Wednesday, May 7, 2014
By MICHAEL WALSH
Inspirations for Reeling Back postings are everywhere. This past week alone, we've had the 75th anniversary of Canada's National Film Board (May 2) and World Press Freedom Day (May 3). Returning from our unexpected tech furlough, we made different choices (that are noted below).
I should mention, though, that this website recognizes the importance of the NFB and already has four NFB feature films in its growing archive. Visitors are invited to check out my reviews of Why Rock the Boat? (1974), Partis pour la gloire (1975), Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry (1976) and Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (1981). The influence of Board films and filmmakers is widespread, and is noted in some detail in my reviews of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), George Lucas's Star Wars (1977) and Warren Beatty's Reds (1981).
As for Press Freedom, I'm in favour of it. Acknowledging my own roots in print journalism, I launched Reeling Back in October 2013 with an introductory note called Print the Legend and a package of 10 movies celebrating newsprint reporting. Included were Gaily, Gaily (1969), Why Rock the Boat? (1974), The Front Page (1975), All the President's Men (1976), Superman (1978), High Stakes (1987), Street Smart (1987), Newsies (1992), Impolite (1993) and The Paper (1994).
Since May began, I've managed to add five items to the growing archive, all noted in the list of my ten most recent postings:
GARY KURTZ interview — In 1980 the producer of The Empire Strikes back paid a visit to Vancouver to promote its release. We discussed his role as a producer and his own plans for a post-Star Wars future. (Posted May 7)
STAR WARS: EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDI — In for a penny, in for a pound (as people used to say before there were no more pennies), we ended three days of Jedi-mania with the final instalment of the first (or, as the episode numbers would have it, second) trilogy. (Posted May 6)
STAR WARS: EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK — Unable to resist the power of the Force, Reeling Back continued the celebration for one more day with the second movie/fifth episode in the series. (Posted May 5)
STAR WARS: EPISODE VI - A NEW HOPE — Now that Disney owns Lucasfilm, the full resources of the media corporation are behind the promotion of May the Fourth as the official Star Wars Day. (Posted May 4)
BATMAN — In recognition of Free Comic Book Day, it seemed only right to recall director Tim Burton's achievement in making a major motion picture from the iconic comic character's story. (Posted May 3)
LAURENCE KEANE and CHRIS WINDSOR interview — The producer and director of the innovative 1982 cult feature Big Meat Eater discussed independent film making on the eve of their picture's premiere, an event that would change Keane's life. (Posted April 30)
UP 'N' COMING — To mark the anniversary of actress Marilyn Chambers's birth, Reeling Back recalls the 1983 film in which she demonstrated her singing talent. Also offered is the interview that she did with me during her visit to Vancouver to publicize its premiere. (Both posted April 22)
HITLER: THE LAST TEN DAYS — The coincidence of Easter Sunday with the birthday of historical villain Adolf Hitler brought to mind the 1973 film in which actor Alec Guinness channeled the dark side of The Force to play the title role. Also offered is a movie quiz based on the films in which the Fuhrer is the driving force. (Both posted April 20)
HITLER: THE LAST TEN DAYS — The coincidence of Easter Sunday with the birthday of historical villain Adolf Hitler brought to mind the 1973 film in which actor Alec Guinness channeled the dark side of The Force to play the title role. Also offered is a movie quiz based on the films in which the Fuhrer is the driving force. (Both posted April 20)
EARTHQUAKE — One result of the global warming phenomenon is the increase of natural disasters in the news, a reality that makes one nostalgic for the days when you had to go to the movies to experience something like the destruction of Los Angeles. (Posted April 18).
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