AFI Dallas...Bogdanovich director's cut of "Texasville" a bust! Career slide for arrogrant filmmaker eminent...

In tandem with an appearance at a Texas Day Film celebration sponsored by AFI Dallas - celebrated Director Peter Bogdanovich elected to screen a sloppy director's cut of Texasville - a film that bombed at the box office a couple of decades ago.

"Bog" obviously never heard of the expression "let sleeping dogs lie".

The overly-long - big yawn of-a-sprawling desert mess - was served up to an eager audience by way of a poor quality laser disc - which required a couple of tacky intermission breaks.

The much-anticipated event - ballyhooed by the press and film buffs alike - turned out to be an embarrassment to the aging Lothario - and resulted in a fall from grace.

The "jerry-rigged" (Bog's expression, not mine) presentation signalled to many that Bogdanovich's once-illustrious career was now on a downward spiral.

Occasionally, when a film turns out to be a stinker at the box office, a director is inclined to blame the studio for the unhappy end scenario that befell the project.

Typically, filmmakers point an accusing finger at the "suits" that backed (then later, sabotaged) the production.

"They didn't like me. So, they buried the film," is an oft-used excuse to explain away the truth.

Believe me, if a studio thought they could make big bucks on a film , they would tap into all the well-oiled machinery at their disposal, to promote, sell - and ultimately - shoot for a hefty profit.

Bogdanovich demonstrated - by virtue of his deceitful conduct at the screening - that he runs wild with the pack of snake-oil salesman he wrinkles up his snotty nose at.

At the screening, for instance, he had the audacity to allege that the reason Texasville was a failure (financially and critically) was due to the fact there was a change in administration at the studio.

For this reason - an agreement to run "The Last Picture Show" for a month prior to the release of the sequel "Texasville" (for the sake of continuity, he alleged) - was not honored.

Then, on the heels of this remark, he really put his foot in it.

"They released Texasville on Yon Kipper, so no one would trot down the theatre to catch it," he quipped.

His reasoning?

"Only Jews read. So, of course, fans of the book would miss it because they had to observe the Jewish Holy holiday."

Then, he foolishly stated for the record that he proceeded to delete all references to the well-received "Last Picture Show" in the sequel, to prevent confusion in the minds of an audience he previously claimed didn't exist because of studio shenanigans.

Hogwash!

Angry over the fact he got snubbed by the studio big-wigs, I expect that "Bog" took the action he did to get back at the studio for stabbing him in the front and back.

I witnessed the man's mean streak on the red carpet last week when he levelled it at me personally, so I have no qualms speculating about the obvious.

In a deceitful ploy to pull the wool over the eyes of filmgoers that afternoon, he then spouted off about comments he alleged friends like "Orson Welles" uttered up when "Texasville" was first released.

Unfortunately, when a has-been like "Bog" drops a name these days, it falls with a thud.

Did the director - prone to delusions - honestly expect film buffs to believe that "Orson" compared Texasville to a "gift at Christmas"?

If so, Santa should be strung up by the ba**s and tar 'n feathered!

Surely, he didn't expect any sane individual to accept without question, the misguided auteur's boastings that Orson applauded him for transforming what he first perceived as a "dirty script" into a gem of a film?

Bogdanovich also asserted to his rapt audience that Annie Potts confided that her role in the Texas - um - pot-boiler (!) was the best she was ever given a stab at.

Poor baby, the pickings must be slim!

His shocking lack of discretion astounded me, too.

"When we first shot "The Last Picture Show", Cybill and I were so in love," he gushed.

The way he said it, the talented actress came off like another notch in his belt, though.

Did he really think he'd be able ride off into the sunset with the leading lady (or even a ranch hand, for that matter) unless he was a trendy director with some clout and stature in the industry?

Let's face it, the man is obviously no great stud in the sack, by any stretch of the imagination.

As to Texasville - well - an impromptu remark at the end of the screening said it all, folks.

"The dog was quite good."

If you read between the lines, the message was crystal clear.

For the first time ever, it suddenly dawned on Bogdanovich that the rest of the boring saga was anything but!

Actually, the screening was a bit revealing for me in some respects, too.

I forgot what a talented actor Jeff Bridges truly is.

And, how much Cybill's irrating voice grates on the nerves.

As to Bogdanovich, well, he's overrated.

Hildegard Knef said it best:

“Success and failure are greatly overrated. Failure gives you a whole lot more to talk about."

Amen!

It was released on Yon Kipper so don't blame me

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AFI Dallas...Governor attends Texas Film day; Peter Bogdanovich reveals he's an arrogant son-of-a-bit**; Neiman Marcus gala closes out fest!

Urban Cowboy shot in Texas!

