MovieChat Forums > Reds (1981) Discussion > one disappointment

one disappointment

posted 20 years ago by EJF
11 replies | jump to latest

My one disappointment with what I consider a terrific film is that Beatty did not identify the witnesses as they spoke. Instead, he just lists them in the closing credits. I could pick out some of them -- George Seldes, Adela Rogers St. John, Georgie Jessel -- but couldn't identify the others. I know this would have made it look less cinematic and more like a documentary, but I still wish he'd done it. These were important witnesses to history, and their remarks should have been placed in full context.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] R_Binnendijk 20 years ago

I know one more, the bold, obscene- broad beaked man saying:"I think people used to *beep* as much as they do now..." is writer Henry Miller.

Together with Anaïs Nin he used to sell written porn before- and in the Second World war. Men liked his style, but Anaïs Nin was considered too womanly (massage, candles, violins etc.)

But I'm glad, unlike you, that the witnisses weren't introduced.

greetz.

[–] gerr 19 years ago

Henry Miller?! You don't say. I wouldn't even think of it, thank you for this idea:)
I too think the witnesses could've been introduced.

[–] Gondorff4 18 years ago

Another of the witnesses was Roger Baldwin founder of the ACLU
Brilliant part of the film, those witnesses.

[–] AustinKatAnne 18 years ago

In the extras on the DVD, it's explained that the decision to leave out the names stemmed from two ideas - one, that a printed name would make the film's intent seem like a documentary, rather that a work of historical fiction. The second point was that Warren Beatty felt a famous name might be recognized, even if the face was not, making those words seem more important or weighty than those of unfamous witnesses.

But 25 years have passed since these people spoke, and I do wish Warren Beatty would have identified them in the extra section, at least! The movie itself is now part of history and the voices should have names for the record.

[–] Rufus-T 18 years ago

I thought not having the printed name was a good idea. It does not draw attention to the witnesses. The witnesses become much like ghosts of the unknown passes spoke through the film medium about Jack & Louise.

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[–] oyason 18 years ago

Will Durant is the older cat with the white moustache and round eyeglasses, Heaton Vorse plays the ukelele and sings, Scott and Helen Nearing both appear, Scott declaring an unwillingness to engage in gossip at the outset of the film and Helen asking whether Louise B. was a commie or not. Lady Dora Russell talks smack about Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Roger Baldwin describes the attack of the western sponsored entente against the Soviet Union.

[–] atoddk 18 years ago

Thanks for the IDs, oyason and others. Here are two I've wondered about: (1) The combative woman in the blue hat, so vehement about her narrow recollections of the America of the 1910s (you did not HEAR the word abortion; you did not HEAR the word homosexual; when a man courted a girl, he MARRIED that girl; we had not a SOUL against the war, etc.). (2) The sweet-natured woman who tells the story about Louise making all kinds of offers until she finally gave Louise a coat she wanted. (I think this is also the one who gets the last word in the closing credits, that she's expecting to die any day now.)

Time has been kind to this film.

[–] tmfak 18 years ago

I Heard somewhere (can't remember where, it's been a long time...) That they were both friends/aquantinces[sp] of Louise Byrant who were not famous in their own right. I have no clue whether this is true or not, though it would seem to make sense especially for the combatitve woman.

[–] stellar_one 18 years ago

It would have been nice to have had in the extras a kind of roll call of the witnesses--with names attached to faces.

[–] Crystal (534) 5 years ago

Yes