If the action-fueled, hit genre films “Bonnie and Clyde” in 1967 and “Easy Rider” in 1969 were the shotgun blasts whose breakout success opened the filmmaking doors for what became known as “The New Hollywood,” 1970’s “Five Easy Pieces” actually better represented the kind of film that the era’s aspiring young directors, producers, writers and actors were dreaming of making in those heady, hopeful days.
It’s been 50 years since Bob Rafelson’s powerful, perceptive drama about a young man torn between a life of white privilege and high culture in the Northwest and a more earthy, elemental existence in the oilfields of Bakersfield, scored critical raves and four Oscar nominations; for best picture, Jack Nicholson’s lead performance as Bobby Dupea, Karen Black’s supporting turn as his lovely but not exactly Mensa-contending waitress girlfriend Rayette, and Carole Eastman’s still dazzling, still wise and worldly screenplay.
You don’t...
It’s been 50 years since Bob Rafelson’s powerful, perceptive drama about a young man torn between a life of white privilege and high culture in the Northwest and a more earthy, elemental existence in the oilfields of Bakersfield, scored critical raves and four Oscar nominations; for best picture, Jack Nicholson’s lead performance as Bobby Dupea, Karen Black’s supporting turn as his lovely but not exactly Mensa-contending waitress girlfriend Rayette, and Carole Eastman’s still dazzling, still wise and worldly screenplay.
You don’t...
- 9/12/2020
- by Steven Gaydos
- Variety Film + TV
The rough, sometimes druggy genesis of the American independent movie business of the ‘60s and ‘70s was recalled by Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees during a sold-out 50th anniversary American Cinematheque screening of the band’s ill-fated feature film “Head.”
Looking out into the Egyptian Theatre before the film unspooled, Dolenz drolly asked one audience member, “You’ve seen it? Can you tell me what it’s about?”
The evening was hosted by the Monkees’ Boswell, producer Andrew Sandoval, who asked for a show of hands of how many in the crowd were returning “Head” cultists and how many were seeing it for the first time. The 60 percent or so making return trips were hugely enthusiastic, but Sandoval wasn’t making any promises to the 40 percent newbies, warning dryly, “We’ll see how many of you are here when we’re done.”
Relentlessly post-modern and lacking anything...
Looking out into the Egyptian Theatre before the film unspooled, Dolenz drolly asked one audience member, “You’ve seen it? Can you tell me what it’s about?”
The evening was hosted by the Monkees’ Boswell, producer Andrew Sandoval, who asked for a show of hands of how many in the crowd were returning “Head” cultists and how many were seeing it for the first time. The 60 percent or so making return trips were hugely enthusiastic, but Sandoval wasn’t making any promises to the 40 percent newbies, warning dryly, “We’ll see how many of you are here when we’re done.”
Relentlessly post-modern and lacking anything...
- 11/2/2018
- by Chris Morris
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-winning movie producer Bert Schneider has died, aged 78.
The Easy Rider filmmaker passed away from natural causes on Monday, his daughter Audrey Simon has confirmed.
The New York native, who was the son of former Columbia Pictures president Abraham Schneider, started his television and film career in the 1960s.
Teaming up with Bob Rafelson to form Raybert Productions, one of Schneider's first projects was to create sitcom The Monkees, which followed a fictional rock band.
The group went on to be a successful international pop act, and helped Schneider and Rafelson break into feature films.
His first major success was 1969's iconic movie Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, and he also made 1970 movie Five Easy Pieces, starring Jack Nicholson.
Schneider and Rafelson went on to create films including The Last Picture Show and The King of Marvin Gardens, while Schneider also won a Best Documentary Oscar for 1974's Hearts and Minds, about opposition to the Vietnam War.
Schneider married four times throughout his life, and once dated actress Candice Bergen.
The Easy Rider filmmaker passed away from natural causes on Monday, his daughter Audrey Simon has confirmed.
The New York native, who was the son of former Columbia Pictures president Abraham Schneider, started his television and film career in the 1960s.
Teaming up with Bob Rafelson to form Raybert Productions, one of Schneider's first projects was to create sitcom The Monkees, which followed a fictional rock band.
The group went on to be a successful international pop act, and helped Schneider and Rafelson break into feature films.
His first major success was 1969's iconic movie Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, and he also made 1970 movie Five Easy Pieces, starring Jack Nicholson.
Schneider and Rafelson went on to create films including The Last Picture Show and The King of Marvin Gardens, while Schneider also won a Best Documentary Oscar for 1974's Hearts and Minds, about opposition to the Vietnam War.
Schneider married four times throughout his life, and once dated actress Candice Bergen.
- 12/14/2011
- WENN
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