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Why do the movies love chess? Why do the movies love chess?
(about 1 hour later)
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine The late Ingmar Bergman's film the Seventh Seal helped cement his reputation as a cerebral director, and might explain why chess is such an enduring theme for film makers.
The late Ingmar Bergman's film the Seventh Seal helped cement his reputation as a cerebral director, and might explain why chess is such an enduring theme for film makers.
In the Seventh Seal a Swedish knight returns from the crusades to find his home country ravaged by tragedy and is soon locked in a game of chess with death.In the Seventh Seal a Swedish knight returns from the crusades to find his home country ravaged by tragedy and is soon locked in a game of chess with death.
Without giving much away, it's a fairly intense game.Without giving much away, it's a fairly intense game.
Bergman's arthouse favourite is perhaps the most notorious example of chess on celluloid, but there are hundreds and hundreds of others. From the brainiest to the schlockiest, one of the movie world's favourite devices is chess.Bergman's arthouse favourite is perhaps the most notorious example of chess on celluloid, but there are hundreds and hundreds of others. From the brainiest to the schlockiest, one of the movie world's favourite devices is chess.
Humphrey Bogart was Hollywood's strongest playerHumphrey Bogart was Hollywood's strongest player
And among the chess-playing fraternity there's a whole subculture of "chess in the movies" discussion, with a number of dedicated websites, and Bob Basalla's book Chess in the Movies, providing exhaustive lists stretching up to 2,000 titles.And among the chess-playing fraternity there's a whole subculture of "chess in the movies" discussion, with a number of dedicated websites, and Bob Basalla's book Chess in the Movies, providing exhaustive lists stretching up to 2,000 titles.
Perhaps the second best known chess scene is in the Thomas Crown Affair, where Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway enjoy a romantically-charged game.Perhaps the second best known chess scene is in the Thomas Crown Affair, where Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway enjoy a romantically-charged game.
Satyajit Ray's the Chess Players is another arthouse classic, while 2000's Luzhin Defence had a grandmaster as its central character.Satyajit Ray's the Chess Players is another arthouse classic, while 2000's Luzhin Defence had a grandmaster as its central character.
But for many chess aficionados, the best example of the game has to be in the second James Bond film, From Russia With Love, where the Spectre agent Kronsteen ruthlessly beats the Canadian master McAdams.But for many chess aficionados, the best example of the game has to be in the second James Bond film, From Russia With Love, where the Spectre agent Kronsteen ruthlessly beats the Canadian master McAdams.
Plotting movesPlotting moves
This fictional struggle was based on a real and much-discussed game between Boris Spassky and David Bronstein - who inspired the name Kronsteen despite being the loser in the real-life game - in Leningrad in 1960.This fictional struggle was based on a real and much-discussed game between Boris Spassky and David Bronstein - who inspired the name Kronsteen despite being the loser in the real-life game - in Leningrad in 1960.
Grandmaster, writer and chess entrepreneur Raymond Keene says it is easily his favourite chess scene.Grandmaster, writer and chess entrepreneur Raymond Keene says it is easily his favourite chess scene.
"It leaves off two of the pawns on the queen-side but the way they stage it in the movie is really magnificent, the giant chessboards and the 'Venice' set. When I try and arrange a chess tournament I'm aiming for that. The position itself is very well chosen.""It leaves off two of the pawns on the queen-side but the way they stage it in the movie is really magnificent, the giant chessboards and the 'Venice' set. When I try and arrange a chess tournament I'm aiming for that. The position itself is very well chosen."
CHESS MOVIES The Chess PlayersBlade RunnerSeventh SealFrom Russia With LoveCasablancaChess FeverThomas Crown AffairCHESS MOVIES The Chess PlayersBlade RunnerSeventh SealFrom Russia With LoveCasablancaChess FeverThomas Crown Affair
And the chess scene perfectly sets up the character of the evil Kronsteen. He is a chess master so he is someone who plots every move in great detail and thinks a long way ahead.And the chess scene perfectly sets up the character of the evil Kronsteen. He is a chess master so he is someone who plots every move in great detail and thinks a long way ahead.
"Kronsteen works for Spectre. He's an evil genius of vast cunning but he is defeated by Bond's British bravura, attacking each problem as it comes."Kronsteen works for Spectre. He's an evil genius of vast cunning but he is defeated by Bond's British bravura, attacking each problem as it comes.
"I feel flattered that we chess grandmasters are regarded as geniuses," Keene adds"I feel flattered that we chess grandmasters are regarded as geniuses," Keene adds
And the use in From Russia With Love certainly gives us a clue as to the nature of Hollywood's relationship with chess.And the use in From Russia With Love certainly gives us a clue as to the nature of Hollywood's relationship with chess.
Aficionado woeAficionado woe
Hollywood is a place often chided for being disproportionately full of airheads, and movie-makers therefore use chess to add gravitas into movies. And it's gravitas that comes with a bit of interaction. Illustrating the cleverness of your baddie by showing him with his head in an encyclopaedia is not quite so engaging.Hollywood is a place often chided for being disproportionately full of airheads, and movie-makers therefore use chess to add gravitas into movies. And it's gravitas that comes with a bit of interaction. Illustrating the cleverness of your baddie by showing him with his head in an encyclopaedia is not quite so engaging.
