US film director Peter Bogdanovich dies at 82
The New Hollywood filmmaker, acclaimed for his 1970s films "What's Up, Doc?" and "The Last Picture Show," has died. Here's a look back at his filmography.
An up-and-down career: Peter Bogdanovich
Part of the wave of New Hollywood directors, Peter Bogdanovich was acclaimed in the 1970s, but then abruptly dismissed after various flops. Born in Kingston, New York on July 30, 1939, the filmmaker has died on January 7 at the age of 82. Here's a look back at his works.
A surprising debut: 'Targets'
Bogdanovich's debut film, "Targets" (1968), was already remarkable. The young director learned the tricks of the film trade alongside Roger Corman, a trailblazer of indie cinema. Corman financed Bogdanovich's neo-noir thriller about a young man who runs amok (Tim O'Kelly). "Targets" also starred "Frankenstein" actor Boris Karloff in his final role.
An early classic: 'The Last Picture Show'
Bogdanovich's most critically acclaimed film was his third, from 1971. Set in a small town in Texas in the 1950s, the melancholy coming-of-age story was nominated for eight Oscars. Young actors like Cybill Shepherd and Jeff Bridges, along with the film's black-and-white cinematography — an unusual aesthetic approach at the time — created a dreamy and sad mood that conquered the critics.
A phenomenal hit: 'What's Up, Doc?'
Bogdanovich's following feature from 1972 raked in millions at the box office. Hollywood then crowned the 33-year-old director as one embodying the promising future of US cinema, alongside Francis F. Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, "What's Up, Doc?" is an homage to the screwball comedy genre.
A touch of melancholy: 'Paper Moon'
Bogdanovich directed another hit after that: "Paper Moon" (1973) was also shot in black-and-white (the color photo above of the actors, Ryan O'Neal and his daughter Tatum O'Neal, is from the film set). It tells the story of a con man who agrees to bring an orphaned young girl to her relatives. Through their road trip, they become friends.
A first disappointment: 'Daisy Miller'
The 1974 drama "Daisy Miller" marked the beginning of Peter Bogdanovich's decline. His ambitious film adaptation of the 1878 novella by Henry James was shot in Rome and Switzerland. It tells the story of a flirtatious young American (Cybill Shepherd) in Europe. Critics weren't enthusiastic.
Unsuccessful: 'Nickelodeon'
After "Daisy Miller," his following film, the musical "At Long Last Love," was described as "one of the worst bombs of the 1970s." The reviews for "Nickelodeon," an homage to silent film era, weren't quite as scathing, but it was nevertheless another box office flop. After his string of failures, Bogdanovich's reputation in Hollywood was severely damaged.
New start: 'Saint Jack'
After a three-year break, Bogdanovich returned with a new work. In "Saint Jack" (1979), Ben Gazzara plays the role of a friendly American who's decided to stay in Asia after the Korean war and tries to start a new life in Singapore. Produced with a lower budget, the film introduced a more modest phase in the director's career.
Likeable: 'They All Laughed'
Once again starring Ben Gazzara, "They All Laughed" is another nuanced romantic comedy. Candidly depicting love and sex in New York City in the early 1980s, it was also the last feature film in which Audrey Hepburn played a lead role. Hepburn's story in the movie reflected her actual love life, the director said.
Touching: 'Mask'
Boganovich's following film was of a completely different style: Based on a true story, "Mask" (1985) follows a mother (Cher) and her son, who has an extremely rare disease deforming his skull. An emotional story of hope in typical Hollywood style, the film was a box office success. Cher also won Cannes' best actress award for her performance.
No clear plan: 'Texasville'
The films following "Mask" revealed the director's aimlessness. "Texasville" (1990) attempted to build on his great success, "The Last Picture Show." Nearly 20 years later, Bogdanovich brought the same actors together and portrayed the evolution in the characters' lives. But "Texasville" obtained mixed reviews and didn't do well at the box office.
Ordinary: 'She's Funny That Way'
Bogdanovich failed to resurface afterwards, filming a television documentary about Tom Petty and other films, including "The Cat's Meow" in 2001. His latest feature, "She's Funny That Way" (with Owen Wilson and Imogen Poots) premiered in Venice in 2014, but the homage to screwball comedies only obtained a limited release.
Alongside his idols: 'The Other Side of the Wind'
Along with many acting appearances, such as in the "Sopranos" or "Kill Bill," Bogdanovich is on screen alongside John Huston in a film released in 2018: "The Other Side of the Wind." The experimental work by Orson Welles was posthumously released after 40 years of development. The role reflects how Bogdanovich actually started out: as a film critic. He was also one of Orson Welles' good friends.