What did you think of Kevin Brownlow's Oscar speech?

[azjazzman]

Were his sharp words on the FBI knocking of the doors of film collectors pointed at Francis Ford Coppola and the Napoleon controversy?

Not aimed at FFC at all. The FBI raids on film collectors in the 1970s was mostly the brain child of the MPDAA and it's head at the time, Jack Valenti.

The most notable celebrity film collector that had his films seized was Roddy McDowell.

Stories abound of FBI agents, who were not trained to recognize what was Public Domain -vs- copyrighted material, seizing stuff they had no right to and ignoring stuff that they could have seized. After the initial shock and fear wore off, the whole matter became a joke and an embarrassment and then the explosion of home video made it largely irrelevant.

[Marilyn Slater]

Thanks for answering my question....

[drednm]

I believe James Karen was also a close friend of Garbo in her later years...

[Frederica]

Were his sharp words on the FBI knocking of the doors of film collectors pointed at Francis Ford Coppola and the Napoleon controversy?

Not aimed at FFC at all. The FBI raids on film collectors in the 1970s was mostly the brain child of the MPDAA and it's head at the time, Jack Valenti.

Kevin's comments were not in any sense targeting Coppola (that would have been extremely ill-mannered, and Kevin is not ill-mannered)
but at studios who sit on their rights but do nothing to aid preservation
or availability of their silent films.

Photoplay and Coppola have settled their differences and it really isn't helping anything to keep slamming Coppola. We should be hoping for closer and more constructive relationship in the light of this settlement and the happy coincidence of the shared (and well-deserved for both) Oscar success.

[sepiatone]

The trouble with giving that speech on that occasion is that when he wasn't preaching to the choir (who don't need converting) he was scolding. It's difficult to believe that anyone ignorant of or indifferent to silent film (those who do need converting) came away from it with it anything but a hazy memory of disconnected anecdotes about people they never heard of, and of being lectured, but certainly not with a heightened awareness of the importance of preserving the silent heritage. Of course, he could not have turned the tide entirely in just eight minutes, but nevertheless, I think he missed an opportunity to generate at least a spark of interest. I'm sure some of us were gratified to hear some of our axes being ground, but I really don't think he

when I said 'a lot of the audience is not privy to film preservation' I was referring to the millions out there in television land where Brownlow's speech has yet to be seen, not the actual people sitting at tables at the ceremony. But I wouldn't make an assumption that everyone present at the speeches is alerted to problems of rescuing old films just because they're at the ceremony. {By the way did anyone notice the great Robert Duval sitting at a table ?}

[sepiatone]

Kevin's comments were not in any sense targeting Coppola (that would have been extremely ill-mannered, and Kevin is not ill-mannered)
but at studios who sit on their rights but do nothing to aid preservation
or availability of their silent films.

I don't see where the Coppola tiff comes in either. I always thought Coppola and Kevin worked in harmony on the restoration and presentation of Napoleon, an incredible event in itself. We have to be careful when we say 'studios, their rights to the films and preservation'. Keep into account that many of the studios that made some of these films are no longer in existence and many of them haven't been in existence for many many decades ie Lubin, Kalem, Biograph, Solax etc. Films made by these pioneer studios and others were already abandoned and/or orphans at the dawn of sound in the latter 1920s.

[George O'Brien]

I believe James Karen was also a close friend of Garbo in her later years...

He was one of the talking heads in the TCM Garbo documentary, but he never knew her. He said he saw her at auctions and galleries in Manhattan: she once picked up a piece that he had just set down on a table , but she never spoke to him. "She never spoke to anyone", as far as he remembered.

[dr.giraud]

I believe James Karen was also a close friend of Garbo in her later years...

And one of the stars of THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD.

"Braaaaaiinsssss!"

[Paul Penna]

The trouble with giving that speech on that occasion is that when he wasn't preaching to the choir (who don't need converting) he was scolding. It's difficult to believe that anyone ignorant of or indifferent to silent film (those who do need converting) came away from it with it anything but a hazy memory of disconnected anecdotes about people they never heard of, and of being lectured, but certainly not with a heightened awareness of the importance of preserving the silent heritage. Of course, he could not have turned the tide entirely in just eight minutes, but nevertheless, I think he missed an opportunity to generate at least a spark of interest. I'm sure some of us were gratified to hear some of our axes being ground, but I really don't think he

when I said 'a lot of the audience is not privy to film preservation' I was referring to the millions out there in television land where Brownlow's speech has yet to be seen, not the actual people sitting at tables at the ceremony. But I wouldn't make an assumption that everyone present at the speeches is alerted to problems of rescuing old films just because they're at the ceremony.

