San Francisco Film Society Oral History Project Interview with ...

MARGARITA LANDAZURI: What, to rinse her hair?
CLAUDE JARMAN: I guess. I still don’t know what a rinsing tray is, but the guy went out in the
Mission somewhere. It was like it became a big cause célèbre for two days. Finally I said, “Go get it.”
But I cannot recall ever having a problem. Everyone, to me, was very honored to be a part of this and to
see himself or herself on the screen, and to have an audience that obviously loved them. I thought the
two people who were not appreciated, who I always regretted, were Clint Eastwood—who I thought got
a bum rap—and Peckinpah. It was because of the times, when people were really against anything to do
with violence. Lorena ended up doing the interview with Sam Peckinpah, because no one wanted to do
it. He represented a certain part of the film industry that was a pretty vibrant part of the industry, and he
had a lot to say. He was a very talented guy. But I don’t think he was ever appreciated as much as
perhaps he should have been.
MARGARITA LANDAZURI: What were the biggest challenges you faced in your years at the
Festival?
CLAUDE JARMAN: The biggest challenge we faced was the transition from the Chamber of
Commerce to the group that Mayor Alioto had put together, because there we had a totally different
financial base. We didn’t have the Chamber underwriting it, and it was uncertain as to how this was
going to come about. I didn’t know Ray Syufy. I had met him, but I didn’t know him that well. I grew to
really love the guy. We became very close friends. I was one of the pallbearers at his funeral about
fifteen years ago. But at the outset, who am I dealing with? He didn’t know me and I didn’t know him.
So, I think that was a challenge. I think that if it wasn’t for George Gund, I don’t know if the Film
Festival would have survived. It was his support, his financial support, his believing in the Festival and
putting his own money into it, it was extremely critical. And I don’t know what’s going on today, but I
have a feeling George is in there somewhere.
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