I Shot Andy Warhol is a 1996 independent film about the life of Valerie Solanas and her relationship with Andy Warhol. The movie marked the debut of Canadian director Mary Harron. The film stars Lili Taylor as Valerie, Jared Harris as Andy Warhol and Martha Plimpton as Valerie's friend Stevie. Stephen Dorff plays Warhol superstar Candy Darling. John Cale of the Velvet Underground wrote the film's score despite protests from former band member Lou Reed. Yo La Tengo plays an anonymous band that is somewhat reminiscent of the group.
The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.
The film opens with a foreshadow to moments after the shooting. This is quickly followed by a scene with Valerie Solanas (Lili Taylor) in custody for the shooting of Andy Warhol (Jared Harris). The film then takes us back to a time when Valerie is living in New York and prostituting herself for a living. A series of further flashbacks point to her difficult childhood, and success in studying psychology at college. Here, Valerie discovers that she is a lesbian, that she can write and that she has a distinctive view of the world. This leads her to New York City and its downtown underworld. Through her friend Stevie (Martha Plimpton), she meets Candy Darling (Stephen Dorff), who in turn introduces her to Andy Warhol.
Plot
Based on the true story of Valerie Solanas who was a 60s radical preaching hatred toward men in her "Scum" manifesto. She wrote a screenplay for a film that she wanted Andy Warhol to produce, but he continued to ignore her. So she shot him. This is Valerie's story.
Keywords: 1960s, anger, art, assassination, battle-of-the-sexes, breasts, character-name-in-title, decadence, degradation, dominatrix
You only get one shot at fame.
Candy Darling: I have always found that socially unacceptable people make the best lovers because they are more sensitive.
Valerie Solanas: Give me fifteen cents, and I'll give you a dirty word.::Maurice Girodias: What's the word?::Valerie Solanas: Men.
TV Reporter: Why do you spend your time making underground films?::Andy Warhol: It's easier than painting.::TV Reporter: Which painters do you like best?::Andy Warhol: Oh, all of them.
Valerie Solanas: You got to go through a lot of sex to be ready for anti-sex.
Paul Morrisey: You call this a groovy light show. I'd rather sit and watch the clothes dryer at the Laundromat. Oh, look. It changed color. Where's a love child? They'll get a kick outta this. Only a hippie would find this even remotely interesting, but I'll tell ya. You spend one day with the hippies, and you realize how truly refreshing and unpretentious, hard core, New York degenerates are.
Valerie Solanas: You're a guy? My god, I thought you were a lesbian.::Candy Darling: Thanks, a lot of people say that.
Ondine: What the fuck is a gay bar? Can you tell me? What is that? As a homosexual, I will not go! I will not go to one! Why should I be segregated?::Fred Hughes: You're right, you should be isolated.
Candy Darling: Aren't you gonna run after us?::Edna, the wheelchair-bound receptionist: That's a terrible thing to say!::Candy Darling: Honey, its a terrible world.
Andy Warhol: So Candy, how often do you get your period?::Candy Darling: Every day. I'm such a woman!
Candy Darling: Dear Diary, I try to get what I want, whenever it's possible. I have always found that socially unacceptable people make the best lovers because they are more sensitive. I can be happy and fuffilled. I will never doubt it. I can not afford to. Each thought, each movement turned into a great moving force. Love Candy.