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Francis Bacon (Documentary) [DVD]

Francis Bacon (Actor), Melvyn Bragg (Actor), David Hinton (Director) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
IMDb8.0/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
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DVD
March 6, 2001 		—
1
—
$64.43 $18.99
Format NTSC, DVD, Color
Contributor Melvyn Bragg, Francis Bacon, David Hinton
Language English
Runtime 55 minutes
Color Color

Product Description

Product Description

Francis Bacon was widely regarded as the greatest British painter of this century. His pictures of screaming popes and portraits of faces contorted with pain and violently distorted bodies shocked the art world. More than anyone since Picasso, Bacon's works tapped into our fears, giving his paintings a terrible beauty that has placed them among the most memorable images in the history of art. Winner of 1985 International Emmy Award.

Amazon.com

This South Bank Show interview of the artist famous for depicting a screaming Pope and bloody bodies begins with him walking the streets of London, visiting the fruit market and such, while interviewer Melvyn Bragg gives a brief overview of Bacon's childhood and early career. Then Bragg enters the picture, questioning the leather-clad, slightly paunchy Bacon in a series of his pet haunts: the Tate Gallery storeroom looking at slides of his work and others that inspired him, his messy studio, his favorite restaurant, a drinking club, and a gambling casino. Despite his fondness for painting slabs of meat, syringe-stuck bodies, and the like, Bacon describes himself as an optimist and, indeed, his manner is quite cheerful as he denounces the work of Pollack and Rothko, criticizes some of his own paintings, and muses on the inevitability of death and nothingness. Of his filthy studio he explains "I work much better in chaos," and, while happy to talk about the things that inspire him, he refuses to tell the story of any particular painting: "It is itself and it's nothing else." Filmed in 1985, seven years before his death, this 55-minute documentary is revelatory, amusing, and--like its subject-- ultimately quite charming. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches; 3.2 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ David Hinton
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, DVD, Color
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 55 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ March 6, 2001
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Francis Bacon, Melvyn Bragg
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000059H8G
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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4.7 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Xiao
    5.0 out of 5 stars an old fashioned gesture
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    this 50 minute piece produced by BBC follows the great painter Francis Bacon around from the streets of london, to the Tate Gallery, to a drunken lunch, to the painters studio at 7 Reece Mews, to the reknown Colony Room - a drinking club Bacon frequented for 40 years, and finally to a late night casino. very interesting portrayal and the comments from Bacon are in great form. A perfect introduction to the painter and for those quite familar with Bacon you will most likely recognize many of his statements - he often says the same things over and over (more or less) but its still very interesting to see him in action. in addition the paintings and close-ups they show during the video are so much more fulfilling the reproductions. i saw some paintings in a completely new light.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • A. Davis
    4.0 out of 5 stars As good a window into Bacon as you may get on video
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    Francis Bacon was a titanic figure in 20th Century Art. We've all read reviews, manifestoes, literature, criticism, and let's raise our hands here, lots and lots of jargon in the service of 20th Century Art. This video has none of that. It is very straightforward and simple, and shows Bacon as a clear, direct thinker, despite his fearsome reputation. He is unapologetic about his disturbing imagery, and makes no excuses or elevated claims for his art. His artistic modesty is impressive. While not reluctant to cut down some of painting's other giants (poor Rothko especially), he is convinced that his art is nothing more than what it is, and he speaks of it in plain English. His paintings employ some of the hottest, most loaded images in modern art, but he never opens up about any personal demons, though George Dyer's suicide, which he does discuss, was one of a litany of woes those familiar with his biography will recognize. Painting for him seems a response to the world, not a search for answers. Therefore, he finds no answers and offers none to his audience. What you see is "realism".
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Denise Havlan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Most viewers of Bacon work have a difficult time deciphering what he was thinking about when he produced it. This is the man himself talking about how he sees the world. It all become clear after watching him and listening to him in person.
    One person found this helpful
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  • NC 28
    5.0 out of 5 stars Francis Bacon
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Bacon will remain an artist that I have lon admired for his
    originality and dynamic works; here is an insight on the painter,
    his daily lookout on life and criticism on other art in general.
    A must have as well...
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bill
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Inteview
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2005
    This DVD is described very well by the Editorial Reviews supplied by Amazon above. Bacon is charming and very self-revelatory about both his personal life and his work. Though not a big fan of his work still, this helped me to understand him better, and hearing an artist describing his work is the very best way to help in this. The only reason I give it 4 stars is he's not one of my favorite artists, but I was sorry to see this end.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • GW
    5.0 out of 5 stars E xcellent
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent
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  • charlie rene
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alternate Source
    Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2014
    Because some of these documentaries tend to go out of publication or become expensive, I promote the shared knowledge of alternate sources. In this case, there is a newer release of this same documentary through ArtHaus - Art and Design Series (2007) simply titled "Francis Bacon". I am not sure if it has been remastered or not, but it is the same interview and the same length of time.

    As an additional note, ArtHaus - Art and Design Series has a large amount of artist documentary/interview dvds. The series is existing documentaries cataloged and released through their label. I recommend them because some of the documentaries are not as easy to find or at a relatively cheap price.

    This interview/documentary is excellent. It is both saturated with Bacon's character as well as being kind of brief (just shy of one hour). Sure, it leaves you wanting more but that is part of the charm of this documentary.

    On a personal note, If you like the Francis Bacon captured in this documentary then you might want to try "Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress and the Tangerine" documentary " and "Miró - Theatre of Dreams"
    One person found this helpful
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  • thames
    5.0 out of 5 stars Francis Bacon
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2009
    Brought to you by the BBC what you get is a 50 minute look at the enigmatic painter, good interviewing job by Melvyn Bragg, view some of Bacon's paintings, and go along with Bragg and Bacon to the messy studio and his favorite hangouts. They say he could be very dark, his moods shifting unpredictably, and that the closer you got the more inevitable the darkness. But Bacon could also be upbeat and a real pleasure and that side is present in the film. He candidly answers questions about various aspects of his work and life, offers views on other painters (loves Van Gogh, loathes abstract expressionism), but doesn't analyze his paintings. What's there is there. Nothing to be said of it. I myself can understand how his paintings of meat and twisted bodies and screaming popes could shock people in the 1940s because these images are still unsettling. Good art lasts. (Too bad this is only available for such an outrageous price as of July 26th!) 4.5 stars.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Harry Haller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Francis Bacon
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A must-have for all fans of Bacon. The Artist and Melvyn Bragg get slowly but surely steaming on red wine whilst talking about his (Bacon's) work and other related (alcohol invoked) subjects. Priceless footage from a South Bank Show to remember. 28th April 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of Bacon's death, and this is a fitting, concise tribute to an Artistic Genius.
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