I believe that one can already deduce from the information you have communicated to me that we are practically assured of having the participation of Leonardi.[1] I am very happy about this.
As I have told you, I can easily do without Scarface,[2] and even in case the beneficiaries would like to show themselves to be among the least disgraceful in this disgraceful world.
It is for purely "artistic" motivations that I consider that it would be better to reduce "my art" to the extremism of my youth, that is to say, to the blow of Hurlements. I believe that it will be sufficient to establish my glory, just as Yves Klein had his Monochrome and Raymond Hains had his torn posters. The other individual circumstances must not get mixed in here.
But I agree that we should release a complete film, perhaps two of them.
Thus we irradiate the instrument that measures the rises in the water level[3] and that has become something too abstract, too "virtual" in the landscape, like the "sniffing plane" that is dear to Giscard.[4] The preceding technique was a model -- at I don't know which level -- of the center of Paris, in which one made calculated amounts of water flow. It was very beautiful and moving, like the passage of time. Could we not find out, today, where the image of the tests of the old technology[5] has been filed, now that one knows where one finds the newest[6] and, no doubt, much more efficient one?
We will expect you[7] on 3 October for dinner.
We embrace you.P.S. Alice [Becker-Ho] telephoned Paul Destribats this morning.
[1] Translator's note: Lino Leonardi, composer of songs to accompany the poetry of Francois Villon. His music (played on an accordion) would be added to Guy Debord, son art et son temps.
[2] Howard Hawks' Scarface, the final words of which -- "THE WORLD IS YOURS" --- Guy Debord wanted to use [in Guy Debord, son arts et son temps].
[3] Called reels.
[4] Translator's note: Giscard d'Estaing spy plane (avion renifleur).
[5] There were none in this era.
[6] In the management of the environment.
[7] Brigitte Cornand and Jean-Pierre Baiesi (film editor).
(Published in Guy Debord Correspondance, Vol 7: Janvier 1988-Novembre 1994 by Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2008. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! June 2009. Footnotes by the publisher, except where noted.)