A “primer” or explanation of the basic plot, themes, sources and meanings in Stanley Kubrick’s widely praised and often misunderstood epic motion picture, released in 1968. Film clips illustrate the scenes as interpreted in a script narrated by Keir Dullea, one of the stars of the film. Includes some behind-the-scenes information and references to material not included in the final cut. Stanley Kubrick’s controversial science-fiction film classic is analyzed for its technical and visual pioneering role in viewing human history.
Category: Television
In the second part of this program, English director Peter Brook talks to Margaret Croyden about the recent tour of his international theater company through Africa.
This two-part program is aimed specifically at the nature, styles and forms of the experimental theatre as demonstrated by the creative designs -and philosophies of two directors of international note. In the first part, avant garde director of the Polish Laboratory Theater, Jerzy Grotowski, talks to theater critic Margaret Croyden about his work and his reactions to wandering about the U.S. on foot and by car.
The legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt is detailed on this news TV special by combining present day interviews with historical material. It examines his response to the Great Depression and the radical changes in the role of the federal government under his leadership. Social security, collective bargaining, unemployment compensation and control of financial institutions, all parts of Roosevelt’s legacy are examined.
Composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim whose works include such Broadway hits as “A Little Night Music”, “Company” and “Follies”, talks about the origin of a song from his latest Broadway musical, “Pacific Overtures”. On camera with him are film critic Frank Rich and John Weidman author of “Pacific Overtures” as a straight play who expanded it to the musical book for the show. A highlight of the program is the performance of the song “Someone in a Tree.” with Sondheim at the piano sung by Mako, James Dybas, Geddie Watanbe and Mark Hsu Syers the men who sing it on the Broadway stage.
Poet-playwright-teacher, Kenneth Koch, author of “Wishes, Lies and Dreams,” an anthology of children’s poetry, shows how children can write poetry. He explains his teaching techniques and demonstrates the writing of poetry with a group of children utilizing the possibilities in a television studio.
A re-enactment of one of the biggest frauds of all time. In 1969, the Equity Funding Corporation of America lacked the facts to make an accurate profit forecast because of computer troubles. They made a guess – two million dollars too optimistic. So two young executives fed fictitious insurance polices in the computer – all prefixed “99” so that they could easily be cancelled when the temporary loan was paid off. But the temptation to escalate the fraud became irresistible.
Made on a wind-up Bolex camera, The Sound of Seeing announced the arrival of 21-year-old filmmaker Tony Williams. Based around a painter and a composer wandering the city (and beyond), the film meshes music and imagery to show the duo taking inspiration from their surroundings. The Sound of Seeing served early notice on Williams’ editing talents, his love of music, and his dislike of narration. It was also one of the first independently-made titles screened on Kiwi television. Composer/author Robin Maconie later wrote pioneering electronic music.