Re: [Harp-L] Re: Cadillac Records pure jive

[Bob Loomis <miltloomis@xxxxxxxxx>]

I agree wholeheartedly ... just pointing out the legal view of such issues, FWIW, which may not be much, especially in terms of the damage to the legacy of LW and thus to his family. IMHO they should have to re-edit the film, and/or issue a notice at the beginning of the film that the incident is fiction. Not much chance of either of those happening, I reckon. 

I did send some copies of our exchanges on Harp-L about this to local movie and cultural critics at the SF Chronicle, but have had no replies from the three I posted to. My impression from previous attempts to engage these folks is that they don't want to have to think too deeply or too long about anything ... or maybe they are too busy tending to their blogs ... and there has been a trend over the past 30 years for the media to cover only the most saleable aspects of culture ... but that's another whole rant ... I'll spare you all from that one for now.

Bob Loomis
Concord CA USA

--- On Fri, 12/12/08, Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Cadillac Records pure jive
To: miltloomis@xxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 9:14 AM

The LIVING victims ARE the FAMILY !.....courts are worthless....not interested
in what legal beagles have to offer.....sorry to be so cynical but I believe
Little Walter deserves better treatment than this and I'm sorry I spent $$
to support this film.....it's JIVE! in my book they HAVE libeled the dead
because they have no morals....Hollywood is a way bigger rip-off then Leonard
Chess at least he brought us Music with some truth.....best,
Rob P

> You can't libel the dead. In other words, there has to be living
victim. Family members don't count

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Loomis"
<miltloomis@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 11:33 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Cadillac Records pure jive


Rob Paparozzi wrote:

> Right on Winslow! Nicely said...I guess today's Hollywood thinks
DEFAMATION,
> LIBEL, SLANDER and VILIFICATION..... is OK since your already dead.....

I agree that the portrayal is false and vile, and hope I didn't put anyone
off with my glib attempt at humor at Hollywood's expense. However,
there's an old saying in journalism: You can't libel the dead. In other
words, there has to be living victim. Family members don't count. That was
in the print media, don't know if it's still true (recent court cases
may have set new precedents) or if it would apply in this situation. Any legal
beagles out there?

Bob Loomis
Concord CA




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