Judith Crist
Film Critic
About This Interview
In her four-hour Archive interview, film critic Judith Crist (1922-2012) recounts her early fascination with books and movies. She talks about pursuing a career in journalism and landing her dream job as a film critic for the New York Herald Tribune. She describes how a newspaper strike in 1962 led to her stint as a movie reviewer on WABC-TV. She also discusses how her scathing review of Cleopatra led to industry notoriety. Crist then speaks of her role as possibly the first regular network movie reviewer on television, as the film critic for the Today show in the 1960s and '70s. She describes the format of her reviews, the film selection process, and her ability to speak extemporaneously on camera. She then talks about her subsequent reviewing on WOR-TV. Additionally, she chronicles her long tenure as the critic for TV Guide, her appearance in Woody Allen's Stardust Memories, and meeting and befriending legendary film director Federico Fellini. Karen Herman conducted the interview on February 24, 2006 in New York, NY.
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Highlights
Judith Crist on her early love of films
Clip begins at: 16:20, Duration: 01m 03s
Judith Crist on Al Morgan inviting her to be movie critic for Today
Clip begins at: 22:03, Duration: 05m 08s
Judith Crist on TV Guide asking her to become a critic for the publication
Clip begins at: 20:08, Duration: 01m 12s
Judith Crist on calling herself a journalistic reviewer
Clip begins at: 08:53, Duration: 03m 45s
Judith Crist on Roger Ebert telling her she was his inspiration
Clip begins at: 22:39, Duration: 01m 02s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a novelist when she was younger; on her early love of films
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On policies regarding children attending movies when she was growing up; on favorite film memories
Clip begins at: 17:23 - Part 2
- On remembering watching the film "The Sign of the Cross"; on critics she admired and how she became a film critic
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On wanting to attend journalism school; on getting a teaching fellowship at the State College of Washington and meeting a lot of non-New Yorkers and non-elites; on returning to Columbia to do her M.A. and working at the New York Herald Tribune
Clip begins at: 11:27 - On reviewing plays; on working with critic Walter Kerr
Clip begins at: 20:49 - Part 3
- On beginning to write film and television critics; on not having her own TV set; on becoming Editor of the Arts for the paper and appearing on television
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On her early television appearances; on memories of appearing on Today; on working with Howard Cosell; on officially becoming a movie critic
Clip begins at: 13:54 - On Al Morgan inviting her to be movie critic for Today
Clip begins at: 22:03 - Part 4
- On her appearances on Today; on makeup she and Barbara Walters wore on the show; on working with the anchors on Today
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On reviewing "Cleopatra" and not enjoying Elizabeth Taylor's performance; on becoming a national figure for that review; on lectures
Clip begins at: 12:35 - On TV Guide asking her to become a critic for the publication; on critiquing movies for television
Clip begins at: 19:15 - On B-roll photos from her career
Clip begins at: 22:21 - Part 5
- On her tenure at TV Guide and differences between critiquing films vs. television; on reviewing TV movies; on handwriting letters to people
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On reviewing "Doctor Zhivago"; on writing for TV Guide
Clip begins at: 13:15 - On her time as a film critic on Today; on typical production on the show and how films were selected for review; on reviewing "A Hard Day's Night"
Clip begins at: 21:34 - Part 6
- On the format of her reviews on television; on wearing wigs on Today; on calling herself a journalistic reviewer
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On encountering filmmakers and running film weekends; on getting to know Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Bette Davis, and Federico Fellini; on leaving Today and being on a Pulitzer Prize Selection Committee
Clip begins at: 12:38 - Part 7
- On serving on a Pulitzer Prize Selection Committee; on returning to television on WOR TV; on meeting Phyllis Diller and other women in television
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On not watching today's critics; on today's ratings systems; on the theater-going experience; on getting recognized and questions people ask her
Clip begins at: 09:16 - On her opinion of the Academy Awards; on appearing in Woody Allen's "Stardust Memories"
Clip begins at: 21:13 - Part 8
- On "Stardust Memories" contd.; on not encountering sexism as a film critic
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On her greatest achievement; on how she'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 18:40 - On B-roll photos from her career
Clip begins at: 28:10
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Professions
I was saddened to learn of the death of Judith Crist at the age of 90. She was perhaps the first person to bring real film criticism to a mass audience and her pieces, be they positive or negative, were always a joy to read. The fact that she was the one critic feared most by the Hollywood community is a testament to her fearlessness honesty and integrity. One prominent producer once suggested that she be "burned at the stake for bitchcraft." She was not only a great critic but also one if the great ladies of 20th century American journalism. She will be missed.
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