TRUMAN AND TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION
US, 2020, 86 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto..
Directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland.
For fans of Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, this is a must. For those interested in the novelist and in the playwright but who do not know so much about them, this is an arresting introduction. It has been directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, who has made documentaries on arts figures, Peggy Guggenheim, Diana Vreeland, Cecil Beaton.
There has been a great deal of archival research for this film, interviews and footage of both authors back in the 1940s and then throughout their careers, promotions of their work at the time, the reflections on their work. There are also quite a number of television interviews, some of them quite detailed in the personal questions, such as those by David Frost. It is interesting to watch the body language of how each of the author’ respond to the questions, how reticent they are, how forthcoming. It is also interesting to see how they age over the best part of three decades.
There are quite a number of quotations from the novels by Truman Capote, excerpts from the film version of In Cold Blood, from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (and his comments about the unsuitability of Audrey Hepburn in the central role but praising her performance).
There is a great advantage for Tennessee Williams and having a number of screen versions of his plays, including Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh and Streetcar, an interview with Anna Magnani for The Rose Tattoo, several clips from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sweet Bird of Youth, Night of the iguana, Boom, The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone, and the television version of The Glass Menagerie with Katherine Hepburn and Sam Waterston.
William’s comments on his lack of popularity and good reviews after the early 1960s. Capote he generally had good reviews throughout his career.
The film opens up personal issues, their homosexuality, William is going back into his past, the difficult relationship with his mother, and the lobotomies and electric shock treatment for his sister. It also shows his long-term relationships. It is the same with Truman Capote, speaking rather provocatively and ambiguously in the television interviews. Especially about love and friendship and sexuality. The film also tackles their increasing alcoholism and depression. And the sadness of the deaths, Williams from an overdose of barbiturates, the party as a result of alcoholism.
Capote’s work is often autobiographical, even in his exploration of the themes of the criminal mind and behaviour in In Cold Blood. Williams is very strong in making quite a number of connections from his theatre characters to his own life, family and experiences.
The film concludes with a tribute to both, Capote he and his contribution to fiction and dramatic reporting, Williams and his wide range of players and the introduction of so many of his themes and vocabulary to American culture – like dependence on the kindness of strangers by Blanche Dubois.
For many of the quotations the film uses the voices of Jim Parsons for Capote and Zachary Quinto for Willliams – and we believe we are hearing their voices.
This is the kind of documentary that excels in presenting portraits but also dramatising the works of the authors.
