Peter Bogdanovich talks about Leo McCarey

[karlakor]

I wish I could remember who it was, but someone in show business once told Groucho Marx that Bugs Bunny started out as an imitator of Groucho, his carrot being a substitute for Groucho's cigar, etc. Groucho, upon hearing this, exclaimed, "I'll sue him!" The anecdote is in Charlotte Chandler's book, "Hello, I Must Be Going".

[tuxguys]

Notice Altman's comment at 2:10 "Now we're making movies that imitate cartoons," or something to that effect.

His film "Popeye" was less than ten years in the future from the night this show aired.

[zachromero]

holy shit, maybe the most talent on one stage at once.

[guinnesstrail]

Frank Capra's take on the cartoon as talkie's co-conspirator in the demise of the silent film or the silent film's gesture is such an insight. The again, I read that Bugs Bunny was mistreated by Keaton during Bugs' salad days and would hire him for fear of being upstaged! On the other hand, I don't believe a word of it--Bugs would never stoop to such showbizzy bitchiness; he was above all that, in spite of Elmer Fudd's contwawy opinion in that wondewful autobiogwaphy--Witten By Own Hand.

[johnnycheck99]

Mel Brooks seems like a genuinely nice guy- is he appreciated in the States ?

[AStopMotionChannel]

When this interview was done, which movies has Mel Brooks made? I know he already did The Producers and The Twelve Chairs, but has he made Blazing Saddles yet?

[kolst8406]

@AStopMotionChannel This is January 21st, 1972, two years before Blazing Saddles.

[mooneepondskid]

@AStopMotionChannel Don't forget Mel was in tv before film,both as a writer and a performer.

[HYMMONS]

I could listen to Bogdanovich talking about movies all day.

[HYMMONS]

I could listen to Bogdanovich talking about movies all day.

[rtms1988]

I love it, I love this interview, I love to see them chatting, it's simply beautiful.

I love Peter... I don't know he has something special.

[Tennislover777]

I love Peter I love him I love him I love him

[rtms1988]

@Tennislover777 Me too, me too, me too....

[NZfootballfan666]

This is brilliant. Two great directors who pushed the boundaries during the Hollywood renaisance, a classic comedy director and one of the great dorectors of the Hollywood era whom the other three all greatly admire. They need to have another show like this these days.

[acmedressform]

capra, altman, bogdonavich, brooks all chatting, boy those were the days. I like how they're all chatting in a very relaxed manner, these days when 2 famous people are on a talk show only one speaks, the other never interrupts, it's like famous people act like they're royalty nowadays.

[kiasmus]

The funny costumes, the poise, the stardust memories. Altman, Bogdanovich, the very Frank Capra... The stuff dreams are made of. The great old Hollywood and the one that could not be. A world lost for ever, sunk in an ocean of cheap money and all-embracing vulgarity.

[rtms1988]

It's too bad that kind of show doesn't exist anymore. I loved all the video with that enormous interview. THANKS FOR POSTING IT!!!

[BrianAlanVH]

jeez what an amazing guest panel

[JMoruzzi]

What a line-up! Christ, all this Cavett stuff on here is a buff's wet-dream. Can anyone tell me - I'm from the UK - was Cavett primetime like Carson or did he go on at another time of day?

[p25735]

@JMoruzzi Cavett was on ABC the same time as Carson who was on NBC. However, I'm not certain whether it started the same time or a half hour later. I was very young at the time.

[jennifersman]

What a panel! It's like all the great directors, past present & future all in the sae place)

[silver4B]

Back in the day when Dick Cavett and also Johnny Carson has writers and intellectual on their TV shows. Leno and Letterman suck both having guest that are low grade TV and B movie stars.

[NGS712]

silver: That's 'cause most people don't care to see anything else. :P

[NGS712]

Why can't they bring together several great directors just to talk shop on T.V. nowadays?

Much more interesting than American Idol, in my opinion. ;)

[Nataloff]

@NGS712 The reason they can't bring together directors like this today is that directors today have no personalities, nor do their films, nor do the committees that screw up their films. (Sigh)

[NGS712]

Nataloff: I sort of disagree. I'll admit, I haven't seen alot of the best from this decade, but there are a number of directors I find interesting.

If anything, maybe part of the problem is that there aren't shows like this anymore so that directors [and musicians, actors, etc.] talk seriously about their work with such wide exposure, imo.

[p25735]

@NGS712 It's because everyone (especially younger folks) in today's society all have ADD. They require constant sensual bombardment, or they'll change the station. And back then, there were only a handful of stations. Now, there are hundreds of channels of gold plated crap they can change to.

[32doors]

Watching Bogdanovitch is like watching a bad impression of Orson Welles. The speaking style, pauses, inflections are all the same.

[brianfizzy]

LOVE IT. 1971? Frank Capra was promoting his autobiography. Peter Bogdanovich was about to release two of his greatest films "What's Up Doc" & "Paper Moon" (He also wrote a fantastic book "Who the Devil Made It?" where he interviews famous directors of the 1910's-1970's.) And Mel Brooks was just about to release his two biggest films "Blazing Saddles" & "Young Frankenstein". Plus there talking about Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy director Leo McCarey AMAZING CLIP!

[Philflash]

Dick Cavett, great talk show host and panel. You will never have this much intelligence to gather at one time these days

[crazylogic]

it's the director Frank Capra

[danishhald]

Who is the guy to Cavett's right?

[jennifersman]

From left to right-Robert Altman (directed M*A*S*H), Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein), Peter Bogdanovich (directed Last Picture Show, What's Up Doc? And played Dr. Melfi's psychiatrist on Sopranos), Dick Cavett, Frank Capra (directed "It's a Wonderful Life")

[buffchique]

What a great format, all these legends sitting around talking.