But for the "chess in movies" enthusiasts there are problems. Many positions are wrongly set-up with pieces in places they cannot be. Characters playing are always saying "check" to illustrate a dramatic point. But most of all aficionados like to sniff at the regularity with which the board has a black square on the right. In chess the board is always set up with the white square on the right.But for the "chess in movies" enthusiasts there are problems. Many positions are wrongly set-up with pieces in places they cannot be. Characters playing are always saying "check" to illustrate a dramatic point. But most of all aficionados like to sniff at the regularity with which the board has a black square on the right. In chess the board is always set up with the white square on the right.
Malcolm Pein, who was once asked to devise a chess game for an EastEnders scene, says the mistakes can be annoying, but there are still many chess scenes to love.Malcolm Pein, who was once asked to devise a chess game for an EastEnders scene, says the mistakes can be annoying, but there are still many chess scenes to love.
"Every time a chess board appears a million chess fans squeal 'the boards the wrong way round'.""Every time a chess board appears a million chess fans squeal 'the boards the wrong way round'."
Movie chess sets are often excessively elaborateMovie chess sets are often excessively elaborate
Sometimes chess is in a movie because a star or director is a player. Humphrey Bogart was reputed to be at the top end of amateur players, and suggested a chess scene for Casablanca. And Stanley Kubrick was so taken with chess that it features in the Killing, Lolita and 2001 and alluded to the game in Paths of Glory. Sometimes chess is in a movie because a star or director is a player. Humphrey Bogart was reputed to be at the top end of amateur players, and suggested a chess scene for Casablanca. And Stanley Kubrick was so taken with chess that it features in The Killing, Lolita and 2001 and alluded to the game in Paths of Glory.
"The best scenes are where there is some tension between the protagonists. Humphrey Bogart has a special place in my affections because he did love chess. The board was definitely the right way round in Casablanca," Pein adds."The best scenes are where there is some tension between the protagonists. Humphrey Bogart has a special place in my affections because he did love chess. The board was definitely the right way round in Casablanca," Pein adds.
The chess authorities have tried to capitalise on the movies to recruit new players, such as when the game was heavily featured in a Harry Potter movie.The chess authorities have tried to capitalise on the movies to recruit new players, such as when the game was heavily featured in a Harry Potter movie.
And the fans like most the movies - such as From Russia With Love - that at least attempt to use a real game. Blade Runner features a game based on Anderssen against Kieseritzky in London in 1851, known to some as the Immortal Game, and 1925's Chess Fever which featured Cuban world champion Jose Raul Casablanca playing a champion. And the fans like most the movies - such as From Russia With Love - that at least attempt to use a real game. Blade Runner features a game based on Anderssen against Kieseritzky in London in 1851, known to some as the Immortal Game, and 1925's Chess Fever which featured Cuban world champion Jose Raul Capablanca playing a champion.
WHAT CHESS SCENES CONVEY Lonely menEvil geniusesRomantic interactionPlanning aheadAchievement through struggleWHAT CHESS SCENES CONVEY Lonely menEvil geniusesRomantic interactionPlanning aheadAchievement through struggle
Prospero's Books is said to allude to "the Game of the Century" between Donald Byrne and a young Bobby Fischer in 1956.Prospero's Books is said to allude to "the Game of the Century" between Donald Byrne and a young Bobby Fischer in 1956.
And ultimately, chess fans love the movies, because they add a glamour that chess struggles to find on its own.And ultimately, chess fans love the movies, because they add a glamour that chess struggles to find on its own.
Go to a real chess tournament and you don't immediately sense an ambience of espionage and romance.Go to a real chess tournament and you don't immediately sense an ambience of espionage and romance.
So maybe the occasional "black on the right" and misplaced queen is an acceptable price to pay.So maybe the occasional "black on the right" and misplaced queen is an acceptable price to pay.

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Quite a few Hollywood personnel are big chess fans. Sharon Stone is rumoured to have once put a chess set down in the middle of her table at a posh Beverley Hills restaurant and demanded the waiters put the food around it to save from spoiling her game. Guy Richie is also famed for his love of chess and from what I hear he spent more time playing chess than actually directing his film Revolver which featured the game.
I believe I am the strongest chess playing film director around. My low budget flick "The Zombie Diaries" may not have the slick and glamour of Richie's productions, but I openly challenge him here to play me and promise a good hammering. That goes for anyone else in the industry too!Michael Bartlett, Letchworth, UK
I recall a psychological thriller called "Knight Moves", starring Christopher Lambert as a chess grandmaster suspected of murder in the middle of a tournament. He has to find the real serial killer who is leaving bodies in the pattern of chess moves all over town (think of the grid system that US cities are planned on). Well worth watching if it crops up on late night TV.RJP, Cambridge
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