A Last Look At A Literary Icon: Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal Profiled In Nicholas Wrathall’s New Documentary

By Mark Cerulli

Writer/Director Nicholas Wrathall turned an introduction to Vidal by his nephew into a rare filmmaking opportunity. The result is Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia, a new, in-depth look at the writer’s long and singular life.

“It took seven years to make,” Wrathall told CinemaRetro, “five years of interviewing him and I benefitted from the time frame because I got to know him.”

The author wrote a number of historical novels including Burr, Lincoln and 1876 along with screenplays, essays and teleplays; but was best known for speaking out, totally unconcerned about the feathers he ruffled along the way. In addition to Wrathall’s interviews, the film makes use of decades of Vidal’s televised appearances – arguing about sexuality in the 1950s, arguing against  the Vietnam War and social inequality in the 1960s, stirring the intellectual pot whenever possible. Archive footage shows Vidal’s incredible reach – he was friends with JFK, Paul Newman, Eleanor Roosevelt and numerous other boldfaced names. Viewers also see a remarkable progression – from a young, vigorous Vidal, thoroughly enjoying sparring against arch conservative William F. Buckley, to a more mature provocateur railing against Ronald Reagan and finally an increasingly frail elder statesman horrified by American imperialism and the Iraq war. Through it all, Vidal maintained his wry sense of humor noting that “We are the United States of Amnesia, we learn nothing because we remember nothing.”

Filmed in NY, LA, Washington as well as Italy and Cuba, the film offers a definitive look at one of the last “intellectual celebrities” of our time. “He was courageous, and provocative, that’s why Carson and Cavett loved having him on their shows.” Wrathall adds.

Along with his razor sharp opinions, Vidal was also known for throwing lavish parties, attracting movie stars, artists and politicians. Ground Zero for these coveted events was his beloved villa, Rondinaia in Ravello, Italy. In fact, one of the film’s emotional highlights is Vidal’s final visit, packing up books and memories and staring out at the incredible view one last time. Actor Tim Robbins reminisces about bringing his family for a stay with Gore and his partner, Howard Austen – only to be joined by two other dinner guests, Sting and Bruce Springsteen and their spouses. There was nobody Vidal didn’t seem to know.

Another notable talking head was author Christopher Hitchens – in one of his last on camera interviews. He and Vidal had a complicated relationship – at one point Hitchens was his literary heir apparent only to be cast out when he spoke out in favor of the Iraq War, something Vidal found unforgivable.

The documentary ends with a final off camera question – “What is your legacy?” Although Vidal dismisses it with a sneer, the documentary’s director thinks that along with being a “writer, essayist and novelist… he was a brave, outspoken person who lived at the center of our culture.”

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia opens in Los Angeles on June 6th. It is currently playing at the IFC Center in New York.

This article originally appeared in CinemaRetro