this is a classic festival film i.e no mainstream appeal
but the subject matter of serious historical significance
in this case 2 avowed intellectual enemies and 10 debates
gore vidal - in the left corner - prolific and very popular author
william f buckley in the right corner - author and commentator
some backgrounds to the debates providing interesting viewing
tv channel abc the poor cousin of the mega channels cbs and nbc
as one person put it - they get to be 3rd because there isn't 4 of them
and impressively tv news shows are regarded then as neutral and essential
not only to remain in the centre of political discourse but to report it thoroughly
and so it is that the biggest news stories in 1968 were the party conventions
all 3 channels providing live coverage to large night-time audiences at home
the idea pitched to put these two intellectuals on a team to debate the issues
and a hope their discourse will draw an audience and thus improve ratings
further background to the two men demonstrates the chasm in attitudes
both attending private schools and from wealthy families but so different
gore vidal opposed to the vietnam war and a supporter of gay rights
more than that - a writer of very liberal sexual novels that has him hated
buckley the leader of the pack there - his elitist ideology going into print also
he the founder and editor of the ultra-conservative national review magazine
his long-serving and weary wife admitting at times she wants to kill him
the first round of debates are around the republican convention in miami
vidal did his research on buckley and was prepared - buckley went sailing
the cameras roll, the host introduces his guests and vidal asks the first question
mr buckley - do you feel comfortable being part of a party devoted to greed
buckley seems floored and not expecting a direct attack on his own idealism
he responds with an attack of his own on gore vidal's liberal sexual views
each shouting the other down and thus providing some quite hostile tv
not much is seen of the debate as such but the talking heads fill the gaps
christopher hitchens in particular clearly explaining the context of it all
vietnam war and the peace movement raging and tv now mass media
other commentators also adding their take on the debates significance
more footage of vidal saying buckley openly supports nuking china
vehemently denied but contained in a published article vidal will present
big issues being thrashed out - not fine ideological points as expected
the republican convention wraps up with richard nixon then annointed
focus of the film then moves to the debates at the democrat convention
this in chicago and this time buckley comes prepared for more slanging
a protest outside the convention sparks a debate about the use of flags
gore vidal then commenting buckley is the only crypto-nazi he knows
the response - now listen you queer stop calling me a crypto-nazi
or i'll sock you in the goddam face so hard you'll stay plastered
apparantly he regretted that comment for the rest of his living days
no apology though and they remained bitter enemies to the end
buckley dying first in 2008 and vidal penning - rih - rest in hell
what a insightful film to these 2 men and american politics
some saying in 1968 the parties solidified into current form
which sadly kind of explains what goes on there now...
