Good fiction reveals feeling, refines events, locates
importance and, though its methods are as mysterious as they are varied,
intensifies the experience of living our own lives. – Vincent Canby
Born on this date in 1924, Canby had the distinction of being both the chief film critic AND
the chief theater critic for the New York
Times – the only person to ever do so.
As film critic from 1969-93 he reviewed more than 1,000 films. He then turned his critical eye to the
theater where he did the theater reviews until his death in 2000.
He was such a respected writer and reviewer that Bob Hope
requested that Canby be the one to write his obituary, but Canby died
first. However, he still received the
byline on Hope’s story since he had crafted most of the story prior to his own
death and the Times didn’t think it could be topped.
A
great look at Canby’s career can be found in the film For the Love of Movies: The
Story of American Film Criticism, a wonderful and insightful piece of
writing and movie-making. I highly recommend
it to all who love the silver screen and those who comment upon it.
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