Talkback
Doc Humes was an icon of the counterculture of the 1950s and ‘60s. He sought new ways to break free of both inner and outer limits, and led a wild and creative life. Is the counterculture a thing of the past? If we still have a counterculture, what is it like today?
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I enjoyed the documentary very much! Humes is a fascinating man who reminds me of a very gifted visual artist I knew and admired for many years, who probably had a mental illness, most likely undiagnosed. The film reminded me of the theory that madness and genius are connected in someway, at least in some people.
I have many recollections of Doc, starting when I first met him in September, 1947, when he was returning to MIT after having flunked out twice, and I was an incoming freshman. I still remember him holding forth during that year on existentialism, Camus and Sartre, and also his many outrageous hi-jinks at the Theta Chi fraternity house at 528 Beacon Street in Boston.
By the next year, he had flunked out of MIT for the third and final time--(It's always been hard to see Doc as a fledgling chemical engineer--why did he start at it three times at MIT?)--and had moved to Paris and landed a job with the US Embassy there. He would occasionally call from Paris to the phone booth in the Esplanade Cafe on Mass Ave, known to us all as The Greasy Spoon, just to talk to friends whom he knew would likely be on hand--Jim Burrows, Eric Howlett, et al.
I crossed paths with Doc again during the 50's, 60's and 70's, usually through Eric Howlett. One way in which he never changed: no matter what you said, he disagreed; with great wit, he quickly proved you wrong, at least to his satisfaction, and often to your mutual amusement.
I will try to post more of my altogether fond recollections of Doc here and in my blog at http://whatsnotso.blogs.com
Haven't yet seen Immy's film; looking forward to it.
Just finished watching your very interesting and touching documentary. It took courage to do this film and it was a beautiful result. Thank you for introducing me to your father. I want to read his writings.
I was close to Doc and Anna Lou and their two daughters on the island of St. Martin in 1959 and 60.
I had lost track of the Humes family after one visit in New York and was, to say theeast fascinated by this marvelous chronicle.
Harold, as he was known on the island, was even at that time a little mad but always interesting.I have remembered him and the family with great fondness.
Thanks for the opportunity of seeing Doc through a wider lens. What a GREAT film. I met Doc in the mid-80's,(Hi Alison, if you read this) and even then his brilliance shone through despite the distortions. I'm so happy the girls had those last years with him when he was on meds and able to connect.
Very good documentary. I knew Doc at Columbia from 1969 into the 70s. Definitely insane, but 99% of his stuff was true. Only disappointment was the claim that Doc physically abused his wife back in England during his early insanity. Very sad. I would like to contact interviewee Mark Miller though, who took off with my copy of "Underground City" back in the 70s (but left me a LP of James Brown's "Payback"... involuntary trade) Fairhaven
I watched the documentary because I was curious about Immy's father, but I really loved it because Doc was so interesting intellectually despite his illness and because the film portrays very well how one can love someone who is crazy despite all of the problems. My late younger son had schizophrenia, so I know what kind of trouble the family went through. I thought too that the film was nicely cut and paced and well photographed.
What a doc about Doc Humes! Blew my mind...
I'm looking forward to this PBS event. Haven't thought about Lenticular Clouds or Pin Joints in a while. What ever became of UFI?
the National Endowment for the Arts