I don't consider myself to be an intellectual, but I do know that I am moved by Spalding's story telling in this performance. He most certainly is an artist to me! I never even knew who Spalding was until I came across a trailor of a documentary done on him. Now I want to research more about him. This was a brilliant performance. And boy did that ending...just that last scene of children waving farewell to the helicopters in the sky...make my heart ache.
in all the years i've heard about 'Swimming to Cambodia' it was only recently that I was inspired to watch it. Video store didn't have it, not available anywhere, so I was so delighted to find it here.
I think maybe the Marilyn Monroe statement may have been better understood if Gray had taped more of the performance (or a later version of the performance)? In the recording-written-down that I have, this performance encompassed only about two thirds.
I feel as if film/screen culture/eroticizing of the camera/Hollywood in general are under critique in the performance -- and there is a lot of confusion between what is reality and what is illusion/screen. Perfect Moment fits into that, too!
@Jamaari20 and what is that supposed to mean...maybe I find it interesting because i know a good actor when i see one, and spend all day watching crappy tv
When I first watched this monologue I was totally mesmerized! That one actor could come up with this story is amazing. This should be required viewing in schools.
When i have the time i will eventually try and upload and i'll send you a message. In the mean time all i can say is check netflix or video stores. Also, David Byrne's (talking heads movie) "True Stories" has Spalding playing the mayor of a town in a wonderfully quirky role, he gives speeches using hand gestures that don't match his talking (an incredibly hard thing to do). Also, a movie titled "King of the Hill" in which he plays a depressed hotel patron during the depression era.
@iamtheuseless1 Spalding Gray spoke after a showing of Swimming To Cambodia in Glasgow in the early 90's and I got to see him. He was asked this question by a member of the audience. He said that what killed MM was that her star was descending. In this last scene of the monologue he describes the star treatment he'd experienced for a short time and how he loved it. MM had this for much longer and that as she got older and less popular she couldn't live without it.
@BoredIslandGirl I can sympathize with that. Kind of hard to give up something so good when you experience it for such a short time. You just want more of it.
The meaning of his statement about Marilyn Monroe is quite simple: The dream made real ends. The dreamlike quality of acting in a film, of being someone who merits special attention (celebrity) and the things that go along with it: the best that life has to offer - ends. The shock of returning to a world outside that dreamlike state and - most impotantly - the desire to continue to live in the fantasy is severe and pernicious.
No, I don't think so. Real life has value beyond the fantasy world that Gray was mentioning. The luxuries big and small he mentioned having are only idealized by those who have not earned them in a real sense; they come from a world of make-believe made real while the fantasy survives (while the movie is being filmed). For those who work and earn these things (without the celebrity factor) there is no fantasy and therefore no shock of withdrawal.
He was describing the depression that he felt at having to leave Thailand and go back to his normal life... and he was just a character actor who had a small role. Imagine the depths of depression that a woman like Marilyn Monroe must have felt every time the cameras stopped rolling and she was "off". She had been a megastar from a young age, and she had no idea who she was or how to experience joy in the small things. It's akin to the reason that rock stars get hooked on drugs.
@JohanStarDragon He meant that once her career was over there was not much else that could top that. She probably became depressed because she would never experience that happiness that she once had when she was a big star.
This is amasing...i felt the emotions at every turn and feel very inspired by this film - the imagery was excellent. why have I ot taken note of this actor before? hes a very powerful person
Other performances like this one by Spalding are, Gray's Anatomy, and Monster in a Box, these are well worth the watch. Spalding also does an amazing performance in David Byrne's "True Stories" (musical movie featuring Talking Heads songs)
amazing, period.
howardai 3 months ago
An excellent monologue
TheTsaltabaptiste 4 months ago
I saw one of his last monologues in 2004 :(
oldpiq 1 year ago
I don't consider myself to be an intellectual, but I do know that I am moved by Spalding's story telling in this performance. He most certainly is an artist to me! I never even knew who Spalding was until I came across a trailor of a documentary done on him. Now I want to research more about him. This was a brilliant performance. And boy did that ending...just that last scene of children waving farewell to the helicopters in the sky...make my heart ache.
loumun56 1 year ago
swimming would help you grow taller ?
TheLeilisa 1 year ago
Spalding Gray was one of my favorites. Nice to see him again, thanks!
HDTVJunkie 1 year ago
Thanks for a wonderful posting - Spalding was an amazing narrator and a talent missed. RIP Spalding.
Hoogliette 1 year ago
BRILLIANT...it's a pity that he is no longer around...had tix to see him the week of he death...
zeta1ret 1 year ago
Thank you for uploading this!
(Bipolar sucks mightily.)
Research0digo 1 year ago
Thank you for uploading this!
(Bipolar sicks mightily.)
Research0digo 1 year ago
iamtheuseless1 - youtbe.
Thank you for uplaoding. Merci beaucoup.
Kiitospaljon. Kap Khun Maak, Kap
John Koistinen-Lindgren
Kingdom of Thailand
carsanookdotcom 1 year ago
in all the years i've heard about 'Swimming to Cambodia' it was only recently that I was inspired to watch it. Video store didn't have it, not available anywhere, so I was so delighted to find it here.
Thank you for uploading this!
mreib7 1 year ago
genuis...what a sad thing, that he died the way he did...the suffering that came, after that car crash.
Olhamo 1 year ago
I think maybe the Marilyn Monroe statement may have been better understood if Gray had taped more of the performance (or a later version of the performance)? In the recording-written-down that I have, this performance encompassed only about two thirds.
