Norman McLaren - The Masters Edition DVD | Movie Mail UK

Star Review

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Norman McLaren said, with characteristic modesty, as 'an innovator of new techniques, some of which led to a few distinguished or interesting films'. A dip into any one of the seven discs in this highly covetable set of his collected films, which ranges from his work for (and even before) John Grierson's GPO Film Unit, through his wartime work, his joyously free interpretations of music from Oscar Peterson to Québécois folk song, his experiments with synthetic sound and his sublime late-career ballet films, reveals the complete inadequacy of this statement.

The films are augmented by new introductions and fascinating archive documentaries, and audio clips of McLaren discussing his films. Also included is his five-part series Animated Motion, made with Grant Munro in the 1970s, ‘in which McLaren comments on, demonstrates and classifies aspects of motion which the animator employs in his everyday work’. That such basic, methodical techniques (all demonstrated by means of a white disc on a black background) can be transmuted into the rhythmic wonders and emotional content of McLaren’s work borders on the miraculous.

His universe is one of constant flux and metamorphosis, and in joining image with music in such a primal way, by painting directly on a frameless filmstrip as if it were a long, thin canvas, it's impossible not to watch films such as Boogie Doodle, Blinkity Blank or Begone Dull Care without a joyful reaction that takes the form of a large 'YES!' - preferably hand-scratched into black leader, and accompanied by the crackle and pop of synthetic sound as the word flares up in a momentary cascade of fireworks, impressing its after-image on the retina.

I began with a quote from McLaren; I'll end with a quote from John Grierson, the man who was instrumental in allowing him freedom to experiment at the GPO Film Unit and the National Film Board of Canada. He said, 'If there is such a thing as pure movie, be sure that McLaren has been one of its greatest exponents'.

Graeme Hobbs on 1st February 2007

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