Arabs in Casablanca.
Alex was a great quarreller. But he was always funny, stimulating, passionately concerned with the cinema. My first Guardian piece was a review of Notting Hill, in which I noted the absence of black characters. When the article came out, I was in the Standard offices and Alex appeared in front of me. "Peter," he said gravely, "I see that, like Sir William Macpherson, you have convicted the film Notting Hill of institutional racism. But let me tell you this." He came closer. "There were no Arabs in Casablanca!" And with that, he was gone.
| Peter Bradshaw remembers the late film critic Alexander Walker.
posted in articles on July 15, 2003 9:56 PM | t (0)
« Previous phile: Nordlinger vs. McQuillan.
» Next phile: Merger in the first degree.
Return to top of page