Hungarian Heritage Review, 1986 (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-01-01 / 1. szám
JANUARY 1986 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 19-by-HARRY G. LADANYE ROBERT CAPA- BY -RICHARD WHELAN Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1985 • 342pp/$19.95 On October 22, 1913, on the Pest side of Budapest, Endre Ernő Friedmann was born. Three signs made it apparent that the babe was marked for greatness: he was born with a caul completely covering his head; when the caul was removed it was seen that he had a full head of hair, and he had six fingers on one hand. Endre’s parents and their friends took these to indicate that Destiny had marked the child for her own. And indeed, as he went on through life, this did seem to be so. Whelan’s excellant biography traces the life of Endre Friedmann — later known to the world as the “greatest war photographer” — from this earliest starred moment, through many escapades, into the world of photography. As a youngster Friedmann was forced to flee his native Hungary because of radical activities. Actually, these were more in the nature of adolescent pranks than serious political acts. But the authorities were humorless and unforgiving. As a young man Andre, as he was known to his friends, was something of a wanderer. He never set roots in any one place. Actually, Paris seemed to be the single city he might have called home. It was here, in the company of other Hungarian expatriates, that Andre began to make his mark as a photographer. Around 1935 Andre and his friend Gerda manufactured the name that was to become world famous. The “Capa" was derived from the name of Frank Capra, a famous film director. As time went on Capa was frequently mistaken for Capra; he generally went along with the false identity. The “Robert” came from Robert Taylor, the great film star of the day. Andre felt that the name Robert Capa had a nice sound to it. Actually his personality took on two levels: an outward display of cosmopolitism — Robert Capa, and an everpresent inner consciousness of his Hungarian roots and heritage — Andre Friedmann. Capa was catapulted to fame by his astonishing photo of a Loyalist soldier at the moment of his being hit in battle. This photograph has actually become the symbol of the Spanish Civil War. It was made when Capa and this particular soldier were side by side in combat on the Cordoba Front. It was Capa’s philosophy of photography that “If the photograph is not good enough, you're not close enough” which led him constantly into the paths of danger and risk. During periods when he was not covering wars, Capa felt uneasy and bored. While he hated war and all it meant, he felt alive only when he was active as a combat photographer. His pictures during World War II were known throughout the world, largely through the pages of Life magazine. His success and his position in the world of photography were assured. In 1954, during an assignment that came to him almost accidentally, Capa was covering action during the war in Vietnam between the Vietminh and the French. It was at Doathin, while travelling with a convoy of French troops, that Capa got out to observe things more closely. He walked up a small hill near his truck, stepped on a landmine, and was killed. At that time he was but 41 years old. This book is a fascinating account of the growth and development of an interesting man and a great photographer. It reveals the inner drives and ambitions of the man and captures his great spirit and charm. It is a fitting tribute to a gallant and dedicated Hungarian-born, photo-journalist. st!************* TO ORDER THIS BOOK, please make out your check or money order in the amount of $16.50 (includes postage and handling) made payable to the Rákóczi- Press International and mail to: RÁKÓCZI PRESS-INTERNATIONAL, INC. P.O. Box 2203 Union, New Jersey 07083
