Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Who is F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre?

This is topic Who is F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre? in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-04-2005, 09:41 AM:

I've noticed that he's 'reviewed' several films on IMDB which are known for a fact not to survive in any reputable archive or private collection. Examples:

Friday the 13th (1916)
Frozen Justice
Her Sister From Paris

Someone has even called him on this in relation to The Gorilla.

But on the other hand, he's also posted entries for some films which are pretty rare, which do survive, which I've seen and which his reviews suggest that either he's seen or has talked to someone who has (i.e. he's unlikely to have picked up the sort of detail he gives from written sources):

Die Reise nach Tilsit
The Adventures of Jane

I presume the name is an alias, but just wonder why anyone would want to post a load of fictitious reviews of some very obscure films on IMDB.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 08-05-2005, 01:33 AM:

He's a thorn in the side of folks who can't stand fabrication, apparently a real guy who's been met in NYC, and, somehow unsurprisingly, a writer of science fiction.

Do a search for Gwynpaline MacIntyre in Google Groups to find a boatload of usenet contempt & discussion related to him.

Here's the start of one thread.

It's been noted that the information stated in the 'reviews' he does of lost silents is information that was in contemporary trades, rearranged, then with a bit of offhand personal overview - usually a drama queen "overall, an OK action film of its type" "oh, this is all so much more of just the same" posing.

He told one person who inquired that he travels the globe for a secret sponsor looking at films believed lost but which are secretly kept by collectors around the world. Asked how he views them, he said he travels with a Steenbeck. He'd obviously read of a Steenbeck in some trades, as opposed to successfully brought it with him in his airplane carry-on.

quote: Leo Enticknap
but just wonder why anyone would want to post a load of fictitious reviews of some very obscure films on IMDB.

Basic troll behavior. Cheap, easy way to get people to notice & socially interact with him, & make himself believe he has increased social status. Must not be getting that at home.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-05-2005, 06:53 AM:

Thanks for the info.

quote: William Hooper
It's been noted that the information stated in the 'reviews' he does of lost silents is information that was in contemporary trades, rearranged, then with a bit of offhand personal overview...

Thanks - didn't think of that. Bizarre, though: getting hold of those trade papers would mean a trip to some pretty specialist research libraries (if he's in Britain for half the year, that would mean the BFI). If he's prepared to go to that trouble to perpetrate hoaxes, why not just do genuine research?

quote: William Hooper
He told one person who inquired that he travels the globe for a secret sponsor looking at films believed lost but which are secretly kept by collectors around the world.

Yeah, right. Since when was doing that a remotely sensible investment proposition for any sponsor (not to mention the excess baggage cost for the Steenbeck - having done it myself I can say that even a basic model 1901 takes at least three people to lift in one piece)? Even the forthcoming rerelease of Beyond the Rocks will make a substantial loss, and I'm told that it's eaten up a big proportion of the Nederlands Filmmuseum's preservation budget for this year.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 08-08-2005, 02:03 AM:

quote: Leo Enticknap
Bizarre, though: getting hold of those trade papers would mean a trip to some pretty specialist research libraries

There are lots of copies of Moving Picture World, Exhibitors Herald, etc. floating around in theaters, garage sales & old bookstores everywhere; plot information is even in things with greater numerical survivability like fan magazines Photoplay. Ooo, here's a synopsis of The Gorilla!

He's obviously a "film fan" fanboy, showing up at Film Forum, reading film mags, etc., so he'd likely mentally flag titles mentioned as 'lost films'.

He got busted for erroneous information in one IMDB 'review', and he stated that IMDB edited his review after he submitted it, supposedly deleting his prefatory "I have not actually seen this film" statement.

quote: Leo Enticknap
If he's prepared to go to that trouble to perpetrate hoaxes, why not just do genuine research?

And have it published by McFarland! Focused, exhaustive research is work; he's just p*ssing around.

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 08-08-2005, 02:05 PM:

These kind of people are known as "wannabes", Kind of like
between the 'haves" and 'have-nots'.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 08-10-2005, 07:48 PM:

I knew that I recognized this name from somewhere. MacIntyre is a pretty prolific fantasy and science fiction author . I've read some of his "bestiary" stories from Weird Tales , they weren't half-bad. Also, according to the latest issue of Locus magazine, he was something of a hero during the recent terrorist bombings in London. It seems he was in the tube car directly behind the one that carried the bomb, and helped many people to safety before being treated for lacerations and smoke inhalation.

I read the link above. Maybe he's for real, maybe he's a wannabe, maybe he's just yanking our collective chains. It's a great story, if nothing else. God knows there are fabulists all over this world. Call me cynical, but I've come to belive half of what passes for fact on the net is really pure [bs]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-17-2005, 05:49 PM:

quote: Mark Ogden
Also, according to the latest issue of Locus magazine, he was something of a hero during the recent terrorist bombings in London.

Hmm... if this bloke is capable of writing at length about all the lost films he's seen, I wouldn't put it past him to reinvent himself as the knight in shining armour who rescues innocent tube passengers from Bin Liner's latest attempt at world domination!

I wonder if the motivation for the lost film 'reviews' is to drum up publicity for his sci-fi writing: but there again, I can't see that many people who'd be interested in the former wanting to buy contemporary science fiction novels.