When Dick Cavett Told Composer Virgil Thompson "But You Know, You're a Third Rate Composer"

Freep | 02-10-20 | Charles O'Connell

[CharlesOConnell]

The only answer you need is, the authentic Cajun music of the "Louisiana Story" Movie (1948). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iR5sC3pgC4.

Thompson's music arrangement and his musicology of fine folk, traditional and historical music, are first rate, ranking him with Joaquin Rodrigo and Ottorino Respighi.

Thompson replied, "no I'm not" and walked out of the interview on the air.

[circlecity]

“Then I guess that’s why they booked me on a third rate talk show”

[SaxxonWoods]

Two Dick Cavett threads up.

Did he die?

Probably virtue-signaled himself to death.

[WKUHilltopper]

Dick...some people are aptly named.

[Carriage Hill]

I thought he went away years ago.

[quilterdebbie]

I liked Dick Cavett when I was young and stupid. But now that I look at old clips, I see how smug and condescending he could be.

[Spruce]

Cavett was, and still is, a smug prick

[9YearLurker]

I was gonna say, better a third-rate composer than a first-rate TV host.

[Simon Foxx]

Perhaps he didn’t get Cavett’s dry wit. Was Cavet trying to pay him a compliment by lampooning his critics - and he totally misunderstood?

I attended the taping of 2 Cavett shows in 1977 when I was in high school in NYC. One was with Gore Vidal. The only thing I remember about it is that Vidal had a facial twitch and fired off every minute or so. *LOL*

The Cavett interviews are a goldmine for the lovers of pop culture, particularly the old time stars of the pre-WW2 era.

His interviews with Groucho Marx and Kate Hepburn are my favorites.

[Mount Athos]

i really respect walking out like that.

Life is too short and they’re not holding you hostage.
What do you owe them. Walk away with a smile when you like

[Da Coyote]

And of course virtually every major orchestra includes Dick Cavett compositions in their repertoire. As is the case, every lib host never turns down an opportunity to demonstrate their idiocy.

[CharlesOConnell]

The Title Music of Louisiana Story (1948) by Virgil Thompson.

[grey_whiskers]

No relation to *Jim* Thompson, right?

[cgbg]

Perhaps he didn’t get Cavett’s dry wit. Was Cavett trying to pay him a compliment by lampooning his critics - and he totally misunderstood?

I totally agree with your comment. The proper response would have been to laugh and joke about "third rate critics".

That was the response Cavett was hoping for--and then Cavett would have said: "Guess you got me." and the audience would have laughed and applauded.

[ifinnegan]

Is there a clip?

[Mastador1]

I liked Dick Cavett when I was young and stupid. But now that I look at old clips, I see how smug and condescending he could be

You left out liberal, socialist, elitist. I had to change the channel every time he booked one of the many socialist Hollywood 'stars' on the show and they had a love fest of denigrating conservatives, otherwise he could be entertaining at times.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I saw Dick Cavett on the tonight one night. He said he walked over to Steven Segal once at some award show to tell him he liked his movies. As soon as Segal saw him he said “get away from me or I’ll kill you”. I laughed because I’m sure Segal thought he was going to say some condescending insulting remark.

[ronnie raygun]

Hense the appropriate naming...........DICK