This is great stuff. Siskel and Ebert's first-ever appearance with Letterman, and only the 17th episode ever of Late Night. Quite a time capsule find, thank you!
Maybe you heard of some of these Disney live action films: _The Black Hole (1979), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), Popeye (1980), The Devil and Max Devlin (1981), Dragonslayer (1981),_ and _Condorman (1981)?_ They had others in the three years before this interview that I never heard of. _Tron (1982)_ may have broken even on a $17 million budget by making $33 million. What did they have in the 1970s? A couple Herbie movies, a couple Witch Mountain movies, _Freaky Friday_ and stuff I never heard of.
I can remember watching Siskel and Ebert when I was in high school in the early `90s, and they taught me a lot. I remember one episode where they explored European art movies that didn`t cut every three seconds. They introduced one movie that opened with a scene of a man lying in a bed for over two minutes. They reflected on the power of a sustained shot.
This discussion is interesting in its own right, but what's even more fascinating for me is that they are in fact having an extended serious discussion about the examination of art. This is in stark contrast to what Letterman's shows later became; anecdotes, jokes, and plugs, but no time for serious discussion. I'm not criticizing Letterman's later shows; they're entertaining, and valid. I'm just observing how much his shows had evolved.
Gene was only 36 here, damn! Even if you can overlook the balding he seemed 45-50 at least. It's fascinating and strange how much older people looked in the 80s! Roger was still only 39 turning 40 later that year!
My Dad was balding in his 20s and greying with what he had left in his early 30s. Men weren't as vain back then. My Dad died in 1978 at the age of 36, BTW.
Miss these guys so so much. Why has no one tried to duplicate it. Their charisma, brilliance and rapport can never be duplicated but some smart, knowledgeable person should try. RIP..
I was 22 just getting off skid row in Seattle 1982 and had just found a job at pike place market and didn't yet have a tv. No wonder I never saw "One from the Heart"
"while everybody is going to their office with their briefcase, I'm in a theater with a bag of popcorn" -Roger Ebert Roger was famous, respected and people still know his name. Those nameless briefcase carriers were not respected outside the office if even there, and now are gone and forgotten. ☮️💜
It's funny that they say the way they talk about movies is the way a lot of people do, which may be true. But I think these guys are more articulate than most about films. It's funny because me and my dad kinda act like Siskel and Ebert when we talk about movies. Because we get so passionate about it sometimes whether we a agree or disagree and it gets a little heated sometimes haha.
This is a little before my time but IIRC Chariots winning the Best Picture was a huge upset. S&E say that the winner would come down to Reds vs. On Golden Pond and neither won.
The good old days when Letterman was hilarious. Siskel & Ebert always played up how much they “disliked” each other on the Letterman show and it was hysterical (this was in subsequent appearances. They didn’t do it here).
These two are the last of great film critics. I use to see Gene a lot all around the city when I worked down town as a young adult. I would see him frequently at the OTB ,off track betting. Now every Nerd on you tube thinks he's a film critic because they dont have jobs and watch a lot of movies. Please know the craft and research everything that goes into making a great film before you think you're a good critic.
Yeah but it was usually hit and miss for them but even when they were bang wrong it was interesting to hear what made them think what they did. I think siskel didn't like Rocky.
@@redfield1007 In regards to Rocky, I recognize the cultural impact and importance of that one, but personally I didn't like it either. I don't care for sports movies, which are a pretty un-creative genre (why would you make a movie out of an everyday event you can watch live or on tv?) and I know it's, more than that, a character study, but it's awfully similar to the 1955 movie 'Marty', which one best screenplay and actor.
@ John Nichols I don't know what that has to do with anything; you can easily look it up yourself; and it beat a bunch of nothings nobody's ever heard of.
My mom and a friend of hers went to see Heaven's Gate in Columbus, Ohio. I don't believe they would have gone to see it in the first place if they'd read advanced reviews. Anyway, they got to the theater and everyone--EVERYONE--coming out was complaining about how terrible it was. The reaction was so strident and so universal among exiting theatergoers that my mom and her friend turned right around and left and ordered a movie on pay-per-view instead (which turned out to be American Gigolo with Richard Gere, which was almost as bad). Those theatergoers couldn't ALL have been influenced by advance reviews.
