MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: THE TELEVISION OF DENNIS POTTER: SEMINAR NO. 1 OF 4: TALENT AND CONTROVERSY {LONG VERSION}
Summary
First in this series of four seminars on the work of British television writer Dennis Potter, conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Museum president Robert M. Batscha introduces Museum curator Ron Simon, who moderates the seminar.
After commenting on the Museum's retrospective on Potter's work, Simon introduces, Alan Yentob, controller of BBC 2, responsible for the programming of the arts, who leads the discussion and presents a series of clips representative of Potter's creative career.
A clip is also shown from a 1958 documentary entitled "Does Class Matter?" which features an interview about class structure with Potter while he was an undergraduate at Oxford. Yentob then invites Potter onstage to commence the interview. Highlights include: Potter's take on the class structure and educational system in England; his belief that biography is the "most complicated form of lying ever created"; his dislike of didactic drama; the dangerous and fascistic nature of politically correct language; the epithet "misogynistic" that has sometimes been affixed to himself and his work; the faults he finds with American television; his dislike of nostalgia; and the importance he finds in both popular culture and religion. Simon then directs questions from the audience. Highlights include: Potter recalling resistance to his work; his impression of the American film version of "Pennies From Heaven"; his belief that Americans are defined as consumers rather than citizens by television; and his thoughts on the possibility of remaking "The Singing Detective" in America. Clips are shown from the following: "The Singing Detective" (1986), "Stand Up, Nigel Barton" (1965), "Blue Remembered Hills" (1979), "Does Class Matter?" (1958), "Blade on the Feather" (1980) and "Secret Friends" (1992).
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: January 14, 1992 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:29:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:23743
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Host
- Ron Simon … Moderator
- Alan Yentob … Moderator
- Dennis Potter … Guest