HARRY BENSON: SHOOT FIRST (doc, 2016)

May 8, 2016

USA Film Festival 2016

harry benson Greetings again from the darkness. There are many talented photographers, but not many that are well known. Quite a few photographers have shot famous folks, but few are famous themselves. These days we tend to think of photography as the barrage of celebrity privacy invasion shots courtesy of the paparazzi cameras. Co-writers/co-directors Justin Bare and Matthew Miele remind us … with this sturdy portrait of Harry Benson … that true photography is an admirable and respected art form.

Mr. Benson is now 86 years old and retains his heavy Scottish accent and ambitious work ethic. An illustrious career was kick-started in 1964 when he was assigned to cover The Beatles’ inaugural trip to the United States. His behind-the-scenes work included the infamous shot of the four lads blowing off a bit of stress with a hotel pillow fight in their hotel.

The film acts as a retrospective of Mr. Benson’s work, and it’s wonderful to hear him tell his own stories. Not many can claim to have been right in the middle of five decades of history, entertainment, politics and cultural events. This is a man whose work had him standing next to Bobby Kennedy in 1968 on the night he was assassinated. Elizabeth Taylor so trusted him, that she allowed him to photograph her just after her brain surgery.  World class recluse and chess champion Bobby Fischer posed for Benson, as did Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr and Michael Jackson … to name just a few. It’s also fascinating to see his spontaneous shots of Greta Garbo swimming, and he literally went 50 plus years between photos of The Queen. His work on the front lines of Somalia is breath-taking … this from a man who has photographed the last eleven U.S. Presidents (every one since Eisenhauer).

In addition to Benson’s own recollections, the filmmakers also include observations and insight from such a diverse group as Dan Rather, Ralph Lauren, Bryant Gumbel, James L Brooks, Sharon Stone, Betty Buckley and Winston Churchill’s granddaughter. We get the impression that Mr. Benson fully comprehends his impact, but it’s his commitment to the job … to the shot … that has earned him the trust and reputation for integrity. Not everyone gets this shot …

harry benson2

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Posted by David Ferguson

CRAZY ABOUT TIFFANY’S (doc, 2016)

February 18, 2016

crazy about tiffanys Greetings again from the darkness. Where were you when you received your first “little blue box”? If one is to believe the stream of gushing talking heads in Matthew Miele’s look at Tiffany & Co, very few moments are more memorable in a woman’s life.  The giddy women and spoiled-rotten teenagers provide the emotional perspective for what can only be described as a truly amazing success story for one of the most iconic brands in the world.

Charles Lewis Tiffany founded the company in 1837 (that’s not a misprint) and the instantly recognizable robin’s egg blue packaging is officially Pantone Tiffany blue 1837. Yes, Tiffany owns a color and it’s named after the year the company was established. The color was influenced by Empress Eugenie of France, whose style and fashion sense caught the eye of Charles.

Of course, many people know Tiffany’s thanks to the hugely popular 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany’s movie starring Audrey Hepburn, and based on the novel by Truman Capote. The influences of the Tiffany brand includes other movies (The Great Gatsby, Sweet Home Alabama), music (the 1995 hit from Deep Blue Something), sports trophies (including the Vince Lombardi NFL championship), the New York Yankees logo, Steve Jobs’ design style at Apple, as well as the purchases and style of many US Presidents – Abraham Lincoln was the first President to buy a piece for his wife, and FDR regularly wore his Tiffany wristwatch.

These days, the red carpet walk at the Academy Awards has turned into an international display of bling … much of it from Tiffany. Actresses Jennifer Beal and Jennifer Tilly provide some Hollywood perspective, and a few other designers offer their sometimes snarky remarks on how judgmental the industry can be. These segments are the most contemporary and the least interesting of Mr. Miele’s film.

It’s much more fascinating to learn that Charles Tiffany introduced the Engagement Ring into society, and the Tiffany clock at Grand Central Station is more than one hundred years old. Were you aware that there are collectors of Tiffany’s famed Blue Book (the first catalog in 1845), and more surprisingly, many who present Tiffany’s Etiquette Guide for Teenagers as a gift (not always welcome) to their kids. It’s also interesting to learn about Gene Moore, the pioneering window display artist; Elsa Peretti, the fashion model-turned jewelry designer; and Johnny Schlumberger, who became the first designer to have his name affixed to a line of Tiffany jewelry.

Lest you think Tiffany & Co is some stodgy company unwilling to adapt, they were the first jewelry company to run advertisements for rings marketed to gay couples. Miele’s film is filled with “gems” and bits of trivia and history … you just have to fight through the talking heads who somehow think they are the real story. Seeing clips of Katie Couric’s birthday bash from inside the 5th Avenue Tiffany store is yet another reminder that celebrities live a much different life than the rest of us. Fortunately the historical value of the film outweighs the arrogance of those interviewed leading to the conclusion that once you’ve watched it, I believe we’ll recall we both kind of liked it.

watch the trailer:

 

 

 

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Posted by David Ferguson