Michael Butler's Blog

GORE VIDAL RIP

I know it is going to be a drag for many of us who sort of considered Gore indestructible. Particularly if you had read his books or essays. I will never forget Julian. I couldn’t put it down.
But that was not what really hooked me on Gore Vidal. Years ago I read one of his first novels, Messiah. It was about a religion which had taken over the world.
I was enamored of my godfather Tyrone Power. I visualized him in the lead role. I particularly saw such a film directed by Edmund Goulding who had directed him in The Razor’s Edge.
I took Gore to lunch at the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York. I proposed the idea and optioned the property. I was hanging out a lot with Goulding and he liked the idea.
It never came to pass. Ty had a stroke on a set in Spain and did not survive.
A lot of time passed. I did several other projects. Then I put together a new company with several friends. I listed several long term desires. Messiah was one them.
Gore had come back from living in Italy. I went to see him in Hollywood. We agreed to mount a stage presentation a aiming towards a film.
With Mark and Avi we presented a stage and film version, getting Gore’s comments as we went along.
While the writing process went along I started spending afternoons with Gore, mostly discussing politics. For me they were great times. He was a trip.
I know he disliked the term ‘patrician’ How else could one describe him? An old fashioned liberal with an acerbic performance which could be off putting. No wonder that Eleanor Roosevelt  did support him?