In our new issue, out this month, we feature an essay by David Lazar, “My Two Oscars: On Melancholy and Wit,” which mulls over how the actor/pianist Oscar Levant, the writer Oscar Wilde, and our understandings about melancholy and wit over time all intersect. (Read an excerpt here!)
We’re thankful that Lazar has put together a series of clips to accompany the essay, especially for those who weren’t previously familiar with Oscar Levant. Weaving together scenes from An American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue, Jack Parr’s The Tonight Show, and The Oscar Levant Show, as well as his performance of a piano sonatina, this video is a perfect companion to the essay, as it showcases Levant’s acting, ad-libbing, piano playing—and also his self-laceration and melancholy.
