trb (04/11/83)
The Great Chess Movie (1982, 79 min) National Film Board of Canada I saw this documentary this weekend at Film Forum 1 right next to the Holland Tunnel in NYC. It starred Anatoly Karpov, Victor Korchnoi, Bobby Fischer, and Fernando Arrabal. Arrabal is an outspoken French chess columnist, the others are modern chess heroes. Reuben Fine, the respected chess book writer and psychiatrist shares many insights. There was a short piece with BTL's Ken Thompson and Joe Condon and the Belle chess machine. Joe Condon provided an amusing and unforgettable bit of hacker wisdom. The film was interesting and fun and would probably be fascinating to a non-chess player. It delved into the minds and politics of chess. The seriousness of the politics and high tension of grandmaster play is offset by corny music, film clips, and editing. The film is serious at times and goofy at times. There is a good deal of Bobby Fischer footage, as well as footage from Karpov/Korchnoi matches and the Lone Pines match where Korchnoi showed up at the last minute to outsmart the Russians. I'd go see it again. It's playing at Film Forum 1 thru 4/19. Andy Tannenbaum Bell Labs Whippany, NJ (201) 386-6491