I had a chance to listen to the 14 CDs that make up the Richard Dreyfuss - David Strathairn performance of the 1858 Lincoln - Douglas debates.
These are the legendary debates between Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas for the senate seat from Illinois. The debates are on the question of continuing or ending American slavery. Lincoln loses the senate election, after these debates. But he electrifies the country (and listening you can understand why).
I literally would cheer loudly sometimes, as though I was in the audience in real time!.
Then two years later they face off again - this time in the election for President - and the rest is history!
These debates are a thriller! What magnificent construction, thrust & parry, acid and suckle. No seven game basketball series between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird can come even close to the excitement, consequence and sheer suspense of these 7 verbal duels!
In spite of the fact that we should not judge people for their thoughts and actions in their time, with our values today, I literally had to overcome my feelings of wanting to hurl the occasional tomato at Judge Stephen Douglas!
The two voice artists are par excellence.
David Strathairn starts off softly, and then grows stronger and stronger in his voice inflection and by the end of the seven debates, particularly in the 6th and 7th debates, he is booming with moral conviction and valor.
Richard Dreyfuss is just a delight to listen to. His voice and diction are sharp and are dripping with acid and contempt for his debate opponent. You literally squirm as he jabs and jeers at Lincoln, wondering how Lincoln is going to come back.
An additional note on Richard Dreyfuss. Here is a artist who clearly loves his profession. Of all the movies that he has been in (and there have been some great ones), I personally like Moon Over Parador. Not because it is a great movide, but because Dreyfuss has so much fun with it. In one of the last scenes, the Dreyfuss characher (who is an actor in the character as well) is about to getaway from Parador on a plane back to USA. He is parting with his romantic lead, there is a moon in the sky, and he can't help remarking what a beautiful scene this is. I bring this up to point out that Dreyfuss is very self-aware about the fact that he loves story telling. He brings this verve to the character of Judge Douglas till the very last word in the debate.
A great performance!
http://agingonthevine.blogspot.com/2002/04/gore-vidals-lincoln-brilliant-work-of.html
These are the legendary debates between Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas for the senate seat from Illinois. The debates are on the question of continuing or ending American slavery. Lincoln loses the senate election, after these debates. But he electrifies the country (and listening you can understand why).
I literally would cheer loudly sometimes, as though I was in the audience in real time!.
Then two years later they face off again - this time in the election for President - and the rest is history!
These debates are a thriller! What magnificent construction, thrust & parry, acid and suckle. No seven game basketball series between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird can come even close to the excitement, consequence and sheer suspense of these 7 verbal duels!
In spite of the fact that we should not judge people for their thoughts and actions in their time, with our values today, I literally had to overcome my feelings of wanting to hurl the occasional tomato at Judge Stephen Douglas!
The two voice artists are par excellence.
David Strathairn starts off softly, and then grows stronger and stronger in his voice inflection and by the end of the seven debates, particularly in the 6th and 7th debates, he is booming with moral conviction and valor.
Richard Dreyfuss is just a delight to listen to. His voice and diction are sharp and are dripping with acid and contempt for his debate opponent. You literally squirm as he jabs and jeers at Lincoln, wondering how Lincoln is going to come back.
An additional note on Richard Dreyfuss. Here is a artist who clearly loves his profession. Of all the movies that he has been in (and there have been some great ones), I personally like Moon Over Parador. Not because it is a great movide, but because Dreyfuss has so much fun with it. In one of the last scenes, the Dreyfuss characher (who is an actor in the character as well) is about to getaway from Parador on a plane back to USA. He is parting with his romantic lead, there is a moon in the sky, and he can't help remarking what a beautiful scene this is. I bring this up to point out that Dreyfuss is very self-aware about the fact that he loves story telling. He brings this verve to the character of Judge Douglas till the very last word in the debate.
A great performance!
Link to Earlier Reviews of Works on President Lincoln:
http://agingonthevine.blogspot.com/2002/04/gore-vidals-lincoln-brilliant-work-of.html
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