Well, though I wasn't responding specifically to your comments, the "choir" I said he was preaching to are people like us, silent film aficionados, not the people in the audience at the event (though there were undoubtedly some there). As far as those other millions out there, it seems to me that they would be even more likely to come away from his speech thinking, "What the hell was he talking about?" rather that, "Wow, this is something important I should take an interest in."

[Frederica]

Well, though I wasn't responding specifically to your comments, the "choir" I said he was preaching to are people like us, silent film aficionados, not the people in the audience at the event (though there were undoubtedly some there). As far as those other millions out there, it seems to me that they would be even more likely to come away from his speech thinking, "What the hell was he talking about?" rather that, "Wow, this is something important I should take an interest in."

The speech isn't likely to be televised, although it is available on the web, so it's not likely that millions will see it. His speech was aimed at a specific audience of approximately 300 people, most of whom are aware of the importance of film preservation. Different audience, different message.

[Rollo Treadway]

Jim Karen also attended the Iola, Kansas Buster Keaton Celebration several years running some years back. He gave a nice introduction to Samuel Beckett's "Film," which helped much to put it in context. He appears in the film as one of the shocked and disgusted faces, and as I remember he was involved in getting Keaton that particular gig.

I remember James talking about how Buster explained to Beckett how a particular gag with a cat would be funny if done in the right way, leading to the presence of one funny moment in an otherwise pretty obtuse film.

As a fan of Beckett as well as Buster, I really like Film, but I definitely seem to be in the minority on that one.

Here's an article by Brownlow about meeting Beckett and talking about Film. James Karen is quoted as well:

http://www.iol.ie/~galfilm/filmwest/22brown.htm

[Paul Penna]

Well, though I wasn't responding specifically to your comments, the "choir" I said he was preaching to are people like us, silent film aficionados, not the people in the audience at the event (though there were undoubtedly some there). As far as those other millions out there, it seems to me that they would be even more likely to come away from his speech thinking, "What the hell was he talking about?" rather that, "Wow, this is something important I should take an interest in."

The speech isn't likely to be televised, although it is available on the web, so it's not likely that millions will see it. His speech was aimed at a specific audience of approximately 300 people, most of whom are aware of the importance of film preservation. Different audience, different message.

I know. I just thought the message would have come across better had he taken to heart his anecdote about Harold Lloyd and Dale Carnegie: "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

[azjazzman]

This is kind of a sidebar comment, but I am always struck whenever I hear Kevin speak, by how articulate he is when describing why the silent cinema is such a passion for him.

Whenever someone asks me why I love silent films, I struggle to come up with an intelligent response.

When Kevin talks about it, I find myself nodding in agreement, because he is able to capture the essence of the medium in a few sentences in a way that nobody this side of Bill Everson ever has.

[Brianruns10]

That speech was excellent! A shame most of the time, the audience's demeanor seemed to suggest, "Film preservation? That's what DVDs are for, right?"

Still, I was pleased at the degree of applause to Brownlow's admonishment over the loss of black-and-white in contemporary cinema.

[josemas]

Someone else who was a dear friend of the Keatons...Richard Deacon. Yup, Mel Cooley from the Dick Van Dyke Show.

Aka Fred Rutherford on Leave It To Beaver.

Joe Moore

[Scatter]

I was thinking it was very gracious of him to NOT take a pot shot at Coppola

The entire speech was was a scolding of the industry.......I fail to see how Coppola could be excluded contextually considering the Napoleon connection between the two.

He had to know that anything he said along the lines he expounded would necessarily bring to mind the Napoleon saga. Had he wished to avoid that, he could have done so. We'll have to agree to disagree on the point in question, but I respect your view.

[Scatter]

To that end, does anyone know of any podcasts, lecture series, interviews........ANYTHING about the silent era that can be downloaded online??

I don't know anything about how to actually download from YouTube, but there's a good deal of Brownlow stuff that can be viewed there. A sampling:

Kevin Brownlow on silent films and musical accompaniment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUmxccJ5ec

Kevin Brownlow at Killruddery Silent Film Festival 2009 (Part 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaA8NGXq ... re=related

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_jNJAax ... re=related

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwxPsw8T ... re=related

Kevin Brownlow Discusses Abel Gance ca. 1980: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ2kRzJajyo

...more at the source.

