Independent Lens, the Emmy-winning PBS series, airs Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton’s These Amazing Shadows, a one-hour documentary, on Thursday, December 29, at 10:00pm (check local listings).
These Amazing Shadows is an often kaleidoscopic swirl of film clips iconic and obscure, from Casablanca, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz to 2001, The Godfather and E.T., plus culturally noteworthy home movies, the odd sound film demo and theater intermission bumper. The documentary also outlines the background of the Film Preservation Act and the creation of the National Film Registry.
The Night of the Hunter |
The outcry against Turner’s penchant for colorizing the classics culminated in Congressional hearings. These Amazing Shadows navigates the colorization controversy, illustrating the hue and cry with news footage of directors Sydney Pollack and Woody Allen appearing before Congress and clips of James Stewart speaking out on network TV. In 1988, the Film Preservation Act was passed and, through the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board, brought about the National Film Registry.
Gus Visser and his Singing Duck |
These Amazing Shadows covers a lot of ground in an hour. There are nearly as many interviews (Debbie Reynolds, Paul Schrader, Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Peter Coyote, John Waters and many others) as there are film clips. The program features reflections on movies in general as well as specific films and genres but also explores attitudes and issues (race relations, women in film, cold war propaganda). Naturally, D.W. Griffith’s legendary Birth of a Nation has its moment in the spotlight. Though an innovative groundbreaker, this film affects me in the same way Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will does. Each is historically and cinematically relevant but promotes deeply offensive propaganda; Riefenstahl extolled the Nazis, Griffith the Ku Klux Klan.
The Godfather |
Currently there are 550 films listed in the National Film Registry. Each year the Librarian of Congress, with input from the public and the National Film Preservation Board, picks 25 films to add to the Registry. To learn more about These Amazing Shadows, an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, click here.
A footnote: I can’t ignore the irony that Ted Turner, who eventually abandoned colorization (a prohibitively expensive process), just a few years later launched Turner Classic Movies. The channel stands today as a beacon in the night for classic film fans - and airs predominantly black and white films...
I have not yet seen this documentry. It sounds like a "must see" film for a classic movie lover like myself. I really appreciate the few people who work many hours to help preserve films for all of us Classic Movie fans to enjoy..
ReplyDeleteI for one.. really appreciate all who work many hours to help preserve films.
ReplyDeleteTHESE AMAZING SHADOWS makes an excellent case for preservation and restoration - two subjects that are rightfully dear to the hearts of all lovers of classic film. And it underscores the point with clips from dozens of great movies.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Preservation of classic films is a definite must.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see this documentary. I love this sort of thing.
Yvette, THESE AMAZING SHADOWS is an interesting and inspiring documentary (and was an official selection for this year's Sundance Film Festival). I learned some history and was entertained at the same time - always a good thing and no easy feat.
ReplyDeleteUh oh - still have to write my review. You are a tough act to follow!
ReplyDeleteFlickChick - One of the nicest things about having posted this preview is that I received a very nice email afterward from one of the filmmakers, Kurt Norton. As I mentioned to him, my only quibble with THESE AMAZING SHADOWS is that it isn't longer.
ReplyDeleteWhat an "amazing" documentary! I know the colorization issue was a huge issue for me -- especially when I saw Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk with red hair, and Bette David in Dark Victory with a blue shadow on her teeth! Thank heaven for film preservation. Wonderful article, Eve, as always...
ReplyDeleteBecky, What I remember of "colorization" is that everything onscreen seemed a bit greenish and that no hue looked right. What was Turner thinking?!? So glad Ted & Co. moved on to something worthwhile, the creation of TCM.
ReplyDeleteWonderful work here, Eve, as always. Your background info on "colorization" is first rate. I have always refused to watch a colorized film, just could not do it. The documentary itself is a must see for any lover of film.
ReplyDeleteHi John, I thought your own take on this documentary was very insightful and enjoyable. I don't think I ever watched a colorized film myself - clips, yes, but not an entire film. Horrible color, as I recall. I completely agree that "These Amazing Shadows" is a must-see for lovers of film.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of colorization has become so identified with Ted Turner that it's often forgotten that its first initiator was none other than Hal Roach. In fact, I believe "Topper" was the first feature to be colorized, and that Cary Grant (who died in November 1986) endorsed the process (he may not have liked it aesthetically, but he thought at the time it would make some B&W films more accessible to younger audiences).
ReplyDeleteWhat Turner has done on behalf of film preservation has more than compensated for his misfire on colorization; his channels (TNT in its early years, then TCM) helped foster the pre-Code revival. Learn more about what Turner has done for classic film buffs at http://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/438472.html