#26
Posted: 10/12/11 at 3:35am
Oh and foolish question--I know Porgy is less of a "cripple" in this production, but is he really able to hold Bess up while standing?
New PORGY AND BESS artwork — Page 2
#28
Posted: 10/12/11 at 5:39pm
Hilton Als appears to be a fool. The 1959 film of PORGY AND BESS is neither bodice-ripping nor omen-soaked. It seems to me he is not familiar with it (or PORGY AND BESS in general) at all. The film is actually a rather tame affair. (He may be confusing it with Preminger's CARMEN JONES, which is indeed somewhat bodice-ripping and omen-soaked). And for all of James Baldwin's talent as a writer, I don't recall his being noted as a film critic. Mr. Als also seems unnecessarily harsh towards DuBose Heyward's novelistic style. I would say if he had difficulty reading the novel PORGY, he must have difficulty reading, period. I finished that New Yorker article wondering how much Als was being paid off and by whom.
Well-well-well-what-do-you-think-of-that-I-have-nothing-here-to-pay-my-train-fare-with-only-large-bills-fives-and-sevens....
Updated On: 10/12/11 at 05:39 PM
#29
Posted: 10/12/11 at 11:47pm
It is amusing that Als' gives a rave to Follies in the same issue (and that in the P&G article, he says that Sondheim writes about, and with, white people--seeming to forget about Pacific Overtures, completely).
I did find the excerpt of dialogue Als' quoited from Porgy impossible to understand unless pronouncing it outloud (and I admit I do find some attempts at "coloured people language" offensive anyway), but had no issue with his descriptions which were implied to be overly worded.
And yes, after reading it, I looked up the Preminger film of P&G on youtube--I'd only seen some clips before and remember feeling it was just kinda too static and lifeless--and the ten mins I could find on youtube certainly didn't imply much in the way of glamorous bodice ripping.
I did find the excerpt of dialogue Als' quoited from Porgy impossible to understand unless pronouncing it outloud (and I admit I do find some attempts at "coloured people language" offensive anyway), but had no issue with his descriptions which were implied to be overly worded.
And yes, after reading it, I looked up the Preminger film of P&G on youtube--I'd only seen some clips before and remember feeling it was just kinda too static and lifeless--and the ten mins I could find on youtube certainly didn't imply much in the way of glamorous bodice ripping.
#30
Posted: 10/13/11 at 4:07am
I don't like it simply because I don't think the picture captures any true moment... Tyra Banks would say it doesn't read. lol.
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