The Alphabet (1968)
(4 minutes, colour, black & white).
Written, Directed, Filmed, Edited and Animated by David Lynch.
Sound design, sound effects and the opening song by David Lynch.
Produced by Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and H. Barton Wasserman.
Lynch's second film uses a combination of animated and live-action sequences to
describe the fear associated with learning.
A girl (Lynch's wife, Peggy) lies on a bed, while the sound of children chanting
"A, B, C" is heard in the background. Next, we see an abstract animated sequence
showing the letters A-Z added in sequence to various backgrounds. A flashing "A"
gives birth to two lower-case "a"s. Letters enter the head of a distorted female
figure, which makes the girl on the bed react in terror. We hear a baby crying in the
background, and then a siren.
Blood pours out of the female figure, then a close-up of a distorted mouth.
"Please remember, you're dealing with a human form," it says. We hear the sound
of rushing wind as the girl on the bed reaches for floating letters that are just out of
reach. Finally, she jerks around on the bed and coughs up blood.
Lynch shows us many images and traits that he would carry with him onto his future
works. One, his fascination with letters and words. In Twin Peaks, letters are found under
the fingernails of BOB's victims.
While learning one's ABCs is suppose to be a joyous experience and an important one in
the ways of communication in the adult world, Lynch prefers to look at the darker side.
"Now I've said my ABCs, tell me what you think of me." This is the last line in
the girl's song in The Alphabet. Does she expect praise for her learning? Does she get it?
No, not quite.
The Alphabet is available on home video on a tape entitled: The New York Film Annex's
Experimental Series Volume 11.
Copyright © 1998-2003, Fanthazma