Photographer David Bailey was an early migrant from the still to moving image as this short film made for UK television in 1971 demonstrates. This film is not only a meeting of photographic generations it also acts as a time capsule of the London scene at the time featuring models Penelope Tree, Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, artist David Hockney, and fashion designer Ossie Clark as well as New York contributions from writer Truman Capote and legendary fashion editor, director and editor Diana Vreeland.
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Beaton by Bailey is, as you might have guessed, Cecil Beaton being caught on camera (video and stills) by David Bailey. A marriage made in heaven you could say as the old guard meets with the 60s upstart - Beaton's slightly camp tones reciting his life and his work, while the camera also follows Beaton to the gentlemen's outfitters (possibly a mod before mod existed) as well as showing the man at work. Some nice talking head segments too, in particular from Twiggy, Justin de Villeneuve, Jean Shrimpton, Mick Jagger, Brian Duffy, David Hockney and Truman Capote. And if you want to see Beaton's snaps, there's plenty of those peppering the film too. Fascinating stuff.
The Beaton film was one of a commissioned series of three, with the others focusing on Andy Warhol and Luchino Visconti.