Interesting BBC documentary from 2000 gets tie-in release with 2013 3-D Baz Lurman film
I knew this might not be a new documentary when the opening scenes showing the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City skyline still showed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. It's not till late in the 41-minute film that you realize that it was made in 2000, before the 9/11 tragedy. This really has not much effect on enjoying the program (produced by the BBC) except when - again late in the program - there is discussion of the financial "bubble" and when it is (actually "was") going to burst.
Being released to catch the interest in F. Scott Fitzgerald and his "Great American Novel" with the release this month of Baz Lurman's 3-D "Musical" version, the program provides observations on the author from such fellow authors (then living in 2000) as George Plympton, William Styron, Norman Mailer, Hunter S. Thompson and Garrison Keillor. We also hear from Fitzgerald's former secretary - who was there when he died in 1939 at age 44. Fitzgerald's granddaughter narrates the...
SPECIAL FEATURE
The title attraction on this DVD is quite disappointing. It is 49 minutes of a variety of literary, luminary talking heads who say, in fact, very little about Fitgerald, his life, his wife, his writing and most particularly the ostensible subject of this documentary, THE GREAT GATSBY. The 75th Anniversary of the publication of this
greatest of 20th century novels surely deserved a much more in-depth and inspired approach than is to be found herein.
The decided delight of this disc is to be found in the little known extra. PRIVATE AFFAIRS: A DREAM OF LIVING is a BBC production from 1975. Late, great David Hemmings plays F. Scott Fitzgerald wonderfully - and looks very much like the writer as well. The drama covers one day and night in the life of Scott and Zelda along with Hemingway and assorted cronies. It is worth the price of purchase and more than makes up for the disappointing main fare.
I had been waiting for this dvd to be released
and it was well worth the wait. Fascinating man, fascinating story. Excellent production. If you are at all interested in Mr. Fitzgerald and his work, you will be pleased with this dvd.
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