Kael-Simon-MacDonald - 1963 Critic Round table

Scroll down to the May 14, 2006 entry for an MP3 discussion of film circa 1963 with John Simon, Pauline Kael, and Dwight Macdonald.

Kael, in fact, became the template for film critics and most still approach film from her perspective. McDonald OTOH, faded from the scene rather quickly, but Simon continued to be significant players until the 1990s.

In discussion, Kael is out-classed by Macdonald and Simon. She was much better writing long winded essays outlining her likes and dislikes than engaging in the trust and parry of debate. Simon shines in this format, like his writing he's crisp and too the point. Often insulting, dismissive and funny. Macdonald seems to occupy a middle ground although he's more closer to Simon than Kael.

Kael tries to defend "Hud" as an "American" film, but of course she's really trying to defend "Hollywood" not America. She had many friends in Hollywood and like Ebert actually wokred in Hollywood in the late 60s early 70s.