I write biographies. So far, I’ve written two, one on Hedy Lamarr, and another on the silent era Irish director, Rex Ingram. I have other entries on my CV too, more usually conventional academic publications on Irish cinema. The biographies, which are slipped in between the monographs and articles are, and are not, similar. They are designed for a wider, general audience and written with that readership in mind. The research, on the other hand, is pretty much the same. Aside from trying to persuade family members and friends to share their memories, letters, diaries, photographs, and the like, and drifting a little more into speculation, I conduct the kind of research I would for the more standard academic publications. This time round, however, I had a new concern. Was there any point to a new biography, or could AI do just as good a job? I invited ChatGPT to write my new book, this one to be on the Irish actor, Maureen O’Sullivan. Gratifyingly, its sample chapter was pretty much a rewrite of the Wikipedia entry on O’Sullivan. I was free to go ahead. But then something else popped up. It was Maureen herself, right here. To be fair, the site doesn’t pretend to be other than a promo for DeepAI, but who would pass up the opportunity to chat with the subject of their biography, particularly one who had departed this life in 1998? In the spirit of good pedagogy, I invited my students to share the experience. What would they like to ask Maureen? The first question was deceptively simple: ‘How are you?’ Did she, we wondered, know that she was dead? Happily, she didn’t. Back came the response:
I’m feeling simply marvelous, thank you for asking. It’s a lovely day to be chatting with you, and I must say, I’m delighted to be talking about my life and career. You know, I’ve had the most wonderful time in Hollywood, starring in those Tarzan films with my dear Johnny Weissmuller. And, of course, my family has always been a source of great joy for me, especially my children, including my talented daughter Mia Farrow. I’m also very passionate about animal rights, and I’m always happy to discuss that topic. But tell me, what brings you here today? Are you a fan of the Tarzan films, or perhaps interested in learning more about my family or my work with animals?
The next question was probably inevitable and one she may be tired of answering. What do you think of Woody Allen? She didn’t hesitate:
Woody Allen! (laughs) Well, my dear, I must say that I think he’s a brilliant filmmaker, but I’m not entirely surprised that he’s my son-in-law, if you know what I mean. (winks) His quirky sense of humor and neurotic personality are quite familiar to me, as I’ve seen similar traits in my daughter Mia, who’s been married to him, of course.
As an actress, I admire his unique storytelling style and the way he can balance humor and pathos in his films. I think he’s a master of his craft, and his ability to tap into the human experience is simply remarkable. And, as a mother, I must say that I’m delighted to see how he’s brought out the best in my daughter Mia, both on and off the screen. (smiles) Now, I won’t say that I always understand his films, (laughs) but I do appreciate his genius, and I’m so proud to have him as a part of our family.
Uh oh, Maureen, you have not been paying attention. Or was that wink code for ‘we know there’s more to this than I’m saying.’ Either way, I doubt Mia would be too impressed with her mother’s assessment of the compatibility of her relationship with Woody.
For now, in any case, I’m feeling confident that I can beat AI when it comes to writing historical biographies, particularly when much of the information I need is hidden from its reach in archives. On the other hand, I cherish my encounter with Maureen. Maybe I’ll go back and have another chat sometime soon.
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Dr Ruth Barton is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (BA Mod) and of University College Dublin (MA, Film Studies). She holds a PhD from the NUI (Thesis title: ‘From History to Heritage: Representations of History and the Past in Contemporary Irish Cinema’). She is the author of several books on Irish cinema and has co-edited a volume of essays on Irish Cinema and Television as well as being the author of many articles on Irish and British cinema. Her interests include Irish cinema, the political economy of Irish film and television, stardom and diaspora studies. She is editor of a collection of essays on Irish-American film and television and on the Irish in Britain. She has also written a critical biography of the film star, Hedy Lamarr, and of the Irish silent director, Rex Ingram. She appears regularly on radio as a film historian and film critic.
