Closing Gambit

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John Sellen
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Closing Gambit

Post by John Sellen » Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:39 pm

I notice that PBS America ( available on Freeview channel 91 ) is screening Closing Gambit on Thursday at 8.20 pm
A documentary about the famous 1978 Karpov Korchnoi World Championship Match

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MJMcCready
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by MJMcCready » Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:51 pm

Yes, recommended, very good indeed.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Geoff Chandler » Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:06 pm

Hi John,

This film is probably worth it's own thread. It has been discussed a few times on here, the most recent being;

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5043&p=258188&hilit ... it#p258188

I enjoyed it. Of course it creaks in places but that is to be expected if using footage from different sources
to make a film/documentary 40 years after the event.

The chessbase article on it:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/closing-g ... ocumentary

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JustinHorton
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:54 pm

Extremely bad film, quite an achievement to have access to so much archive footage and yet produce something so poor
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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John Upham
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by John Upham » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:03 pm

JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:54 pm
Extremely bad film, quite an achievement to have access to so much archive footage and yet produce something so poor
What would you have done to make it better?

Maybe you could list three specific things as a starter?
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm

JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:54 pm
Extremely bad film, quite an achievement to have access to so much archive footage and yet produce something so poor
As someone who hasn't seen it, maybe you could expand a bit on this?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Simon Rogers
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Simon Rogers » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:23 pm

John Sellen wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:39 pm
I notice that PBS America ( available on Freeview channel 91 ) is screening Closing Gambit on Thursday at 8.20 pm
A documentary about the famous 1978 Karpov Korchnoi World Championship Match
Thanks for the info John.
Happy New Year, pal.
Good to see you back on the forum.
Not heard from you for a while.
Hope you had a good Christmas.

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JustinHorton
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:31 pm

John Upham wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:03 pm
JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:54 pm
Extremely bad film, quite an achievement to have access to so much archive footage and yet produce something so poor
What would you have done to make it better?
Not made it
John Upham wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:03 pm
Maybe you could list three specific things as a starter?
The other two would be superfluous

Matt Mackenzie wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm
As someone who hasn't seen it, maybe you could expand a bit on this?
In principle yes of course, but in practice, as the last time I did this it went on for several days, I am a little reluctant to seriously engage again.
Last edited by JustinHorton on Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

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John Upham
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by John Upham » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:35 pm

JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:31 pm
John Upham wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:03 pm
JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:54 pm
Extremely bad film, quite an achievement to have access to so much archive footage and yet produce something so poor
What would you have done to make it better?
Not made it
John Upham wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:03 pm
Maybe you could list three specific things as a starter?
The other two would be superfluous

Are you suggesting that having "access to so much archive footage" something better could have been made but, despite that, nothing should have been attempted with the footage?
Last edited by John Upham on Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JustinHorton
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:38 pm

John Upham wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:35 pm
Are you suggesting that having "access to so much archive footage" something better could have made but, despite that, nothing should have been attempted with the footage?
No, I'm quite sure something better could have been done, though perhaps not by the people who managed to produce this particular dross.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:42 pm

JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:31 pm

In principle yes of course, but in practice, as the last time I did this it went on for several days, I am a little reluctant to seriously engage again.
Ah, don't immediately recall this. Any chance of a link?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Roger de Coverly » Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:57 pm

JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:31 pm
The other two would be superfluous
I haven't seen it yet, but It's got Ray Keene in it and I imagine it's critical of Communism and the Soviet Union.

I'm wondering if it had the telling interview with Tal. The interview was in English but a "translator" was present. So Tal would listen to the question in English and reply presumably in Russian. The translator would then give an English translation presumably the idea being to make sure Tal didn't say anything incorrect. At one stage Tal took exception to the translator's English and corrected him.

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JustinHorton
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 02, 2021 5:01 pm

Ray's all right in it, as it goes.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by Geoff Chandler » Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:00 pm

Hi Matt,

"Ah, don't immediately recall this. Any chance of a link?"

I recall something about it. Kind of territory where I would crack: 'Maybe Justin like Ray's book better than the film' gag.

But I also recall Justin saying again Ray comes of it OK. If Justin does not like the film then he does not like it.

Maybe Justin like Ray's book better than the film! (Thought I'd better slip that in in case I never did it the last time.)

As I said, I enjoyed it. It makes a valiant attempt with what it had to capture the madness of that '78 match.
We do not know what source film could not be used due to poor quality, copyright or perhaps slander.
They plug the gaps very well I thought. Watch it, hopefully you were alive when it happened and can relive
some of the magic moments. If not then still watch it and curse your parents for not meeting up sooner.

Ray's book of the match is good, very good. Not so long ago I re-read just the intros to the games. Wonderful stuff.
It is in descriptive, maybe Ray can do his ECO friendly bit and recycle it...in algebraic.
(you know what? I'd buy it, you cannot top that for a recommendation.)

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JustinHorton
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Re: Closing Gambit

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:37 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:00 pm
It makes a valiant attempt
Other adjectives are available
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

lostontime.blogspot.com

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