George Cukor

Emanuel Levy has written a meticulously researched and gently revisionist biography of the esteemed but controversial director George Cukor, attempting to capture the particular vision that gave a Cukor film its unique qualities.

The late George Cukor once said, "I work through the actors, and the more successful I am, the less my work is apparent." Ironically, the high degree of success Cukor did achieve--in films marked by stellar performances and evocative but subtle mise en scene--may be precisely the reason he is sometimes overlooked in discussions of the great Hollywood directors of the 20th century.

The Hollywood closet is a uniquely seductive trap: Homosexuals who have succeeded in making a career for themselves within the film industry--most are men and few of them have ever identified themselves as gay--have long enjoyed a relative, though clearly circumscribed, freedom. Since there are few secrets within the gossipy confines of the movie world, their sexual orientation rarely passes unnoticed among their co-workers.

The fourth Absolut-L.A. International Biennial Art Invitational returns this week as some 60 galleries host exhibitions by 200 artists from 30 countries. From a group show devoted to emerging Cuban artists at Track 16 to rare exhibitions by Belgian artist Pierre Alechinksy at Jack Rutberg and Cuban photographer Raul Corrales at Couturier, the six-week series of shows, lectures and tours will feature a wide variety of contemporary works from around the world.

The late George Cukor once said, "I work through the actors, and the more successful I am, the less my work is apparent." Ironically, the high degree of success Cukor did achieve--in films marked by stellar performances and evocative but subtle mise en scene--may be precisely the reason he is sometimes overlooked in discussions of the great Hollywood directors of the 20th century.

Blowing Robert Taylor's name off his building at Lorimar and renaming it for George Cukor has its spiritual antecedent in the Soviet Union, when St. Petersburg became Leningrad. Had Taylor named American Nazis and not Communists, our current but philosophically dated Hollywood cadre would be giving award dinners in his name. DAVID CARL KOLPACOFF, El Cajon

The fourth Absolut-L.A. International Biennial Art Invitational returns this week as some 60 galleries host exhibitions by 200 artists from 30 countries. From a group show devoted to emerging Cuban artists at Track 16 to rare exhibitions by Belgian artist Pierre Alechinksy at Jack Rutberg and Cuban photographer Raul Corrales at Couturier, the six-week series of shows, lectures and tours will feature a wide variety of contemporary works from around the world.

Although I have not yet read the biography of George Cukor, which was reviewed Dec. 8 by one Gregg Kilday and written by one Patrick McGilligan, I would like to try to refute the stupid canard about why Cukor was fired from "Gone With the Wind." I was George Cukor's assistant from 1936 until I went into the Army late in 1942, and was a very close friend of his until his death, although I no longer worked for him. I saw a great deal of him at all times, and attended many of his parties "for men only."

When he was younger, Rouben Mamoulian, who died on Friday at the age of 90, used to be annoyed that people thought he was older than he was. He had begun very young, giving acting classes in his native Tiflis, Russia, when he was only 20, directing his first play in London at 24, beginning work in the U.S. at 25, directing the drama "Porgy" (from which came "Porgy and Bess") on Broadway at 29.

At a private memorial gathering, writer Fay Kanin, then president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, stood before a Hollywood crowd and observed with a smile: "George Cukor had so many friends, I wonder how he found the time to make all those wonderful movies." That was in February 1983, after Cukor died of a heart attack at 83.

The newly refurbished version of George Cukor's Oscar-winning musical, "My Fair Lady," which opens at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza today, was restored by Robert Harris and James Katz, the team that reconstructed "Lawrence of Arabia." There are no new scenes added to the film, but the restorers worked on the color scheme and soundtrack, using the most sophisticated technologies.

Emanuel Levy has written a meticulously researched and gently revisionist biography of the esteemed but controversial director George Cukor, attempting to capture the particular vision that gave a Cukor film its unique qualities.

Although I have not yet read the biography of George Cukor, which was reviewed Dec. 8 by one Gregg Kilday and written by one Patrick McGilligan, I would like to try to refute the stupid canard about why Cukor was fired from "Gone With the Wind." I was George Cukor's assistant from 1936 until I went into the Army late in 1942, and was a very close friend of his until his death, although I no longer worked for him. I saw a great deal of him at all times, and attended many of his parties "for men only."

The Hollywood closet is a uniquely seductive trap: Homosexuals who have succeeded in making a career for themselves within the film industry--most are men and few of them have ever identified themselves as gay--have long enjoyed a relative, though clearly circumscribed, freedom. Since there are few secrets within the gossipy confines of the movie world, their sexual orientation rarely passes unnoticed among their co-workers.

At a private memorial gathering, writer Fay Kanin, then president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, stood before a Hollywood crowd and observed with a smile: "George Cukor had so many friends, I wonder how he found the time to make all those wonderful movies." That was in February 1983, after Cukor died of a heart attack at 83.

The newly refurbished version of George Cukor's Oscar-winning musical, "My Fair Lady," which opens at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza today, was restored by Robert Harris and James Katz, the team that reconstructed "Lawrence of Arabia." There are no new scenes added to the film, but the restorers worked on the color scheme and soundtrack, using the most sophisticated technologies.

Blowing Robert Taylor's name off his building at Lorimar and renaming it for George Cukor has its spiritual antecedent in the Soviet Union, when St. Petersburg became Leningrad. Had Taylor named American Nazis and not Communists, our current but philosophically dated Hollywood cadre would be giving award dinners in his name. DAVID CARL KOLPACOFF, El Cajon

When he was younger, Rouben Mamoulian, who died on Friday at the age of 90, used to be annoyed that people thought he was older than he was. He had begun very young, giving acting classes in his native Tiflis, Russia, when he was only 20, directing his first play in London at 24, beginning work in the U.S. at 25, directing the drama "Porgy" (from which came "Porgy and Bess") on Broadway at 29.