Leonide Massine pt2

Massine was his own worst enemy in a uniquely Russian way - as his career showed! Anyway I came home with some reasonable footage -- but that was where my education in the facts of life really began.
In 1971 there was NO independent market for arts film. (I was blinded by the success of my supporter Chris Nupen, an ex-BBC producer, the first person to succeed as an independent tx2 his relationships with Dupré/Barenboim & John Williams.) And the brutal truth was you either had a deal with the BBC or LWT Aquarius - or you didnt have a film. There was no C4.
At the BBCtv I was stuffed by John Drummond, then i/c Music programming, who I came to realise was only interested in buying my film in order to cannibalise it into an unfinished Massine film of his own. And as soon as I offered it to Aquarius, Humphrey Burton responded in his inimitable way that he had already(!) had the idea of a Massine film & so didn't want mine. I knew his project would come to nothing because Massine became impossible the moment he scented money. I won his trust simply because, I think, he could see that I had none.
This was as much film as I managed to edit. At the end of this sequence it should have cut to footage of Massine dancing El Amor Brujo (from the film Spanish Holiday by Powell /Pressburger) but without funding we could go no further.
Some time later I presented the negative to the National Film Archive, where it remains.
When we were there filming, age 24, I had a premonition that I wouldnt manage to finish the film, but would return to Li Galli when I was Massine's age (78) to round off the film in the context of the story of my life. Which gives me another 15 years!
There was a sequel to the story I told in pt1. La femme in question did go to NY with Massine. Slightly bizarrely she asked me to go too. But I couldnt, producing the film had cleaned me out, and at that stage I believed I could sell it. I had the support of Chris Nupen & had not yet had my face rubbed in the grim facts of life in that era of the tv duopoly.

[@EllenSiesel]

Fantastically informative, fascinating profile of a warm, historic magician of the art and dance world. Unforgettable visions of his ability to elevate, spring into the air with lightness, character. ❤

[@chrischambers1441]

This is a wonderful documentary. I hope you fulfil your premonition of returning to Li Galli.

[@MMSteer]

WYSIallYG. Had we been able to complete the film in 1971 we'd planned to use feature film clips (Red Shoes /Spanish Holiday) of Massine dancing. But in the duopoly era of TV neither channel would buy it & so we couldnt licence the films. Its been well dead these 35 years!

[@wendyverdades3013]

Thank you for sharing this wondeful piece!

[@MMSteer]

You give me the dosh & I will. But as you'll see from my website I have many different things happening these days. I dont regret doing it but it's way past its sel-by date now! I do however have a nostalgic plan to revisit Li Galli again before I die.

[@marioriospinot]

Nice.

[@zodiolestes]

Massine; My Favourite Premier Ballet Russe Dancer! He was better than Nijinsky, Fokine, and Lifar!!!