Black, White and Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe

Older Comments on Black, White and Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe

• Posted 12/11/10 by SJZ
  A friend of mine sent me a link for this film after I mentioned Patti Smith's book "Just Kids". I knew a little about Mapplethorpe, but had never heard about Wagstaff and now, having just finished watching the film, I in fact find him far more interesting than Mapplethorpe. Documentaries are very difficult to pull off and thus many of them are dull to say the least. This one however is a mesmerizing film which manages to say more in 77 minutes about art, love and human beings (and much more) than most films; fiction or non-fiction. The editing, pacing, narration, score, interviews are all stellar and I didn't want it to end or at least wish it would have been longer. 9 min. and 15 seconds or so in to the film, a black/white portrait appears of Sam Wagstaff, most likely taken in the 1950s when he was in his early 30s. I paused the film and stared, as if in a trance at one of the most stunning male faces I have ever seen. A face that doesn't seem like it would belong to a mortal. Perfectly symmetrical, with a penetrating gaze, full, sensuous lips, a chiseled jaw, perfectly coiffed hair. Just my luck to fall in love with a gay man! Interesting that Robert and Sam shared a birthday - November 4. They were both classic Scorpios: magnetic, sexual, ambitious, mysterious and a little scary... but in a good way. (I should know - I'm a Scorpio myself). Thank you, James for this magnificent film. Now it's time to Google Wagstaff and yourself - I'm hoping that you've made more films since this one. P.S. Next time I visit The Getty Center here in L.A., I will think of Wagstaff - were it not for his obsession with photography, they would not have his collection at the museum. Sometimes obsession is a good thing.
• Posted 02/01/10 by Jared
  Well, this really is a movie about Sam. I don't even know why Robert is in the title. Oh yeah, so people will watch it. 1 star.
• Posted 02/01/10 by Jared
  Well, this really is a movie about Sam. I don't even know why Robert is in the title. Oh yeah, so people will watch it. 1 star.
• Posted 12/11/09 by Bob Thomas
  What a beautifully balanced, sensitive and enlightened glimpse into a complicated life: it's passion, purpose and contribution to the arts and the world. As an artist, I thank Mr. Crump for bringing Sam Wagstaff's life to my attention. I consider it a gift.
• Posted 08/20/09 by Mike
  You really never know the true depth of an image until you hear the depths of its stories. Now I know a lot more about Robert Mapplethorpe, but how much more I have learned about painted art and photography through the life of Sam Wagstaff. This was a very well interpreted documentary of two human lives and the growing life of photography. James Crump and his associates are to be commended. M
• Posted 08/14/09 by Marko
  Stunning, sad, remarkable and honest. This film asks questions about art--those who create it and those who collect it. The relationship and dance between talent, money, obsession, love and the search for deeper meaning in our existence.
• Posted 07/16/09 by Ian
  A terrific ode to an extraordinary photographer and his mysterious lover. An intriguing, wholly spellbinding documentary.
• Posted 07/07/09 by tara
  A beautiful tribute.I saw Mapplethorpes show in 1990 in Boston--oddly many blue collar "Southie's" were there and thought it was 'cool'.  Much to the chagrin of the middle and upper middle class.Mapplethorpe will always remind me of the 1980's and the beauty of destruction and love.And of course Sam Wagstaff is the blood coursing through the veins of modern attention to photography.  Money is the oxygen.These men were beautiful in the definition of the word.
• Posted 06/03/09 by Oliver Bradley
  Very interesting. Surprising.
• Posted 06/02/09 by daniel
  Available in US only. At least let us filter films so that we don't have to go through hundreds of titles to find one that is avail outside US. SO ANNOYING MAKES SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE USELESS TO ME.
• Posted 04/21/09 by lola rose
  fabulous ...unfortunatly sound reception was poor and continuously broke up...always in the best parts.MY own generation's RIMAUD AND VERLAINE.
• Posted 03/18/09 by Vic Thomas
  Simply wonderful!! Thank you for making this available. Incredible and smart!