I wonder what these guys would make of the fact that Heaven's Gate has been reappraised in many critics' circles as one of the last great classics of the "New Hollywood" age of cinema that brought us Bonnie And Clyde, The Godfather, McCabe And Mrs Miller, Chinatown, etc.
Do you happen to have the Siskel & Ebert appearance where Dave calls a phone booth, invites the man who answers onto the show, and I think it was Ebert who slaps him? That happened to a friend of a friend in college. I know she'd love to see it again. No rush, I'm sure you're inundated with requests, and I'm still somehow not through the wealth of great entertainment you've already shared!
Found it -- June 30, 1994. Your friend's names are Megan and Tim. One of the few Late Shows that are accessible, so I'll put it in the To Do box. Won't happen tonight, though.
Don Giller Incredible!! Thanks, Don. I don't know the people who were on the show, my friend Brenda just described to me drifting off to sleep one night, and suddenly hearing her friend Tim on television. It'll blow her mind to see that again.
Siskel & Ebert were so great together,, I miss their show, never be critics like them again
Yes I enjoy watching them here on CZcams but i get oddly bummed out knowing their both gone now and have been replaced by a bunch of cuckolds.
They had such a chemistry together. I really miss them and their show.
The guys over at RedLetterMedia give me a lot of the same vibes as Siskel and Ebert with their Half in the Bag show.
"I laughed a lot, but they were not comedies." -Roger Ebert
That's a pretty savage critique lol
This is great stuff. Siskel and Ebert's first-ever appearance with Letterman, and only the 17th episode ever of Late Night. Quite a time capsule find, thank you!
M1ster Mov1eBuff He use to joke about his hair looking like a comma in the front. LoL!
Two hideously ugly and untalented jerks. Ebert wrote failed porn like "Vixens". But talking about old movies shoots lonely fanboys wads
Kyle Wilson
I disagree, criticism is an art unto itself
Fuck you bitch.
Kyle, what I find ugly and untalented is you.
Siskel dissing Disney live action films. He was spot on 37 years ago.
Rings true today as well
Maybe you heard of some of these Disney live action films: _The Black Hole (1979), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), Popeye (1980), The Devil and Max Devlin (1981), Dragonslayer (1981),_ and _Condorman (1981)?_ They had others in the three years before this interview that I never heard of. _Tron (1982)_ may have broken even on a $17 million budget by making $33 million.
What did they have in the 1970s? A couple Herbie movies, a couple Witch Mountain movies, _Freaky Friday_ and stuff I never heard of.
I like at the end of the interview the look Siskel & Ebert give each other, like "that went well, exciting to be on the show"
Fantastic segment. The first two or three years of the Letterman show were my favorites.
I can remember watching Siskel and Ebert when I was in high school in the early `90s, and they taught me a lot. I remember one episode where they explored European art movies that didn`t cut every three seconds. They introduced one movie that opened with a scene of a man lying in a bed for over two minutes. They reflected on the power of a sustained shot.
Dave is actually pretty quiet here and let’s the guests talk. And he seems genuinely interested.
This discussion is interesting in its own right, but what's even more fascinating for me is that they are in fact having an extended serious discussion about the examination of art. This is in stark contrast to what Letterman's shows later became; anecdotes, jokes, and plugs, but no time for serious discussion. I'm not criticizing Letterman's later shows; they're entertaining, and valid. I'm just observing how much his shows had evolved.
Our attention span seems shorter too. Nowadays people would complain about a 15 min interview on a talk show.
Gene was only 36 here, damn! Even if you can overlook the balding he seemed 45-50 at least. It's fascinating and strange how much older people looked in the 80s! Roger was still only 39 turning 40 later that year!
My Dad was balding in his 20s and greying with what he had left in his early 30s. Men weren't as vain back then. My Dad died in 1978 at the age of 36, BTW.
