Italians, after it had been looted by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Medici Venus*, regarded as one of the finest classical sculptures in existence, caused the French to promote the Venus de Milo as a greater treasure than that which they recently had lost. The statue was praised dutifully by many artists and critics as the epitome of graceful female beauty.'

*Other connection here: Prince has a very similar pose as the 'Venus de Medici' on the cover of his Lovesexy album.

One more, in connection with the Parade album track, 'Venus De Milo' :

'The fourth track on Miles Davis' album Birth of the Cool (1957) is named "Venus de Milo".'


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_de_Milo

https://en.wikipedia.org/...%27_Medici

[Edited 8/23/19 6:41am]

Question: What inspired your storyline in your film "Under the Cherry Moon" ? My wife and I consider it our favorite.
TheArtst: that film went thru many drafts..much was lost in the shuffle
TheArtst: ..but i must admit..
TheArtst: there r some very funny scenes..
TheArtst: it was inspired by the comedies..
TheArtst: of the 4ties

CherryMoon57 said:

Pictures of some of the handwritten script pages are available to view here (large format pictures). It looks like Jill Jones was included in the original script...

Interesting. I hadn't seen this notebook. Must have been written much earlier than the notebook Susannah auctioned, which had the Wrecka Stow scene in it. Looks like Jill was originally written as his "orphan sister"/ roommate along with the character Katy. Wondering who he had in mind for that character.