- Actors: Stockard Channing
- Directors: Mel Stuart
- Format: Black & White, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Fox Lorber/Vid Can.
- Release Date: Oct 1 2002
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 1572525657
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #90,374 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
As part of the PBS American Masters series, Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde covers the life and artwork of this innovative modern artist with both clips of interviews and archival footage of the times he lived in. Born in Brooklyn as Emanuel Radnitsky, he grew discouraged by the New York art world of the early 1900s, changed his name to Man Ray, and moved to Paris. He was embraced by the Dadaists, many of whom later became Surrealists. Although painting was his main love, he took up photography, making portraits of famous people such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Henri Matisse. He developed a new technique, the rayograph, in which he placed objects directly onto paper and exposed them to light. He even made an avant-garde film with this technique. Whether creating Dada sculptures, such as his famous iron with a row of tacks enigmatically entitled Le Cadeau, The Gift, innovative photographs, films, or sculptures, Man Ray always managed to surprise. In order to earn a living, he turned fashion photography into art. After living in California and New York during World War II, he returned to live and work in Paris after the war. Included in this program are wonderful shots of his Paris studio and home. Just under an hour long, this program presents a good look at a remarkable artist. The DVD format also includes an essay by Neil Baldwin, his biographer and author of the script, which underlines the influence of the women in his life. The crispness of the images and the intelligent insights into the ideas of the avant-garde make viewing a great pleasure. --Anne Barclay Morgan
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Overview,
This review is from: Man Ray Prophet/the Avant-Gard (VHS Tape)
If you want to learn about Man Ray, his photography, his art and his life; this is for you!The information is sound. The presentation vivid. Even his lovers are in order. The interviews with Man Ray! Juliet Brown and critics are great! Stills interspersed with film. So much more atmosphere here than reading a book! I have read loads but this is the visual way to learn and remember.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Introduction to Man Ray,
By
This review is from: Man Ray Prophet/the Avant-Gard (VHS Tape)
Filmed in 1961, the documentary follows Man Ray into his Paris studio where notable artists and others drop in to reminisce. The studio is filled with his paintings, photos and assemblage sculpture reminding us that he was a multi media artist, although he made his living as a photographer. It is through that medium that he became well known and sought after, particularly as a portraitist, and he photographed some of the most famous personalities of our times.Tristin Tsara calls on his friend and they play chess using a set that Man Ray designed. Patrick Waldberg (writer), drops by and situates Man Ray in the movements of Dada and Surrealism, exemplified in his paintings and assemblages. Merit Oppenheimer also visits. Herself a Surrealist artist, she also posed for many of Man Ray's photos. Artists Max Ernst and Giaccometti, John Weiner, musician, Philippe Soupault, writer, and Bill Copley, a gallery owner, each stops in to offer annecdotes. The documentary touches on Man Ray's famous Rayographs, and there is a clip from a film he did. A bit dated stylistically and contrived with the flow of guests, the film's main acheivement is as an introduction to Man Ray and his overall oevre. We are left wanting to know more about his life, the breadth of his artistic works, and still more intimate detail about the company he kept, the most prominent personalities of his time and the modern art era.
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Eyeball,
By L.L.H. (Bellmawr, NJ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Man Ray Prophet/the Avant-Gard (DVD)
The documentary was produced as part of PBS's American Masters series, which is ironic because it would seem Man Ray really considered himself a Parisian, though he was born and lived in New York for the beginning of his life. As with most PBS documentaries, it is a well -produced, upbeat view which barely tackles anything that might be considered negative or reproachable. This is not to say that all documentary should focus on the seedy side of life, but I think a person of Ray's infinite peculiarities was bound to have some skeletal remains in the closet, and although I did not want an E True Hollywood account, some more balanced commentary might have been a useful glance into the mind of an artist. Despite this criticism, this documentary is well crafted and interesting, particularly great for those who may have no knowledge of Man Ray and his work. Speaking of his work, another criticism of this documentary is that I do not feel that it answered the essential question for me about Man Ray: Why the eyeballs? They didn't even address his most famous photograph, either.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
