Only Vidal could turn a "documentary" into near poetry. It will take at least a hundred years for our semi-literate society to truly appreciate this great man.
I just purchased and read the companion book--same title as the video. Used copies are all over the internet for under $10, some, like mine ship for free! Highly recommended, esp. the hardcover! Vidal's written voice is even better than his spoken script.
Vidal granting the venetians the pleasure of his regal presence😊....oh what I would give to hear him explain his ideas on Trump and the present state of the american republic ....I miss voices like that
@luckyman1071 Touché. Although I don't think he really ment it. He loved animals, specially cats, because as he said. " Venetians are like cats. They don't give a fuck about you. I am a cat lover and I agree with him.
You know what I find strange. Vidal lived many years in Italy and was very knowledgeable about the history but never managed to want to learn to speak Italian. If l lived in a foreign country, I would want to learn the language to communicate with the local people. Can you imagine every time he wanted food and went to the market, he had to point at the item and use his fingers to request how many items he wanted. No capech!
Gore Vidal's Italian is albeit heavily accented (and clearly influenced by his prep school Latin) as with most Americans when speaking any foreign language but not that bad. I'm sure it was fine as he counted among his friends the likes of Federico Fellini and Italian novelist Calvino or had no trouble in his daily routine communicating in Rome where he lived and standard Central Italian is spoken. Most Americans( I'm American but have spent 2/3s of my life in Europe) have dead ears for other languages because they never have to learn them or use them. That Vidal might be having some slight problem is because the dialect he's hearing is Venetian or Friulian both quite opaque northern dialects with different roots and origins from standard Italian. Italy has or had at the time this film was made in, I'm guessing maybe in late 70s, some 30 plus officially recognize dialects and some are even considered separate minority languages most mutually incomprehensible. Even today get a Sicilian and Venitian in the same cafe and they might struggle to get 60% of what the other is saying. This of course has no doubt changed somewhat in the intervening years but not as much as we might think. I can speak and read some Italian but just last week was "speaking" with a elderly Neapolitan gentleman and well it was mostly done in emphatic expressive gestures.
I would canoe the canals but have zero interest in milling with the throngs of tourists....the ending is untold reality...sweeping up the tourists' mess
How wonderful a treat! Thank you.
Only Vidal could turn a "documentary" into near poetry. It will take at least a hundred years for our semi-literate society to truly appreciate this great man.
I just purchased and read the companion book--same title as the video. Used copies are all over the internet for under $10, some, like mine ship for free! Highly recommended, esp. the hardcover!
Vidal's written voice is even better than his spoken script.
There has been a hole ripped in the heart of this world when this man died.
He was a cranky alcoholic towards the end.
Just like his mother.
Sadly.
Vidal granting the venetians the pleasure of his regal presence😊....oh what I would give to hear him explain his ideas on Trump and the present state of the american republic ....I miss voices like that
AMEN!!!
I'm just glad he didn't witness it. He was disgusted enough with Mr. war time president Bush.
Great documentary, from a calmer era for the cultured traveller.
I could listen to Gore expound on history for days on end. What a marvelous documentary!
He has a wonderful voice, too.
@@cindymaceda2999 He was a fine orator as well as a great writer.
Beautifully narrated and photographed.
Vidal... Always interesting.
Superbly sedate pacing of the documentaries of old exemplified. It could never be made today. Did this air on PBS?
Yes!
Maybe. it was originally to be aired on Nickelodeon - not sure if that happened.
Masterpiece!
Exquisito!
Super! Thank you for uploading this video. 📹
Only Vidal, standing in St Mark Square can come up with...I never met a pigeon I didn't like...
If you will allow the correction, he said: "I never met I pigeon I liked".
Be well!
@luckyman1071 Touché. Although I don't think he really ment it. He loved animals, specially cats, because as he said.
" Venetians are like cats. They don't give a fuck about you.
I am a cat lover and I agree with him.
@@moltedo37 HA! Excellent!
I came for the gossip and stayed for the History lesson!
love it!
Wonderful documentary. 👌👌
“A true monument to high cholesterol.” So good.
Such an amazing unique city.
Great Gore
SUPERB !!!
absolutely
Amazing, thank you.
yes, agreed
god bless gore !
shouldve been called "Gore Vidal moved by sand"
You know what I find strange. Vidal lived many years in Italy and was very knowledgeable about the history but never managed to want to learn to speak Italian. If l lived in a foreign country, I would want to learn the language to communicate with the local people. Can you imagine every time he wanted food and went to the market, he had to point at the item and use his fingers to request how many items he wanted. No capech!
He did speak Italian just not very well
Gore Vidal's Italian is albeit heavily accented (and clearly influenced by his prep school Latin) as with most Americans when speaking any foreign language but not that bad. I'm sure it was fine as he counted among his friends the likes of Federico Fellini and Italian novelist Calvino or had no trouble in his daily routine communicating in Rome where he lived and standard Central Italian is spoken. Most Americans( I'm American but have spent 2/3s of my life in Europe) have dead ears for other languages because they never have to learn them or use them. That Vidal might be having some slight problem is because the dialect he's hearing is Venetian or Friulian both quite opaque northern dialects with different roots and origins from standard Italian. Italy has or had at the time this film was made in, I'm guessing maybe in late 70s, some 30 plus officially recognize dialects and some are even considered separate minority languages most mutually incomprehensible. Even today get a Sicilian and Venitian in the same cafe and they might struggle to get 60% of what the other is saying. This of course has no doubt changed somewhat in the intervening years but not as much as we might think. I can speak and read some Italian but just last week was "speaking" with a elderly Neapolitan gentleman and well it was mostly done in emphatic expressive gestures.
Well, he speaks Italian in this very documentary.
His reasons for wanting to live in Italy were extremely unsavoury.
Venice is best seen in the winter after the holidays- empty, without her makeup.
It is shocking that Vidal is touching historical documents without wearing gloves!!
So few know Latin, let alone another language!
Gore'geous
What year was this filmed?
80s for sure
1985
The Vidal non erano patrician.
I would canoe the canals but have zero interest in milling with the throngs of tourists....the ending is untold reality...sweeping up the tourists' mess