C-Forum

Anyone seen this? Great older VHS of the Worlds with the Hearns, Lugbill, etc.... found in the depths of the NRS front room video collection!

Definitely worth having. I always wondered why these two runs from Bob P's page weren't included in the footage

What the video doesn't show is what a great play run the Savage is at this level.
Bill

Unless I am mistaken, the two runs from Bob P.'s page ("strokes.rm") are from when the World Championships were held on the Savage River in 1989. Fast and Clean, a Russ Nichols production, was about the 1979 season, ten years prior, when the Team trials were held on the Savage and the World Championships were held in Jonquiere, Quebec.

Just another example of how old some of us Team Old Guy members really are. Which also means I am old enough to be senile and, therefore, be completely wrong about the above.

Tom

Tom's correct. My video is from the '89 Worlds. I've never actually seen Fast and Clean (...Maybe portions at the River House about 20 years ago...).

If anyone has a copy of F&C, I'd like a copy. Is it old enough to be in the public domain?

HA! I remember knowing that at some time... does that mean I'm getting a taste of senility? What were we talking about?

You can still purchase copies. Davey & Jennifer Hearn sell it in either VHS or DVD format for $25. It's a classic that should be in every paddler's video library.

Fast and Clean was so well-shot. One thing that I didn't appreciate until years later when Dave Kurtz told me about it -- the part at the end when Linda Harrison loses to Cathy. Linda hit the last gate! That's why she didn't win. I never realized that while watching the movie. Maybe I'm just thick. But then Dave told me, and I went back and watched, and darned if it wasn't staring me in the face. Just gave me so much more respect for how understated they film that incredible moment. It's a crushing blow for Linda, and Nichols doesn't include narration or music there, just the stark sound of the boat hitting the last gate. What respect he had for the viewer. I wasn't worthy!

"Fast and Clean" is also such a fascinating look into what Bill Endicott brought to the table as US Team Coach. Just those short clips of him talking with athletes speak volumes. I wonder sometimes just what kind of influence a coach can have. But I've long thought that what Bill says to Cathy before her last run really put her in the right mindset and gave her the confidence that allowed her to break the race open. Just the crispness and clarity of what he was saying to her. And then when Bill's telling Lugbill he shouldn't do a certain move until the second run, and Jon shrugs him off: "Nah, first run." Reminds me of Steve Prefontaine refusing Bill Bowerman's exhortations to hang back and draft. And just his excitement on instructing the C-2 team how to take a certain gate. Those guys weren't even contenders. But that's "fascination with the process," as Bill would say.

"The road to the top is started by many and finished by few."
- Fast and Clean

Too true, too true.

Apparently the late Doug Gordon had a cameo in "Fast and Clean" (according to Bill), although . . . I've never been able to spot it.

It's a great movie.

Alden

Beautifully done it catches the emotions of the moment & the spirit of the time perfectly.

Yes, that's a great scene where you can just see Cathy starting to light up the afterburners....

Plus you can watch over & over forever & still find something new.

For starters -- can you spot Bill Hearn in the parade scene?
the Larrimers -- pere and fils?
the "porn scene" -- which apparently offended some?
the T-shirt art by John Lugbill's mother?

Anybody know the copyright status on this? Could we get permission to put it up on YouTube or otherwise make it available?

Well, I do not know for certain, but I would be very surprised if Fast and Clean, a Russ Nichols production, could be posted on YouTube legally. However, it is not out of print. You can buy it in either VHS or DVD format from Davey Hearn; see:

http://www.daveyhearn.com/MWP%20Gear/Bo ... videos.htm

Tom

Didn't realize it was available on DVD - cool!

The porn scene???

Of course, I once went to put "Fast and Clean" as my favorite movie on a bio sheet once, and I did think it sounded a little like a porn title.