Thank you so much for your kind reply!! Funny, I hadn't thought of exploring YouTube for anything beyond the films themselves. A great idea!!

BTW, if anyone wants to know how to convert the videos from YouTube into either video or MP3 files that will play on your media players, feel free to PM me. Thanks again Mazamette!

[Rodney]

I believe James Karen was also a close friend of Garbo in her later years...

And one of the stars of THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD.

"Braaaaaiinsssss!"

AND he was in Poltergeist. "They're here..."

[kndy]

If you looked at the audience shots, they looked as if they either couldn't care less or don't get it--perhaps both. Can't call it unexpected.

Let's leave it at that.

Audience response look like that for the other guests... Hehe... Maybe they just came for the food.

[MGH]

One hour radio documentary about Brownlow can be heard here.

[Scatter]

MGH, I've listened to that radio documentary 3 times it's so fascinating. PRECISELY what I was looking for!! Thanks so much!

[precode]

I believe James Karen was also a close friend of Garbo in her later years...

And one of the stars of THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD.

"Braaaaaiinsssss!"

AND he was in Poltergeist. "They're here..."

Not to mention playing Seyton Ethelquake in DARK AND STORMY NIGHT. An expert on Sumerian meat rituals.

Mike S.

[syd]

Kevin Brownlow gave a great speech.

I don't believe he felt malice toward anyone there
but he probably couldn't help but look around
the room and see so much wealth on display.

People so worried about their next picture
that they don't give too much thought to
past ones.

How many films could have been saved
if everyone there had emptied
their finger and neck ware into a hat?

Motion pictures are among the most neglected art
forms in terms of preservation.

There has always been, even upon inception,
a habit of treating motion pictures as products
thereby allowing destruction based upon perceived
expiration date.

[Penfold]

How many films could have been saved
if everyone there had emptied
their finger and neck ware into a hat?

Indeed. On a related note, this is why I won't be contributing this year to the Film Preservation Blogathon; I was and am still delighted that I was able to contribiute a small amount (in the scheme of things) last year, but this year I will decline. The film chosen is The Sound of Fury, not one of Cy Endfield's films I've seen, but I'm sure it's a fine choice, and deserving of preservation. Indeed, there's a mention in the blurb as to how moved Jeff and Beau Bridges were to see a print of their father Lloyd's fine performance.
My issue is....film preservation should prioritise films that are worthy of it and orphaned financially; the studio gone, no visible support mechanism; unloved, perhaps. In this case, I would have thought the, by my standards, incredibly wealthy Bridges brothers could pay for the work without blinking; I'll be saving my donation for something else, a project in the future without wealthy relations.

[Scatter]

How many films could have been saved
if everyone there had emptied
their finger and neck ware into a hat?

Indeed. On a related note, this is why I won't be contributing this year to the Film Preservation Blogathon; I was and am still delighted that I was able to contribiute a small amount (in the scheme of things) last year, but this year I will decline. The film chosen is The Sound of Fury, not one of Cy Endfield's films I've seen, but I'm sure it's a fine choice, and deserving of preservation. Indeed, there's a mention in the blurb as to how moved Jeff and Beau Bridges were to see a print of their father Lloyd's fine performance.
My issue is....film preservation should prioritise films that are worthy of it and orphaned financially; the studio gone, no visible support mechanism; unloved, perhaps. In this case, I would have thought the, by my standards, incredibly wealthy Bridges brothers could pay for the work without blinking; I'll be saving my donation for something else, a project in the future without wealthy relations.

That's a good point.

[akorniej]

Back in November I was on a flight from LA to London and the fellow in the seat next to me started looking familiar. After noticing a few clues I popped the question "Excuse me but are you Kevin Brownlow" Of course it was and he was modest enough to look shocked that anyone would recognise him. Anyhow as you can imagine we had a great conversation for hours. At one point I asked "what brought you to Los Angeles this trip?" and his reply was "Well actually I was picking up an Oscar... " Not everyday you get to have a lengthy chat with one of your heroes and an Oscar recipient at that.

[westegg]

It was lucky for you and lucky for him to have such a good and appreciative flight companion!