What New York Does to You

From "Swimming to Cambodia," an amazing movie you should most certainly buy!

[@johnozed]

I miss Spalding. I was fortunate to see him perform several times.

[@dr3754]

me too. a shame. always makes me think decent mental health is a blessing if you have it.

[@MrExnihlo]

I haven't seen any of his stuff in a long while. this guy is a master story-teller.

[@subliminalvibes]

Wow. This is so relevant today. Watch it all... 😎👌💨

[@jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj178]

"Puffy? Hi, it's Buddy Gray down here!"

[@Charles78]

His nickname as a kid was "Spud/Spuddy".

[@Chordonblue]

Others remember Johnathan Demme for 'Silence of the Lambs', but I think of this and the Talking Heads movie. R.I.P. sir. Your direction here was brilliant - Mr. Gray never had a better presentation than this.

[@BlueMHart]

I just saw the episode of Documentary Now that spoofs this film, and I had to look up the real thing. I'm surprised by how accurate the portrayal was. Looking forward to digging into Spalding Gray's work; I've only ever seen him previously in the film True Stories but loved him in that. There's something very hypnotic and captivating about the way he speaks.

[@TuriyanGold]

He’s on coke.

[@IlaughedIcried]

I miss him so much too. I just saw "Stories Left To Tell" tonight, in Minneapolis (at the Walker Art Center). It's left me a sobbing wreck...I came home and just wanted to find as many Spalding clips as I could on KZbin. :)

[@jordynb8582]

HOT DOGS! HOT DOGS! HOT DOOOOGGSS!

[@greg55666]

Spalding Gray, Laurie Anderson, David Lynch, David Byrne, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol. I really miss the eighties, and New York in the eighties. Well, New York anytime before it was ruined.

[@GalacticCobalt]

I feel like this is a prevailing opinion about a lot of places before we really swung into the age of information in 21st century

[@Trund27]

This is where I learned about Buddhist tolerance. RIP to a great artist

[@OlYables]

I think Ben Mendelsohn would be a mean Spalding Grey in a biopic.

[@aromaticflower]

That’s an excellent idea!

[@jkotynek]

I saw this movie at the Fine Arts Theater in Chicago when it was released in 1987. Great movie. Bill Hader''s version is hilarious.

[@bold810]

He said "Nickel back" hee hee.

[@charlesufarley8443]

Oh shit, I'm definitely free associating. There's a wind up and it's a hit! it's a homerun! And I'm running home, but my home is a house of speakers and lights and I realize I'm in a dance club. And somebody passes me a joint and what's bad for the brain is good for the hips.

[@NS1.]

worst day of my life!....he had shit in his pants!

[@peterhagan8454]

remember seeing this back in day a good parralell story to the killing fields film full respect in this crazy world then and now

[@gdogg8029]

What New York does to you: You start talking too fast and loud. Master story teller.

[@theOstenHugo]

Who's here bc of documentary now! Bill Hader?!

[@GalacticCobalt]

shame u can't really find the whole movie online nowadays

[@JohanStarDragon]

I think it's big cities overall that does this to people. Being so crowded into one space, everyone on top of each other, everyone trying to hear one another and each one trying to get to their place of work while everyone else is doing the same thing. It is enough to make one crazy. Which is probably why insanity is so rampant in larger cities: people finally crack.

[@janemillerick9614]

he'd hate how we have it now.. you call 311 and .. not a thing happens. nose complaints aren't considered worthy of a police car. and the one who lives upstairs always has the upper hand. ;) that part's a bitch truly. where l am they consider to be one (f not the) loudest part of nyc. l think that this would be why every drugstore around has a large selection of ear plugs.

[@jldonnell1]

I'm here bc of True Stories

[@armadillo1231]

“How does a country like America…” What an incredibly prophetic observation. Intelligent, artistic people, see things way beneath the surface. They are awake,whilst the majority are sleeping. RIP sir.

