And, of course, that is what all of this is -- all of this: the one song, ever changing, ever reincarnated, that speaks somehow from and to and for that which is ineffable within us and without us, that is both prayer and deliverance, folly and wisdom, that inspires us to dance or smile or simply to go on, senselessly, incomprehensibly, beatifically, in the face of mortality and the truth that our lives are more ill-writ, ill-rhymed and fleeting than any song, except perhaps those songs -- that song, endlesly reincarnated -- born of that truth, be it the moon and June of that truth, or the wordless blue moan, or the rotgut or the elegant poetry of it. That nameless black-hulled ship of Ulysses, that long black train, that Terraplane, that mystery train, that Rocket '88', that Buick 6 -- same journey, same miracle, same end and endlessness." -- Nick Tosches, Where Dead Voices Gather
Adventures in American Filmmaking #129
Unknown actors from a forgotten film joke on the set. Behind them, above center, a kindly, non-interfering producer looks over the camera.
The cast of characters, which is with the photo that I of course didn't bother to check since I just knew that was Selznick (slaps forehead), are -
L to R
1. Clark Gable 2. Eric Stacey, Assistant Director 3. Walter Plunket, Costumes 4. ??? unknown 5. George Culkor, Director 6. Lee Garmes, Camera 7. ??? unknown 8. ??? unknown 9. James Potevin, Chief Electrician 10.??? unknown 11. Vivien Leigh, center
Easy mistake to make. Selznick and Cukor bore a striking resemblance to one another in those days . . . besides, Selznick was ultimately on the set of that little Civil War picture many more days than George Cukor ever was.
This has to be very early in the production, since I believe Lee Garmes was fired before Cukor.
Mr. Gable certainly has their attention. Every single one of them is focused on him. Probably Clark, too.
Not only that but their thoughts are written all over their faces. I see worship, enchantment, envy, anger, fear, disdain, contempt, and (of course) self-satisfied.
9 comments:
*snort* There goes my coffee all over my computer. Unknown, non-interfering, indeed! =)
Is the guy standing on the right William Cameron Menzies (the real genius behind GWTW)?
Yeah, what you want is a producer who isn't going to pester you to death with memos.
Isn't that George Cukor, kindly director and runner-up in several David O Selznick look-alike contests?
I believe that's the kindly, soon-to-be-replaced director peering over the camera. Although, since the movie is so obscure, I could be wrong.
The cast of characters, which is with the photo that I of course didn't bother to check since I just knew that was Selznick (slaps forehead), are -
L to R
1. Clark Gable
2. Eric Stacey, Assistant Director
3. Walter Plunket, Costumes
4. ??? unknown
5. George Culkor, Director
6. Lee Garmes, Camera
7. ??? unknown
8. ??? unknown
9. James Potevin, Chief Electrician
10.??? unknown
11. Vivien Leigh, center
Easy mistake to make. Selznick and Cukor bore a striking resemblance to one another in those days . . . besides, Selznick was ultimately on the set of that little Civil War picture many more days than George Cukor ever was.
This has to be very early in the production, since I believe Lee Garmes was fired before Cukor.
This has to be early in the production. Everyone looks way too happy, even for a publicity still.
Mr. Gable certainly has their attention. Every single one of them is focused on him. Probably Clark, too.
Not only that but their thoughts are written all over their faces. I see worship, enchantment, envy, anger, fear, disdain, contempt, and (of course) self-satisfied.
Post a Comment