Listen to New Voices on Studs Terkel our partnership with 826CHI-here! Read the Story
Writer and critic Walter Kerr discusses his book "The Silent Clowns," about the film era's greats including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Raymond Griffith, and Harry Langdon. Studs begins by reading an excerpt from James Agee's "Death in the Family" with music in the background followed by Kerr reading from his book. They begin talking about how silent films affected the audience, lesser known stars Lloyd Hamilton and Charley Chase, and then analyze several famous Charlie Chaplin scenes to assess the complex nature of his characters.
Chicago Sun-Times film critic and author Roger Ebert discusses his book "Roger Ebert's Book of Film: From Tolstoy to Tarantino, The Finest Writing From A Century of Film" (published by Norton); reads passages from his book.
Chicago Sun-Times film critic and author Roger Ebert discusses his book "Roger Ebert's Book of Film: From Tolstoy to Tarantino, The Finest Writing From A Century of Film" (published by Norton); reads passages from his book; interview with Buster Keaton is played at 35:18.
Film critic Pauline Kael critiques some films in her book, "When the Lights Go Down: Film Writings, 1975-1980". Kael also talks about seeing the people's faces when they exit a movie, knowing they did not receive the experience they had hoped for. The trend of films, explained Kael, is to return to a type of blandness.
Part 2 of celebrated fim critic Pauline Kael discussing her book "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" as well as Laurence Olivier, Sidney Poitier, safe roles, older actors, distortion of women's contributions, and Lillian Hellman's frustrations.
Part 1 of celebrated fim critic Pauline Kael discussing her book "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" as well as business versus creativity, struggles of young filmmakers, humiliations of older actors competing for limited roles, and limiting movies to fit on television screens.
Pauline Kael (National Book award winner) discusses contemporary films and her recent publications. Much of the conversation is focused on Stanley Kubrick's work and the role of violence in movies.
Film critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris offer their opinions on various films. Some time is spent covering how films have stereotyped women. In these films, women can not survive without a man in her life. Sarris explains he knew stupid people previously made stupid films. It saddens him to know that intelligent people of today are making stupid films. An excerpt of an interview with Buster Keaton is included.
Film critic John Simon and Studs Terkel discuss various movies, filmmaking techniques, and how film is a newer form of art. Terkel plays an audio clip from an interview he did he with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.
"Waves at Genji's Door: Japan Through Its Cinema," includes Joan Mellen's study of Japanese film, Japanese history and Japanese culture. Some of Mellen's topics include Akira Kurosawa's films, Samurais and the ritual suicide of Seppuku.
Discussing the 18th International film festival with a panel of jurors: including David Robinson and John Russell Taylor of the London Times, Jay Scott of the Toronto Globe and mail, Albert Johnson of the San Francisco Chronical, William Woolf of the New
Discussing the book "Living Quarters" and interviewing Vincent Canby.