Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

This is about otter theory. Let's set aside for the moment whether or not some directors might in fact, really be otters and how that might have happened. Let's not debate otters airily, abstractedly, or in ivory-tower terms.

Instead, get right down in the riverbanks, the reeds, rushes, pools and streams where otters reside. There's nothing to be apprehensive about.



Tell us about a classic movie director you personally feel might be an otter. Recommend him to us. Is he unfairly neglected? Under-known? What makes him an otter, in your esteem?

Don't be afraid to speak up. You're among friends here. No one will be ottracized for their views!

For example I was reading this week about emigre director, Anatole Litvak.

He certainly had a fine, long run of fame with critics and public alike.

Well, it is time for me to show my complete ignorance re: otters. I know about Otter Pops and how they quite using artificial coloring and that they are all now kinda' brown. But how are you using the term to describe film directors.........he is the real thing? I must be living in a vacuum!!

Aufff! Oouffff! Nuttin' worse than a pun which falls flat. :(

I didn't wish (still do not wish) to ever use the snooty-sounding term, 'Auter' or 'Auter theory'. Andrew Sarris' hobbyhorse, remember?

This group is not for snooty 'cineastes'!

Boy, did I drop the ball on that one!!!! I should have figured it out since you love puns. Now I feel even stupider than I did before. I also hate the term "auteur".........so sophisticated..NOT. Let me think about who I would consider an otter.

Edgar Ulmer! He had a chance in Hollywood by directing The Black Cat for Universal and his unusual background and set decoration caught the eye of the higher-ups. But he made a personal life decision by having an affair with the niece or sister or some relation of one of the big wigs and the politics of Hollywood kicked in and he was reduced to the poverty row studios. But his masterpiece Detour for PRC (the lowest of the low) was picked by AFI as one of the first 100 films chosen for restoration. He was noted for making films in two weeks on practically non-existent budgets. It is worth looking up some of his bottom of the barrel films to see what might have been.

What I think I'd like to do would be to name some now-obscure director and talk about various films of his we've each seen and then ask the question 'whether he really had a discernible style or not'. Was he better than his record shows?

Richard Fleischer might be one to kick around; or Mervyn LeRoy; King Vidor perhaps. We know these men all had distinguished careers and earned much revenue for their studios, but they are still not household names. Why not? Is there any such figure like these, for whom a case might be made?

So we really want directors who had distinguished careers but are rather unknown today? Rather than one or two hit wonders, like Ulmer? How about Preston Sturgess?

Best said as I described above: 'these men were better than their records show'

How about ...

John Schlesinger
Richard Donner
Michael Winner
Michael Ritchie
Don Siegel

Stuart Rosenberg. I'd opine that he has a particular style.

Or, (certainly) George Roy Hill.

So ... picking up on Spencer's remarks from the 'loose talk' thread.

Like, when we talk of modern day directors, geez. It already seems tired and stale. I mean, if I compare ...Wes Anderson(?) is that his name? to someone like John Ford, or Stanley Kubrick one might say I'm being unfair. Okay, legit complaint.

But even George Roy Hill had a clearly definable style and verve which has already been carved out and explored...and he wasn't even a classic, studio-era director. He was late to the party. Same with Terence Malick.

Who can come along in today's landscape and claim they are doing anything that Terence Malick didn't do?

Clearly, fame and hype are a business. 'New' faces and 'new names' are 'in demand' regardless of merit. They simply must exist for the sake of sales.

I didn't create this thread with this opinion in mind beforehand, but it seems apropos. Welcome to the machine!