I loved Sickel and Ebert my love for movies as art came from them
Cool.
Me too.
*Siskel
Miss these guys so so much. Why has no one tried to duplicate it. Their charisma, brilliance and rapport can never be duplicated but some smart, knowledgeable person should try. RIP..
9:39 They didn't actually use 'thumbs up, thumbs down' until "At the Movies" later in 1982. On "Sneak Previews", it was yes or no.
They had the best jobs in the world.
I was 22 just getting off skid row in Seattle 1982 and had just found a job at pike place market and didn't yet have a tv. No wonder I never saw "One from the Heart"
I like the little picture you created, truly.
Siskel and Ebert were the best. I love there show and it allowed me to become a film critic or film blogger. I love sharing my opinion on movies.
“Too much of film criticism is simply thumbs up or thumbs down.” Ha. Which they later adopted and trademarked.
They can change their minds or give movies a second look, like when they find audiences love a movie they gave thumbs down to months ago.
Watching this just confirms my belief that Siskel was the better critic of the two.
"Disney live-action films...", boy, where they ever right!
"while everybody is going to their office with their briefcase, I'm in a theater with a bag of popcorn" -Roger Ebert
Roger was famous, respected and people still know his name. Those nameless briefcase carriers were not respected outside the office if even there, and now are gone and forgotten. ☮️💜
I remember this episode! God I feel old now!
I remember it, too!!
Man I was a month old. I'm guessing you late 40s early 50s.
45.
"At the Movies" were now introduced to syndication for the first time in the spring of 1982.
It's funny that they say the way they talk about movies is the way a lot of people do, which may be true. But I think these guys are more articulate than most about films. It's funny because me and my dad kinda act like Siskel and Ebert when we talk about movies. Because we get so passionate about it sometimes whether we a agree or disagree and it gets a little heated sometimes haha.
I miss these guys!
Chariots of Fire, one of my favorite movies.
This is a little before my time but IIRC Chariots winning the Best Picture was a huge upset. S&E say that the winner would come down to Reds vs. On Golden Pond and neither won.
Just found you looking for some siskel and ebert. Man you got a dave letterman gold mine. You have drastically reduced my productivity.
God I was only a month old when this was aired. Insignificant to everyone but a bit mental for me : o
I would've been a little over 6-1/2 years old myself, and in 1st grade. :-P
@John Nichols Gen-X
Yeah and this was my last semester of my senior year of high school... whipper snapper! lol
$5.00 for a movie ticket. Those were the days. Today it’s $20.00. If you want to go to the theatre with your spouse and your kids it’s so expensive.
Very inciteful. Thanks for posting.
So interesting talking about the advantage of being on pbs when it was their last year on sneak previews
The good old days when Letterman was hilarious. Siskel & Ebert always played up how much they “disliked” each other on the Letterman show and it was hysterical (this was in subsequent appearances. They didn’t do it here).
I seem to recall them making an appearance on _The Critic_ where they had dressed up as Bert and Ernie but had had a falling out.
Thank you for sharing
These two are the last of great film critics. I use to see Gene a lot all around the city when I worked down town as a young adult. I would see him frequently at the OTB ,off track betting. Now every Nerd on you tube thinks he's a film critic because they dont have jobs and watch a lot of movies. Please know the craft and research everything that goes into making a great film before you think you're a good critic.
@13:02 I have to side with Dave on “Time Bandits” - Siskel and Ebert were flat out wrong on that one.
Yeah but it was usually hit and miss for them but even when they were bang wrong it was interesting to hear what made them think what they did. I think siskel didn't like Rocky.
@@redfield1007 In regards to Rocky, I recognize the cultural impact and importance of that one, but personally I didn't like it either. I don't care for sports movies, which are a pretty un-creative genre (why would you make a movie out of an everyday event you can watch live or on tv?) and I know it's, more than that, a character study, but it's awfully similar to the 1955 movie 'Marty', which one best screenplay and actor.
