[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 26503]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        TRIBUTE TO VINCENT CANBY

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, in late October, as many Senators 
will know, Vincent Canby, ``whose lively wit and sophisticated tastes 
illuminated film and theater reviews in the New York Times for more 
than 35 years'' died at age 76. Thinking of an appropriate manner in 
which the United States Congress might honor his most honored memory, 
there came to mind an observation he made in a review of a film based 
on E.M. Foster's novel ``Howard's End.''

       It's time for legislation decreeing that no one be allowed 
     to make a screen adaptation of any quality whatsoever if 
     Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala are 
     available, and if they elect to do the job. Trespassers 
     should be prosecuted, possibly condemned, sentenced to watch 
     ``Adam Bede'' on ``Masterpiece Theatrer'' for five to seven 
     years.

  The legislative drafting service had no difficulty producing 
legislative language. I had in mind a joint resolution, which is, of 
course, a statute. However, in view of our oath ``to uphold and defend 
the Constitution of the United States,'' I felt in need of a legal 
opinion as to whether there might be constitutional impediments to such 
a measure. I think for example of the ``taking clause'' of the fourth 
amendment recently much discussed in learned papers associated with the 
University of Chicago School of Law. And so I set out to obtain 
advisory opinions. Alas, I had tarried too long. November 7 had passed. 
The Presidential election was in dispute. All of the constitutional 
lawyers in Washington had decamped for Florida.
  And now, in the closing hours of the 106th Congress, they are still 
there.
  This leaves me with no choice but to withhold the measure for now. 
Happily I am informed that next April we will witness the premier of 
The Wandering Company's adaptation of Henry James' ``The Golden Bowl.'' 
What a splendid way to begin the new millennium. (For that is what the 
year 2001 will be, and our trio are naught if not scrupulous as to 
details.) Surely a Senator in the 107th Congress will wish to pursue 
this matter. The glory of three continents is yet to be proclaimed in 
law.
  I regret the inconvenience this may cause viewers of ``Adam Bede,'' 
and I surely would not wish to denigrate ``Masterpiece Theatre,'' but 
Vincent Canvy was a just and moderate man. And, as is proclaimed on the 
wall above the bench of the Chenango County Courthouse in James Ivory's 
ancestral home of Norwich, New York ``Fiat Justica Ruat Coelum''.--Let 
justice be done though the heavens fall.

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