Scrooge

My selection was either SCROOGE or Pier Paolo Pasolini’s IL VANGELO SECONDO MATTEO. Two matchless literary adaptions, two deeply political films, the latter a more obviously cultivated choice. But I grew up Jewish, watching this yearly on TV at Christmas time, finding it strangely powerful and utterly true to Dickensian (and Marxist!) spirit. I had no idea it was rejected for it’s holiday premiere at Radio City Music Hall as “too dark and depressing for American audiences” or that Belfast-born director Brian Desmond Hurst was mentored into film by lifelong friend and champion John Ford, or that Hurst was flamboyantly gay. In my research to decide which film to dedicate for Hans I found a quote describing SCROOGE’s director which said much about Hurch as well: “The roguery and the sophistication had evaporated, replaced by a childlike openness that was kind and simple and pure.”I then discovered that Hurst’s original name was not Brian but Hans. That seemed to be a sign, and the die was cast. (Jem Cohen)

In the presence of Jem Cohen.

With V’07-TRAILER: A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Jem Cohen.