@ John Nichols I don't know what that has to do with anything; you can easily look it up yourself; and it beat a bunch of nothings nobody's ever heard of.
Master of the Flying Guillotine is a fantastic flick!
Abe They always picked martial arts movies for their “Dog of the Week”
back then.
Holy Mackerel! What a gift.
My mom and a friend of hers went to see Heaven's Gate in Columbus, Ohio. I don't believe they would have gone to see it in the first place if they'd read advanced reviews. Anyway, they got to the theater and everyone--EVERYONE--coming out was complaining about how terrible it was. The reaction was so strident and so universal among exiting theatergoers that my mom and her friend turned right around and left and ordered a movie on pay-per-view instead (which turned out to be American Gigolo with Richard Gere, which was almost as bad).
Those theatergoers couldn't ALL have been influenced by advance reviews.
Dave's set look like the backlot of "Sesame Street"...
Roger calling out Sunn Pictures @6:02 -- LOVE it!
RIP to S and E.
I wonder what these guys would make of the fact that Heaven's Gate has been reappraised in many critics' circles as one of the last great classics of the "New Hollywood" age of cinema that brought us Bonnie And Clyde, The Godfather, McCabe And Mrs Miller, Chinatown, etc.
Wow, the movie prices in 1982, also the theater prices as well, haha, so cheap! 10:07
“Jealous of Christopher Reeve…” yes, sometimes I think critics were.
FIVE DOLLARS A TICKET!!!!
Dave was pulling for "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" to win the Oscar! Yay Dave!👍👍
"interruption of flow" taken into account...there've been hell of lot of great tv movies.
One thumbs down ? It was you , wasn't it Roeper 👹
Later that year, they left PBS for a commercial driven broadcast.
Three legends. Reds should've won.
The only critics that people cared about
Do you happen to have the Siskel & Ebert appearance where Dave calls a phone booth, invites the man who answers onto the show, and I think it was Ebert who slaps him? That happened to a friend of a friend in college. I know she'd love to see it again. No rush, I'm sure you're inundated with requests, and I'm still somehow not through the wealth of great entertainment you've already shared!
Found it -- June 30, 1994. Your friend's names are Megan and Tim. One of the few Late Shows that are accessible, so I'll put it in the To Do box. Won't happen tonight, though.
Don Giller Incredible!! Thanks, Don. I don't know the people who were on the show, my friend Brenda just described to me drifting off to sleep one night, and suddenly hearing her friend Tim on television. It'll blow her mind to see that again.
It's now up -- czcams.com/video/jwW5RVPBDmQ/video.html
Don Giller Incredible, thanks, Don! This makes our day.
My pleasure! Are Tim and Megan still together?
The Best jobs Ever!
That's a sad ugly story! David is priceless!...
Master of the flying guillotine rules
Gene Siskel uses the phrase think piece. We think of that as a modern invention.
Who are these "We" , and how on Earth did they think "think piece" was a new term?
Depressing.
oh so it's a recording of it on vhs via the SP speed?
It's a dub from a 3/4" master copy.
13:10 - Wow, they name-checked Time Bandits. Classic film, worth far more than Star Wars with a fraction of the publicity.
Did anybody actually like 'On Golden Pond?'
I didn't, but a fair amount of other people did, I guess.
you mean this is from an actual reel?
As I answered, a dub from a 3/4" master copy.
Was this really 1982 it looks kind of like 1992
The date is correct.
One from the heart came out in 82
What's wrong with Neil Simon...
How did they see Venom? That just came out!!!
Advance screening.
Siskel hasn’t missed anything. Disney live action films still suck.
Man, Siskel loves interrupting
This is too serious. They got alot funnier as time went along.
Why the fuck was I born in '85. All movies are shit now.
Heaven's Gate remains a Masterpiece!
Didn't they all commit suicide?
😂😂😂😂😂
Oh, a laserdisc capture
Nope. There are no laserdisc of Late Night.
does that explain why the quality's so great?
I laughed a lot, but they were not comedies. Mr. E
ok
all right bye