I feel as if film/screen culture/eroticizing of the camera/Hollywood in general are under critique in the performance -- and there is a lot of confusion between what is reality and what is illusion/screen. Perfect Moment fits into that, too!
ALeiher 1 year ago
Thank you for posting these videos. This movie is very hard to get a hold of.
avelandia 2 years ago
Comment removed
Jamaari20 2 years ago
@Jamaari20 you are not cultured enough to understand a pure genious at work, watch the others and you will understand
philefc86 2 years ago
Comment removed
Jamaari20 2 years ago
@Jamaari20 and what is that supposed to mean...maybe I find it interesting because i know a good actor when i see one, and spend all day watching crappy tv
philefc86 2 years ago
You have to watch all ten parts to appreciate the whole monologue. It's so good.
HectorIsHappy 2 years ago
When I first watched this monologue I was totally mesmerized! That one actor could come up with this story is amazing. This should be required viewing in schools.
HectorIsHappy 2 years ago
Great.
Thank you very much.
werthekings24 2 years ago
A man tells a story over and over so many times he becomes the story. In that way, he is immortal.
Rest In Peace
eastaby 2 years ago
A great movie, a great story told with the honesty of someone who is not afraid to shaer what is in his heart. Thanks for posting.
breesana 2 years ago
oh and i forgot to thank you for uploading this...
thank you for uploading this ! :)
jandaba1 2 years ago
My pleasure, thank you for watching
iamtheuseless1 2 years ago
wow, this was absolutely mindblowingly amazing...... i must have more !!!
any idea where i can watch the other three? if THIS was the first one, i'd love to see the followup(s) !!
jandaba1 2 years ago
When i have the time i will eventually try and upload and i'll send you a message. In the mean time all i can say is check netflix or video stores. Also, David Byrne's (talking heads movie) "True Stories" has Spalding playing the mayor of a town in a wonderfully quirky role, he gives speeches using hand gestures that don't match his talking (an incredibly hard thing to do). Also, a movie titled "King of the Hill" in which he plays a depressed hotel patron during the depression era.
iamtheuseless1 2 years ago
That's the only part that I didn't quite understand is what he meant when he said that he understood what it was that killed Marilyn Monroe.
My guess is that he probably means the search for the Perfect Moment and all that which had killed her. *shrug*
JohanStarDragon 2 years ago
Johan - i think i agree with you on your insight, or perhaps it could be a political statement? Or maybe just something to make us ponder?
iamtheuseless1 2 years ago
Comment removed
BoredIslandGirl 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@iamtheuseless1 Spalding Gray spoke after a showing of Swimming To Cambodia in Glasgow in the early 90's and I got to see him. He was asked this question by a member of the audience. He said that what killed MM was that her star was descending. In this last scene of the monologue he describes the star treatment he'd experienced for a short time and how he loved it. MM had this for much longer and that as she got older and less popular she couldn't live without it.
BoredIslandGirl 1 year ago
Comment removed
BoredIslandGirl 1 year ago
@BoredIslandGirl I can sympathize with that. Kind of hard to give up something so good when you experience it for such a short time. You just want more of it.
JohanStarDragon 1 year ago
The meaning of his statement about Marilyn Monroe is quite simple: The dream made real ends. The dreamlike quality of acting in a film, of being someone who merits special attention (celebrity) and the things that go along with it: the best that life has to offer - ends. The shock of returning to a world outside that dreamlike state and - most impotantly - the desire to continue to live in the fantasy is severe and pernicious.
beeroosterm 2 years ago
"The Child has grown. The Dream is Gone", wouldn't you say?
And that is kind of the sad thing about our lives is that we have to return to reality in order to give the fantasy any value.
JohanStarDragon 2 years ago
No, I don't think so. Real life has value beyond the fantasy world that Gray was mentioning. The luxuries big and small he mentioned having are only idealized by those who have not earned them in a real sense; they come from a world of make-believe made real while the fantasy survives (while the movie is being filmed). For those who work and earn these things (without the celebrity factor) there is no fantasy and therefore no shock of withdrawal.
beeroosterm 2 years ago
Perhaps so.
JohanStarDragon 2 years ago
Comment removed
BoredIslandGirl 1 year ago
He was describing the depression that he felt at having to leave Thailand and go back to his normal life... and he was just a character actor who had a small role. Imagine the depths of depression that a woman like Marilyn Monroe must have felt every time the cameras stopped rolling and she was "off". She had been a megastar from a young age, and she had no idea who she was or how to experience joy in the small things. It's akin to the reason that rock stars get hooked on drugs.
jumpoutatree 1 year ago
@jumpoutatree putting it like that I can definitely understand the depths of depression that he must have felt after leaving that place.
JohanStarDragon 1 year ago
@jumpoutatree I think you are spot on....Great great movie. What a story teller.
harwicke 1 year ago
@JohanStarDragon He meant that once her career was over there was not much else that could top that. She probably became depressed because she would never experience that happiness that she once had when she was a big star.
lpr5269 4 months ago
This is amasing...i felt the emotions at every turn and feel very inspired by this film - the imagery was excellent. why have I ot taken note of this actor before? hes a very powerful person
emergence999 2 years ago
Other performances like this one by Spalding are, Gray's Anatomy, and Monster in a Box, these are well worth the watch. Spalding also does an amazing performance in David Byrne's "True Stories" (musical movie featuring Talking Heads songs)
iamtheuseless1 2 years ago
Been a long time since I've seen this. Thanks for posting
genuinelycurious 2 years ago