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A Savage Art The Life Cartoons of Pat Oliphant Documentary Movie Trailer HD - Plot synopsis: A Savage Art: The Story of Political Cartoonist Patrick Oliphant
Patrick Oliphant was a "giant slayer," a fearless individual who took on the powerful with his mighty pen. More than just a daring stunt pilot who performed dangerous maneuvers to unwind, this Australian transplant became America's most renowned and feared political cartoonist for five decades.

With biting wit and masterful drawing skills, Oliphant relentlessly attacked individual and institutional corruption, collusion, greed, hypocrisy, and arrogance. No matter the size or status of his adversaries—presidents, popes, or the American corporate class—he fearlessly held them accountable.

A Savage Art tells the story of Oliphant's life and celebrated career through interviews with Pat, his family, friends, and colleagues, complemented by archival footage and hundreds of his iconic cartoons.

The film also explores the rich history of political cartoons, demonstrating their significant impact throughout the ages. It highlights how, in today's climate of political partisanship and corporate media control, political cartoonists like Oliphant remain crucial for checking those in power.

Directed by Bill Banowsky
Transcript
00:01And action!
00:21Is Pat Oliphant really a threat to the American political system?
00:24His irreverent cartoons poke fun at the establishment
00:27and the credibility of U.S. leaders.
00:29You know, you could get thrown in jail for doing this stuff.
00:32If Pat Oliphant couldn't draw, he'd be an assassin.
00:37The most famous political cartoonist in the world.
00:41You haven't really made it in Washington
00:43until Pat Oliphant has made fun of you.
00:47He saw his father drawing and wanted to try his own hand at it,
00:50and quickly it became a passion for him.
00:53America called to him because that's where the art was happening.
00:57American cartooning had been looked down upon.
01:00It seemed that the art had run down and it just wasn't doing its job anymore.
01:03So I felt that perhaps I could inject something new into it.
01:07With his satire and spiky caricatures,
01:09he helped create a whole new style of cartooning.
01:12You shouldn't think of the cartoon as a funny drawing.
01:15It's supposed to be a serious expression of political thought.
01:20He said, you gotta wake up every morning angry.
01:24Make people write to the editor, get mad, get mad as you are.
01:28I remember him getting death threats.
01:31You son of a bitch, why don't you go back where you came from?
01:33He just didn't care what the political establishment wanted.
01:38Our country was born from political protest,
01:40yet the financial picture of the media
01:42is making it harder and harder for that to happen.
01:44When the president of the United States every day
01:47does something that is newly offensive
01:49and an affront to democracy and civil liberties,
01:52for a cartoonist not to be doing that work is absolutely insane.
01:57Pat uniquely showed courage to go after folks
02:02that were beyond reproach or too dangerous to touch.
02:08Did you see your work affect public opinion?
02:11That's a good question, isn't it?
02:22I don't think so.
02:44I'm not sure if we do not.

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