The Governor trotted down the red carpet glad-handing celebrated guests and members of the press, Director Peter Bogdanovich accepted a Dallas Festival Award for his contribution to the film industry in the Lone Star State, and film clips underscored the number of quality movies shot in Texas over the past couple of decades.

The AFI event was a dizzying high-energy affair that attracted locals and movie stars from far-and-wide, who touted the industry at the drop of a Texan ten- gallon hat.

Aaron Norris (Chuck's son) noted that he pushed hard to ensure that "Walker" was shot in Texas, in spite of the fact it may have been cheaper to lens elsewhere.

His pretty young daughter, recently wrapped up a filmmaking course at Pepperdine University on the Southern California Coast, just a hop-and-a-skip away from the ritzy climbs of Malibu.

We joked about the fact many a leisure hour was spent surfing ideal beach conditions.

"Dad took advantage of it when he came to visit me," she giggled.

Character actor Barry Corbin (No Country for Old Men) grumbled about the fact producers often shot in New Mexico when they were depicting locales that were supposed to be Texas

Of course, new tax incentives to be introduced in the legislature later this month, may change all that.

According to a Dallas Film Society official I spoke to yesterday, within the next thirty days, sliding-scale benefits will be introduced to lighten the financial burden for filmmakers here.

On the podium a few minutes later, the Governor confirmed that.

"We're shouting loud and hard to Hollywood. We're here!"

When I asked a couple of the locals if the Gov was well-liked, or doing a good job, they shrugged.

Then, they confessed they were die-hard Democrats and not behind the politician one-hundred percent, for obvious reasons.

I should have known by the finely-tailored dress suit - and bright red tie with floating patterns - that the man was a shill for the Republican party.


Betty Lyn Buckley (Tender Mercies) noted that she moved back to Texas (she's currently residing on a ranch outside of town fulfilling her dream to train & work with cutting horses) applauded the State's efforts to revive the film industry in Texas.

On Tuesday, she'll receive a Texas Medal Award for the Arts.

How was it to work with Robert Duvall?

She emphasized that he was the best "silent communicator" in the acting field today.

Peter Bogdanovich was a big disappointment.

Earlier in the day, he screened a Director's cut of "Texasville" , which was downright sloppy and unprofessional.

When I attempted to pin him down with a couple of questions regarding the issue, he became rude and insulting.

Was he in a state of denial?

At one point, a gust of wind blew a handful of notes out of my hand, and they fluttered to the ground at my feet unceremoniously.

I was inclined to continue on without interruption so I wouldn't hold Mr. Bogdanovich up.

The aging film director (who looked like a mummified version of himself) was so slow on the uptake, though, that he ended up revealing a mean-spirited side which took me by surprise.

With a smirk on his face, he quipped:

"You dropped your notes."

That was obvious to any fool on the carpet.

Was it necessary to rub it in???

When I bravely moved on in spite of the hiccup, bystanders noted that I demonstrated my innate ability to handle unexpected disasters in a professional classy way.

In spite of that, Bogdanovich chose to twist the knife in a beat or two later.

After he walked away, he half-turned and smirked, "You dropped your pen, too".

It was evident now that Bogdanovich was an unfeeling arrogant son-of-a-bit** without an ounce of compassion.

In the final analysis, the gust of wind that sent my notes flying asunder, was a Godsend!

Up until that point in time, I had been wrestling over how I would deal with Mr. Bogdanovich's shoddy presentation earlier in the day.

Although I there was sufficient cause to criticize his artistic judgment at this point in his career, I I was hopeful I could salvage an image I'd been quite respectful of, until he demonstrated his mean-spirited character on the red carpet last night.

No problemo, now!

A review of the screening of Texasville, and thoughts on his Q & A, will follow in a few days.

Shortly after the Governor stood on the podium and tooted the big Texas horn, the guests trundled off to Neiman Marcus for the closing night Gala.

At the entrance to the upscale store, two lines of well-dressed waiters stood at attention with trays of White Wine in expensive glass goblets and expensive imported beer.

Inside, the tony elite snapped up scrumptious finger food prepared to perfection by a top notch local catererer.

Many males were decked out in smart suits, with bola ties, and wide-brimmed cowboy hats.

The ladies were elegantly dressed-to-the-nines.

For example, Susan Flasdick was attired in a stunning Alice & Olivia cocktail dress with subtle decorative beading, which was a knock-out.

Meanwhile, the musical stylings of Deryl Dodd, revved up the high-spirited guests who hobnobbed with gay abandon amid a setting that was decidely rich in festive spirit.

When the potent wine started to give me a buzz, I begged off for the night.

At the door, Neiman Marcus bid the guests adieu, as they pressed gift bags into their finely-manicured bejweled hands.

Imagine my shock when I opened up the goodie-bag later and got wind of the mysterious contents inside: a bottle of Barbecue Sauce and two stickers touting the Texas Film scene.

Those cheap bastar**.

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