A magnificent obsession, which is scheduled to run on ifc on may 1415, 2005, recaptures the thrill of catching a rare film on the channel. A documentary on the z channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the us, and its programming chief, jerry harvey. In 2006 and 2007, he became a creative consultant to clickstar, a movie download service founded by morgan freeman, constituted on the z channel model. Z channel a magnificent obsession dvd, 2006, 2disc set. A magnificent obsession contributor names xan cassavetes director steven hufsteter composer. For the first time, the film tells the complete story of stuxnet, a piece of selfreplicating computer malware known as a worm for its ability to burrow from computer to computer on its own that the u. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the z channel was a dream come true for lovers of cinema. Phillips has a heart attack and needs the same machine. Thats good, because despite his lurid denouement he killed his wife, then himself, in 1988, harvey was not an especially interesting man, but rather. What follows is a complete and comprehensive quentin tarantino filmography, sorted by type of involvement.
Dec 30, 2012 a documentary on the z channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the us, and its programming chief, jerry harvey. A magnificent obsession functions as both a fantastic introduction to and fond remembrance of a time when unique, intelligent programming, featuring films that were cast aside or overdue for reevaluation, found its way to a small, dedicated audience of cinema. Watch magnificent obsession full movie video dailymotion. A magnificent obsession is up front about this tragic conclusion to its story but wisely saves the details for later, allowing for full appreciation of harveys considerable achievements before delving into the darker side of his life and personality. Debuting in 1974, the labased channel s eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable tele. I was most impressed by z s dedication to airing the complete and uncut versions of such films as berlin alexanderplatz 15andahalf hours long. Employing a comprehensive and busy blend of interviews and film clips, director xan. A magnificent obsession r 2h documentary, biography, history tv movie 16 august 2007 a documentary on the z channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the us, and its programming chief, jerry harvey. A magnificent obsession in short, every single motion picture featured in xan cassavetes spectacular doc on z from start to finish in order. Due to his philanthropy and his wife helens accident, she jane wyman has very little money. Jerry harvey was a college dropout who intensely loved film and film studies, making him the ideal choice for deciding what films would appear on z channel.
Cassavetes is the daughter of director john cassavetes and actress gena rowlands, but more importantly, she was an avid fan of the channel and appreciates its. February 3, 2005 this documentary about a legendary l. Debuting in 1974, the labased channels eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television. The z channel launched in 1974 as californias first paytv service, showing two movies a week, and quickly became required viewing for hollywoods elite and cinephiles alike. A movie about harvey that sidelined an exploration of z channel would lack an essential dimension, and one about z channel that ignored harveys fate would seem shallow. However, i had no idea what it was, it just seemed vaguely familiar. A magnificent obsession its hard to believe cable television has been around long enough for people to wax nostalgic about channels that were, but tv addicts of a certain age remember when the game show network showed actual game shows, and when american movie classics was worthy of its name. Debuting in 1974, the labased channels eclectic slate of movies became a prime. On z, you could see every kind of film, from european arthouse cinema to hollywood blockbusters. Z was the network first to develop programming innovations such as directors cuts and uniquely themed on air festivals, while also airing many rare and never before seen exclusives and critically acclaimed films not in the mainstream. See who they starred with and what they are working on now. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 cannes film festival. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. A magnificent obsession is if nothing else, a nonstop feast for film buffs.
It includes interviews with robert altman, quentin tarantino, james woods, jim jarmusch, alexander payne and a number of other filmmakers and critics who attest to z channels lasting impact. On the film scene with film critic charles champlin. Z channel a magnificent obsession dvd movie compare. Its hard to come up with something better than that. Volume 1 2003 executive soundtrack producer my name is modesty 2003 presenter quentin tarantino presents ying xiong hero 2002 presenter quentin tarantino presents all the love you cannes. Directing her first feature length documentary, xan casssavetes z channel.
A magnificent obsession a channel with a cultlike following by robert roten, film critic. A magnificent obsession movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. Z existed in the twilight of the dawn of cable television and hboshowtime. Xan cassavetes not only shows her love of z channel with this documentary, but her need to share with us the life of jerry harvey, the tortured soul and film obsessed wizard.
It includes interviews with robert altman, quentin tarantino, james woods, jim jarmusch, alexander payne and a number of other filmmakers and critics who attest to z channel s lasting impact. Watch magnificent obsession online stream full movie directv. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. A magnificent obsession is a documentary that looks at the channels short but remarkable history as well as harveys damaged personal life. History channel dvd for sale in uk view 2 bargains. Metrograph is a new manhattan movie theater devoted to screening archivequality 35mm prints and new films in stateoftheart digital projection. Z channel a magnificent obsession 2 disc collectors set. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing z channel. Feeney producer, alison palmer bourke producer, ed carroll producer, jonathan montepare producer, leslie lowell producer, marshall persinger producer, rick ross producer directed by xan cassavetes color, dvd. A magnificent obsession and born into brothels represent but two entries in an especially strong lineup for the eighth annual infact theatrical documentary showcase. A magnificent obsession movie a documentary on the z channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the us, and its programming chief, jerry harvey. It was one of four of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the other three being the robe, white banners and the big fisherman. Mar 12, 2016 throughout the 1970s and 80s, the z channel was a dream come true for lovers of cinema.
