VIDAL IN VENICE - Gore Vidal's 1978 essay film

[Le Chiffre]

In his REMEMBERING ORSON WELLES, Gore Vidal claims not to have seen F FOR FAKE, but a few years after FAKE was released, he wrote and hosted a superb essay-like film of his own called VIDAL IN VENICE. It deals with the history of Venice, but with many wonderful and witty digressions that reminded me a bit of Welles's film. It also illuminates some of the background for several Welles projects set in Venice, such as OTHELLO and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Just goes to show that great minds think alike.

Here is part 1 (of 12) on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZ_avyo05o

[Glenn Anders]

Yes, interesting point, Mike: Vidal's documentary, which I have on VHS somewhere (in two parts), was very personal and imaginative, similar in some ways to F FOR FAKE, but without Welles' sense of humor or quite the suppleness.

Thinking of Vidal's death, no one has pointed out my old friend BAMBO=BAMBO Christianson's Rule of Three has been invoked in our RIP Section: Movie critics Andrew Sarris, Gore Vidal, and now, Judith Crist -- all dead within a couple of weeks of each other.

Glenn

[Le Chiffre]

Here’s hoping Chomsky stays healthy for a few more years. Roger Ebert too.

You're right, nobody has the suppleness of Welles, but I disagree that Vidal’s essay films lack a sense of humor. Of course, Vidal’s humor is very different from the playful, slightly loony humor of Welles. Vidal’s humor is more sarcastic and bilious. But I do think you probably find more of it in his other essay film, AMERICAN PRESIDENCY, made in 1997. That’s luckily available on Youtube as well, albeit with (Portuguese?) subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1VzamUU ... ults_video