Great Writers: Truman Capote

Description:
Truman Capote was one of the most popular American writers of the 50's and 60's, as well as a central figure in the American literary establishment. With titles like "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to the factual account of a murder in "In Cold Blood," his range of styles was broad and influential.

Modest Production Makes This Only So-So Bio:
This is an extremely modest 45-minute video of the life of Truman Capote. Although a couple of actors read several long passages from Other Voices, Other Rooms and Breakfast at Tiffany's, there is less than three minutes use of actual footage of Capote speaking (including about fifteen seconds of the author himself reading from his first novel), and none of it has him commenting on his fiction (or even his journalism). There are no interviews with anyone who knew him or any writers of his generation. Although the commentary does cover the events of his life pretty well (more on his writing than his mascot years performing for New York cafe society), the whole thing feels very thin. Quite a let down.