Bruce Weber on Chet Baker

In 1987, the photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber, now 62, made an exceptional documentary on Chet Baker, the jazz trumpeter and singer who was in his late fifties, although the deep lines that ran round his sharp cheek bones told of several decades of troubled relationships with women, drink and drugs. Two decades later, ’Let‘s Get Lost‘ remains a beautiful black-and-white collage of interviews, new footage and archive film stretching back to the beginning of Baker‘s career in the early 1950s. It was also the final document of Baker‘s career: he died in May 1988 after falling from the window of a hotel in Amsterdam

Chet led a very hard life and had many turbulent relationships along the way. Were you careful not to be too sensational with his story?
‘There were many times in the edit when we had to make a decision. Once Chet told me a very tough story about his children and it was our decision not to put it in. The content was powerful, but we felt it would not further the film. It would have hurt his children.’

What did you learn from spending so much time with Chet?
‘One of the biggest things I learnt was just to be more open. Sometimes being a photographer and a filmmaker, the world wants to close you up, to have you making films like everybody else. The other day I was working on some pictures for Italian Vogue and I thought: why does the first spread have to have a title? Let’s go somewhere else with it. It’s a little bit like the improvisational quality that Chet had with his music and his connection to his life. Chet was like a child, you know?’

Was he happy with you talking to his ex-wives and girlfriends?
‘He didn’t mind who I spoke to, as long as they weren’t musicians! Years later I was having dinner with Gerry Mulligan and I said to him: “I tried to put you in that film.” And he said: “Yeah, I know, I wanted to do it, but I don’t think Chet wanted me in that film.” He also didn’t think that these ex-wives and girlfriends had very much to say.’

He’s very open when you ask him about his favourite high.
‘When we travelled with the film, people always assumed we were a pretty wild bunch – that we were always getting kind-of high with him and partying. If we had been like that, I don’t think Chet would have turned up after the first day. He was quite conservative as a person. And we were pretty square. I once said to him: “Oh God, Chet, you must think we’re so square.” And he said: [puts on Chet’s soft, low voice] “No, man, you guys are cool.” I don’t think he had a lot of respect for people that did a lot of drugs. That was a bit of the way he felt about himself.’

Did he live to see the film finished?
‘We had just finished our final cut and were making preparations for finishing the film, and that’s when he died.’

When he says at the end what a great time he had, it’s obviously genuine.
‘I think we were one of the few people who he bumped into in his later life, who he knew sincerely cared. We treated him really well and with a lot of respect. He knew we wanted good things to happen for him. One of the biggest disappointments to me now, celebrating this film, is that he’s not around to get all the attention. I wish he was doing this interview instead of me.’

‘Let’s Get Lost’ is rereleased on June 6.

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