Letters and More
From John King Fairbank, the dean of Chinese Studies in America, what I like to think of as my “Ph.D.” from Harvard.
“February 22, 1972
Dear Irv:
Wilma and I are both extraordinarily enthusiastic about “Misunderstanding China”. It is by all odds the best documentary that I have seen on the Sino-American relationship. Aside from the technical and dramatic excellence, the content of pulp fiction and motion pictures and Chinese treaty port foreigners was all superb. It strikes me as real history in the best sense, as close to the past as we can get…
The commentary in particular seemed to me extremely well balanced and full of solid good sense and valuable perspective. I really congratulate you, and we are all in your debt.”
Dear Irv:
Fan mail. I wouldn’t have changed a thing! What a superb combination of picture and sense!
Your “Searching for Mao (sic!)” in its one hour conveys more of Chinese humanity and personality than any number of books could ever do. You are a master of the medium.
The contrast between the fanaticism of the crowd years ago and the somewhat perplexed straightforwardness of the individuals today came across very clearly. Ding Ling was excellent, as well as so many other touches all the way through. How can we nominate it for a prize?”