[@JohanStarDragon]

I do agree with Spalding on this. How can America begin to find the language to talk to any other country on earth if we can't find the language to talk to one another in our own country?

[@armadillo1231]

I just made a comment regarding the same sentiment.

[@shevetlevi2821]

I saw him in the late 1990s. To me he's like a WASP version of Woody Allen. Very insightful and talented.

[@bobbymartinez5002]

I love thi Dude sence I saw swimming to cambdia..

[@JohanStarDragon]

He did have quite the point to make with how a country like America has the gall to try to negotiate with other countries when its own people can't even peaceably negotiate a simple thing like a loud stereo system.

[@urbangal60]

I miss him so much. Looking forward to "Stories Left to Tell."

[@scalagreen20]

I've just uploaded Spalding's 1996 film 'Grays Anatomy' to youtube. Great film

[@subliminalvibes]

Nice one Brother... 👌😎

[@itsjustme0123]

R.I.P.

[@twsg1974]

So true, effin amazing!

[@TuriyanGold]

World piece starts at home.

[@JohanStarDragon]

That is true. Unfortunately to someone who is suicidal, rationality like that doesn't really enter into the equation. And unfortunately having friends is not always the answer. I'm not suggesting suicide is an answer either but there are other ways.

[@bobbymartinez5002]

so sad he jumped ship..

[@TRIPPYbugger]

Literally.

[@DannyWilliamH]

Bill.Hader.

[@GoGo-qo2eq]

Sara is an incredible Dylan song

[@szeal]

why is this film and the biopic not available to stream anywhere? it seems like half or most of his films are dvd only.

[@Olhamo]

"spuddy" "Puffy" :-)

[@GregoryBrandt1979]

I've been compared to this guy. Glad I looked him up. -Greg

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I'd go up with the biggest axe that Home Depot sells and just...visit. Problem solved. :)

[@melinadebenedictis3792]

hi there, i am looking subtitle for this movie. Can anyone help me?. Thanks

[@MattyStevensonBishop]

some people on here speak with such certainty about things i can't imagine how they'd really know for sure.

[@clemdane]

He ended up moving to Greenwich

[@autmatcman]

The end of this clip has no bearing on what's going on today. *hic-cough-gulp*

[@atherforhire]

is anybody else having trouble with the quality of this video?

[@tulumize]

i was going too get my nickel back ? are nikle bag 2:55

[@AARONDAVIDGLEASON]

i always thought it was nickel BAG but he definitely says Nickel back..here...bt read his memoir...journals...both could work.

[@UncleMilo]

mark gonzales Some states give you money for recycling cans and bottles. Usually 5 cents or 10 cents.

[@tmead07]

A year later, but thought I'd reply. It's definitely nickel back. Many states (including NY) had redemption taxes on bottled (and canned) beverages. They've stayed the same values (5 or 10 cents) since they were instated. NY's was passed in 1982, so in today's value that would be 25 cents per bottle. Figure you buy a six pack for $5 (today's prices), you are charged $1.50 extra for redemption, you'd be pretty likely to want to get that $1.50 back. Which was the idea, they were trying to prevent littering. :)

[@tulumize]

thank you . nice to know '

[@DannyWilliamH]

It's nickel back. Bottles and cans can be returned for 5 cents in NY, 10 cents here in MI, but it's not free as you pay for that when you buy it. It's an incentive to recycle.

[@TheRyanFabianShow]

I'm a huge fan of Spalding. If you're thirsty for more monologists/storytellers, check out Mike Daisey, he's great! I also happen to be a storyteller as well!Check out some of my videos, and SUBSCRIBE if you're into it.

[@bronco2121]

at 1:09 - it was edited from "you should move back to russia..." not "country". oh so PC.

[@mt.treverest5465]

😒

[@tiger10guy]

Who's here because of ze?

[@MulunaLewi]

This is supposed to be profound? Amusing? Insightful? Entertaining? This is witless inanity. I want those minutes back.

[@UncleMilo]

@NOTgarycoleman No you haven't. You fail.