From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2006 18:15:07 GMT
Subject: [Puptcrit] puppet segments in film/tv


The recent DeGiorno pizza commercial with Gepetto and Pinocchio was a mini-story in itself, with a classy set and good acting, but I saw it only 5 times (including about 1 a.m. during Oprah reruns)--never-the-less, it was a good example.

I think in TOPKAPI, set in Istambul, Turkey, there was a brief Karagoz shadow show in the background. In Mel Gibson starrer, The Year of Living Dangerously, Java shadows decorated walls. 

In Sesame Street's early years, the Muppet geniusness was readily apparent. The Muppet segments tended to be the most interesting part of the show, WHICH WAS WATCHED BY A LOT OF ADULTS because the humour was on multiple levels, Jerry Juhl and the whole Muppet crew did not aim their material at just ONE DEMOGRAPHIC. That was greatly appreciated by the PARENTS who could also enjoy the show. The wonderful MUPPET SHOW expanded on this approach with GREAT SUCCESS (artistic, commercial and ratings-wise). 

Olga Stevens, one of America's great puppet performers, did Macbeth with then husband Martin Stevens for adult audiences. Brilliant! She recognized that Jim Henson was a genius, and the staff included other geniuses. The network heads have paper-pushers, and yes-men, and tons of "research" and that is why there is so little worth looking at today on TV. The heads don't "get" the value of artistry and genius.

Meantime, whenever a little puppet-bit is snuck into a movie, I celebrte.

In CHICAGO, the human marionette jury was a lovely touch.

In one of the GODFATHER films, Sicilian puppets were in the background of a street scene.

Maybe a young scholar wih film connections could start collecting and preserving other examples---I sure would like to see stuff like that.

ALAN COOK

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