Z was essentially the first pay cable channel to run movies 24 hours a day, well before the advent of such mainstays as hbo and showtime. A magnificent obsession is a documentary that looks at the channel s short but remarkable history as well as harveys damaged personal life. From start to finish its packed with clips of films both obvious and obscure, from hollywood to hong kong. All that heaven allows andtarnished angels are closer to realist stories. Alexander payne, who has boxes full of movies recorded off the z channel, says it best. Film streams is a 501c3 nonprofit organization in omaha, nebraska.
Reckless playboy robert merrick rock hudson is in a boat accident, and his condition requires a resuscitator to save his life. A magnificent obsession, a brilliant 2004 documentary directed by xan cassavetes, explores harveys passion for the cinema, and how he helped turn z channel into a premiere cable network. A documentary on the z channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the us, and its. A magnificent obsession mixes the love of film with a truly sad and shocking tragedy in a touching way. Employing a comprehensive and busy blend of interviews and film clips, director xan cassavetes daughter of john explores the impact and. A magnificent obsession 2004 jacqueline bisset in z. Think of z channel, jerry harvey loved to say, as the museum of modern art, but with a sense of humor. This film by cassavetes daughter xan focuses on z channel programmer jerry harvey whose efforts led to wide acclaim but who was a tortured soul who eventually killed his wife and himself. A great british gangster film, james fox is wonderful in his role as chas devlin, antia pallenberg is very sexy as turners muse and jagger himself is allright as turner,drug abuse and brife nuidty not a film for teenie boopers a great film for the true stones fan and this movie was way ahead of its time in 1970 and may seem rather crude too the average film fan, a great piece of. When i first got a copy of this documentary back in april, i had this strange feeling that id heard of z channel. When magnificent obsession was released in 1954, the director had already been working in hollywood for a decade, figuring out how to take the studios preference for kitsch, craziness and trashiness, as sirk once described this films material, and turn it into something nearer to art. Aug 16, 2007 jerry harvey was a college dropout who intensely loved film and film studies, making him the ideal choice for deciding what films would appear on z channel. Feeney published two booklength essays with taschen in 2006 about film directors roman polanski and michael mann. Merrick then tries to right his wrongs with helen falling in.
Title must either be mentioned by name or displayed prominently via either an excerpted movie scene or a scan from z magazine. A magnificent obsession 2004, a fine documentary about the z channel, which was one of the first pay cable. See how well critics are rating movies from az by title. Our mission is to enhance the cultural environment of the omahacouncil bluffs metropolitan area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form. Debuting in 1974, the labased channel s eclectic slate of movies became a. A magnificent obsession dvd, 2005 at the best online prices at ebay. Z channel a magnificent obsession is a pretty damn good documentary about one of the first and possibly the best from the sound of it if nothing else cable movie channels ever. There are also lots of clips, as well as recollections about the making of those films. Debuting in 1974, the labased channel s eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television. The two headed spy1958jack hawkinsgia scalaeric schumanfelix aylmer duration. A magnificent ob session, which tells its story through talkinghead interviews with such notable z fans as quentin tarantino, robert altman, jim jarmusch, and. A magnificent obsession 2004 documentary himself kill bill. A magnificent obsession full frame documentary film. France and slavery in the southern belt of america, the legendary director will helm a third historical film, completing a trilogy of sorts.
And since it played on channel 22 you could see itscrambled. Magnificent obsession 2004 jerry harvey in z channel. A troubled film buff lives again on screen the new york times. Like id heard it somewhere before, but had no memory of where or in what context. A magnificent obsession, a new documentary by xan cassavetes to be screened for members of the museum of modern. Various former coworkers, critics, directors and actors, mostly independents, offer their fond memories of a channel that had the power to make or break a film or filmmaker. This documentary chronicles jerry harveys emergence as a brilliant programmer at z channel, one of the countrys first pay cable stations. A look at jerry harvey and his creation, the z channel, the first pay cable network. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 cannes film festival the documentary is about z channel, which was one of the first pay cable tv stations in the united states. Nov 29, 2004 the entwined stories of harvey and his movie channel are the subject of z channel.
History channel ancient greece gods and goddesses dvd. Simultaneously a dream and a nightmare for film buffs everywhere, alexandra. Z channel a magnificent obsession 2005 with robert altman, vera carlisle anderson, c. A magnificent obsession recaptures the thrill of catching a rare film on the channel. Complete filmography the quentin tarantino archives. Jul 17, 2008 for high quality, click link above view count. A magnificent obsession, which in some ways serves as a kind of alternative text book for adventurous cinephiles looking for a resource for finding important lost films, a commentator describes berlin alexanderplatz as a large meal. Debuting in 1974, the labased channels eclectic slate of movies became a. Director xan cassavetes daughter of indie icons john cassavetes and gena rowlands fashions a movie lovers tribute to harveys pioneering station with her documentary z channel. And while z channel suffers from a lack of focus, the last word one could possibly use to describe the film is shallow. Director xan daughter of actor john cassavetes z channel a magnificent obsession harkens back to a time when a single pay cable tv outlet could offer more quality and variety than all the hbos and showtimes of the world combined. The z channel was an labased cable tv station dedicated to the art of film, and a series of industry players. Douglas sirk is known as the melodrama man,but all his movies are not exactly what we call melodrama. Marshall persinger and rick ross associate producerpost supervisor.
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