John Freeman (1915 - 2014)

[Nick Armstrong]

A remarkable life and career.

A topical example of his later television work: with Otto Klemperer

RIP

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Those Face to Face interviews remain fresh and astonishing in their frankness - and so long ago, I had thought that JF must have died some time ago - why on earth weren't his skills seized on in the '70s & '80s?

RIP, indeed, to a great broadcaster

(and thanks, Cali, for that Klemperer link!)

[gurnemanz]

Fascinating interview but I slightly agree with Freeman himself, as quoted by a YouTube contributor, that he might have got still more out of him. Interesting to hear him say that he hadn't done that much Mahler in London because it was not good box-office. Favourite relaxation: reading Nietzsche.

[ardcarp]

Thanks for the Youtube clip, Calibs. I wonder if anyone plays Eroica (opening music) that slowly today???

Apparently (according to a BBC snippet earlier today) John Freeman interviewed Reith and had the temerity to ask if, in retrospect, he would have done anything differently in setting up the Corporation. Slight pause, and then, "No!"

[Tevot]

Today - I stumbled across a drama- documentary about George Orwell. Its opening imagines a Face to Face interview with Freeman...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuVYvkdTYWc

At least there was once upon a time an Old Etonian I could warm to