Criticism > Contemporary Literary Criticism > The Brothers Quay - Vincent Canby (review date 29 April 1987)

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Vincent Canby (review date 29 April 1987)

SOURCE: A review of The Brothers Quay, in The New York Times, April 29, 1987, p. C19.

[Long associated with The New York Times, Canby is one of the most distinguished American film and theater critics. In the following mixed review of the four films that comprise The Brothers Quay, he argues that, while the films contain beautiful images, they "don't vary much in style" and begin to "blur" together after awhile.]

The Brothers Quay is the umbrella title for the four animated Surrealist films (in which miniature objects are photographed in stop-motion) that make up the program opening today at the Film Forum I. The Brothers Quay are, in fact, the American-born, London-based film makers, Timothy and Stephen (identical twins). The Quays, who started out as graphics designers, are now specialists in clever cinematic nightmares inspired by the fears, frights and longings of...

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1. Introduction
2. ∗Principal Works
3. Criticism
   1. Mark Le Fanu (essay date Spring 1984)
   2. Tony Rayns (review date June 1986)
   3. The Brothers Quay with Chris Petit (interview date June 1986)
   4. Julian Petley (review date June 1986)
   5. Raymond Durgnat (review date June 1986)
   6. Michael O'Pray (review date June 1986)
   7. Peter Greenaway (review date Summer 1986)
   8. Richard Combs (review date July 1986)
   9. Roger Noake (review date July 1986)
   10. Vincent Canby (review date 29 April 1987)
   11. David Edelstein (review date 5 May 1987)
   12. Amos Vogel (review date May-June 1987)
   13. Terrence Rafferty (essay date June 1987)
   14. Georgia Brown (review date 2 April 1991)
   15. Jonathan Romney (essay date March 1992)
   16. Jonathan Romney (review date May 1992)
   17. Denise Tilles (essay date January 1993)
   18. Michael Atkinson (essay date September-October 1994)
   19. The Brothers Quay with Ryan Deussing (interview date 9 February 1996)
   20. Stephen Holden (review date 13 March 1996)
   21. J. Hoberman (review date 19 March 1996)
4. Further Reading
5. Copyright