Movie buff lauded for preserving film history

By Robert Osborne

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – In the flurry of the awards
season, we have to face the fact that prizes don’t to always go
where they’re most deserved.

That’s why it’s particularly satisfying when they do. When
the National Board of Review hands out its kudos for 2005
Tuesday night in Manhattan, one of the group’s most prestigious
accolades — the William K. Everson Award for Film History —
most wisely will have George Feltenstein’s name on it.

Feltenstein, like the late Everson, is a man who’s
passionate about movies. Also movie soundtracks. Also virtually
everything connected to the motion picture arena. He has been a
relentless rescuer of film for years, not only searching out
lost or discarded films with the determination of Stanley
hunting Livingston but also on a constant search for mistreated
soundtracks, outtakes, short subject curios — all of which he
then makes sure are refurbished, upgraded, remastered and
preserved.

He currently carries the title of senior VP theatrical
catalog marketing at Warner Home Video and is responsible for a
great number of the best of the DVD releases of classic films
in the market, including recently restored and remastered 1933
“King Kong,” which is so breathtaking that it might be one
reason Peter Jackson’s version hasn’t impressed moviegoers as
much as everyone expected and hoped.

Feltenstein’s credits and accomplishments read nearly as
long as Margaret Mitchell’s 1,037-page “Gone With the Wind”;
everyone within his realm knows and respects him and his work.
If the general public doesn’t quickly recognize his name, it’s
because he does the kind of work that rarely gets hit by the
spotlight, though it certainly deserves to be. We’re lucky to
have G.F. in our midst, and the acknowledgment he’ll receive at
the NBoR gathering gives one some encouragement in the entire
idea of prizes for work well done.

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Brian F. O’Byrne, who exited his Tony-nominated role in
“Doubt” after Sunday’s performance, isn’t waiting long to jump
back onstage. With only time for a brief breather, he’ll be
co-starring with Oliver Platt in the Manhattan Theater Club’s
production of “Shining City,” the Conor McPherson play that
begins previewing April 13 at the Biltmore, with its opening
scheduled for May 3. “Shining” will be directed by Robert
Falls. It was originally done with considerable success at the
Royal Court in London.

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Meanwhile, the Tony-winning and Pulitzer-awarded “Doubt”
has two exceptional replacements stepping into the O’Byrne and
Cherry Jones star spots beginning Tuesday night at the Walter
Kerr, namely Ron Eldard and Eileen Atkins.

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Faith Prince, Tom Wopat and Diahann Carroll are among those
who’ll be joining the lineup of stars entertaining at
Feinstein’s at the Regency cabaret room between now and June,
along with returns by nonagenarian Kitty Carlisle Hart; the
boutique room’s driving force, Michael Feinstein; and nifty
Rebecca Luker, who made her Feinstein’s debut during an
abbreviated stanza there last month. Tony Danza officially
kicks off the room’s new winter-spring season January 31 for a
two-weeker.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter