Derek Malcolm was a God. Oh sure, when pottering into Mr Youngs in Soho, he may have appeared like a mere mortal, but at film festivals in Cannes, Venice and Berlin cineastes (young and old) had to be restrained from kissing his feet.
This wasn’t just his deep film knowledge and extraordinary way with words whether he was praising or skewering the latest releases. It was also because, among many other things, he could see talent where others missed it. Take, for example, Satyajit Ray. Malcolm instantly saw the worth of Ray’s Pather Panchali (one of the greatest movies ever made) and his support helped bring it to a wider audience. In the beginning, was the word, and Malcolm’s words were on the money.
