A Star Is Born - "mystery collector" revealed — Page 3

I"m not trying to pit anybody against anybody. I only know what I was told growing up. I wasn't there, so I have no proof or firsthand account.

But it would be a little weird for my grandfather to tell his family this was one of the main reasons he left Warner Bros., if it wasn't true (at least in his eyes).

After reading through everything here, what I can gather is that there was a lot of finger-pointing. Jack blamed Harry. Harry blamed Jack. Nobody told Judy or Sid (or my grandfather) what was going on.

Everybody got mad. Seriously mad. And lots of hurt feelings. And ultimately, the collapse of a studio with two brothers who never spoke to each other again.

The rest is he said/she said.

And the only perspective I have is my grandfather's who was (most definitely) there at time. Did he have a "comprehensive overview" of what went down? No. He had only his perspective of it. I think he was most hurt by being so close to Jack, as his righthand associate for decades, and not knowing what he had done in secrecy with the prints.

If my grandparents hadn't been so close to Judy and Sid at the time, I don't think he would have thought so much about it. But he felt like he was made out to be a fool. And that, as they say, was that.

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Best12bars, thanks so much for all the great behind-the-scenes info on the film.

Thank you for sharing that story, B12B!

And, all I can say is that, having met you in person, I can vouch for you 100%.

If others have their sides of the story, that would be nice to read. But if all they want to do is bash you, then they will have to go through me to do it.

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Thanks for the advice, Mark. I do try not to tell people that someone else's story "directly contradicts" theirs or that "it's interesting that [someone] came up with a completely opposite story" from theirs.

"I just thought it was interesting [bolding mine] that one of the acknowledged experts on ASIB presented a completely different version of events."

There's that word again. What do you find so interesting about that? Serious question.

How is it, that if you say, and presumably find it commonplace that "historical accounts often differ", that you "find it very interesting that the two accounts differ"? Isn't that contradictatory?

And no, I don't find it interesting. As you've said, accounts often differ. I'll ask you again - why do you find it so "very interesting"?

No. Given your statement that "History is often subject to wildly varying recollections", it seems like a direct contradiction to me. Perhaps there's no meeting of minds to be had here. Good luck with your petition, though. Maybe your acknowledged expert can help you sort it out.

Thanks for your advice regarding accusations, and it's always good to be reminded that we're allowed to believe whomever we choose.

Have you tried Russia? All kinds of film footage has been found there. James Mason's basement had a secret room filled with classics that had been considered lost, too.

I was actually quite serious about Russia, though it really is true that lots of films considered lost forever were found in James Mason's basement. Much older than ASIB. Many silent films.

I don't think Haver's version and Best12's version are in conflict at all. As a matter of fact I think they complement each other in ways that would have delighted Ron Haver.

What I do think is suspicious, Mark, is how you have combined a coddling, enabling attitude toward a couple of lying creeps with a passive-aggressive attack on Best12's story about his grandfather.

Yes, passive-agressive and, yes, an attack. And to then insincerely claim that you weren't attacking him but only finding him "interesting" is kinda funny, because it makes you sound like a panicked Bugs Bunny suddenly combing the hair of "Such an innnnnn-te-resting monster!"

No, it is not "useful" to "check into" what Arick has. No, it is not. Can I be any more clear? No, it is not useful to anyone...except Arick.

Your meaningless petition only serves to give credence to the pathetic fantasies of Arick and Capporicio and make some of us wonder if you yourself might in cahoots with one of them or both of them.

Arick doesn't have the print, and Best12's grandfather's story corroborates Haver's history.

Cut. Print.

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The point is - you will never get a clear answer because Mr. Arick is a liar. If he says he has a print you will never see it, nor has anyone ever seen it, and that includes Mr. Arick because he does not have it. But he'll say nothing - which will just keep adding fuel to the fire, which is what this person craves.

The harm is that you give Arick's sick fantasy credence and in doing so you diminish the efforts of REAL collectors, film preservationists and fans.

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Read my response again (actually my last few responses).

The petition is just the first step. I don't expect an answer. This is just to let him know that people have heard the rumors, and that over a thousand took the time to sign a petition. If we don't hear back by Labor Day (and I doubt we will), we will decide on next steps.

As to the statement that the petition will "diminish the efforts of REAL collectors, film preservationists and fans," that makes me smile. It's like saying gay marriage damages straight marriage. Checking into whether Arick has a print or not does no to damage any fans, and in fact many hundreds of "real" fans are behind this effort.

Updated On: 8/13/10 at 01:25 PM

You are clearly Arick's publicist. I hope he's paying you.

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