A Trip Down Memory Lane

Arthur Lipsett (13 May 1936 – May 1, 1986) was a Canadian avant-garde director of short experimental films.

In the 1960s he was employed as an animator by the National Film Board of Canada. Lipsett’s particular passion was sound. He would collect pieces of sound and fit them together to create an interesting auditory sensation. After playing one of these creations to friends, they suggested that Lipsett put images to it. He did what his friends suggested, and the result became the 7 minute long film Very Nice, Very Nice which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects in 1962. Despite not winning the Oscar, this film brought Lipsett considerable praise from critics and directors. Stanley Kubrick was one of Lipsett’s fans, and asked him to create a trailer for his upcoming movie Dr. Strangelove. Lipsett declined Kubrick’s offer. Kubrick went on to direct the trailer himself; however, Lipsett’s influence on Kubrick is clearly visible when watching the trailer.

Lipsett’s film 21-87 was a profound influence on director George Lucas who included elements from 21-87 in THX 1138, his Star Wars films and also American Graffiti. The film 21-87 has been credited by Lucas as the source of the “The Force” in Star Wars.1. Lucas never met the filmmaker but tributes to 21-87 appear throughout Star Wars. For example, the holding cell of Princess Leia in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope on the Death Star is cell No. 2187.

Lipsett’s success allowed him some freedom, but as his films became more bizarre, this freedom quickly disappeared. He suffered from psychological problems, and was diagnosed with Manic Depression. He didn’t get support for new films, and quit National Film Board of Canada. His girlfriend left him, his friends abandoned him, and left without any financial or moral support, instead of his aunt, where he lived in the last days of his life. Lipsett committed suicide in 1986, two weeks shy of his 50th birthday. He hanged himself in Jewish Hospital on the early morning of 31 April. —lipsettdiaries.net