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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 12:20 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In March 1977, actors Robert Redford and Steve McQueen were both developing separate films based on the same legendary Western personality, Tom Horn. Horn was a cowboy, rode shotgun for the stage lines, was an agent for the Pinkertons and fought with the Rough Riders under Teddy Roosevelt. He made his reputation as a cavalry scout by subduing Geronimo in the bloody Apache wars. In 1901, he drifted into Wyoming Territory.
Redford’s film, titled "Mr. Horn," was to be made under the United Artists banner with director Sydney Pollack, producer Walter Coblenz, and a script by William Goldman. McQueen’s picture was titled "I, Tom Horn – A Last Will and Testament of the Old West," for which the actor reportedly spent two years on pre-production with a screenplay by Horn biographer, Will Henry. The film was to be made for Warner Bros., with McQueen as producer, but a director was not yet named.
By August 1977, Redford and McQueen were still not aware they were planning competing projects on the same subject. Redford had a completed script from Goldman, while McQueen was then working with Thomas McGuane on a yet unfinished screenplay. Redford decided to abandon his project after McQueen and his team won the film rights. Redford and Pollack then decided to film a contemporary Western titled THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN.
With the abandonment of the project by Redford, Goldman began shopping his script around to other filmmakers. Lorimar Productions and producer Elliott Kastner (HARPER) acquired the script as the basis of a two-part television movie. The resultant film, MR. HORN, starred David Carradine as Tom Horn and was directed by Jack Starrett. However, the production made many alterations to the script of which Goldman disapproved.
MR. HORN aired on CBS on 3 & 5 February 1979. A 15-minute suite from Jerry Fielding's score was released by Bay Cities in 1993. (Steve McQueen's film, TOM HORN, was finally released, after many delays and changes of personnel, in May 1980.)
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 12:31 PM
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Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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From 1979 until 1986, William Goldman's work was not seen on the screen. He wrote a screenplay for 1981's MOMMIE DEAREST, which was not used. And he was approached to write the screenplay for 1982's THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, but refused the offer.
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Adapted by William Goldman from his own novel of the same name, 1986’s HEAT was set in Las Vegas where Burt Reynolds played an ex-mercenary working as a soft-hearted bodyguard who's out to protect his friends. Reynolds apparently initiated the project, having read the novel and calling Goldman about turning it into a film.
The film had a hugely troubled production, going through six directors over the course of a 36-day shoot. The first director never even made it on set. Robert Altman bowed out as the original director because U.S. Immigration denied a visa to his Canadian cameraman, Pierre Mignot.
Burt Reynolds and director Dick Richards came to blows on the film. When the smoke settled, Richards had a broken jaw, courtesy of Reynolds. Noted TV director Jerry Jameson was brought in to complete the film. Richards later returned, only to fall from a camera crane and wind up in the hospital.
After first opening in France, the film got its U.S. release in March 1987 from New Century Vista Film Company. It performed surprisingly well, grossing more than $34 million in the U.S. Michael Gibb's score has not had a release.
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SIX directors? ???!###!!!
That is almost as many people who started DRACULA threads here.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 1:11 PM
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Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Writer William Goldman completed his eighth novel, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, in 1973. Goldman came up with the title of the novel based on what his daughters provided in terms of ideas for his next book. One suggested he write about a princess while the other suggested a book about a bride. He then coined the title "The Princess Bride" for the novel. The characters of "Max" and "Valerie" (eventually played in the film by Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, respectively) were named after Goldman's parents, Max and Valerie.
Before his work was published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Twentieth Century-Fox bought the rights from Goldman with the intention of adapting the novel into a film. However, it spent many years in "development hell" during which it gained a reputation for being un-filmable, with at least two studio heads losing their jobs (for unrelated reasons) mere days after stating they wished to make the film. By this stage, Goldman was so disillusioned and protective of his book that he took the almost unheard of step of buying back the rights to his own story when it came available after a studio "desk clearing" (putting up every optioned story for sale so as to start again with a clean slate). Goldman reacquired the rights in 1984. The rights were subsequently sold to executive producer Norman Lear's Embassy Pictures.
Director Rob Reiner first read the book back when he was starring in Norman Lear's "All in the Family." His father, Carl Reiner, was friendly with William Goldman, and thought Rob would like the book.
After Embassy Pictures was sold to the Coca-Cola Company, the project was moved over to Norman Lear's new company, Act III Communications, as its second feature. (The first was 1986's STAND BY ME, also directed by Rob Reiner.) Distribution rights for THE PRINCESS BRIDE were acquired by Twentieth Century-Fox.
Since the screenplay was written by Goldman himself, the film closely follows the novel, with a few name changes and omitted details. For example, in the movie, "Westley" (star Cary Elwes) is tortured in the “Pit of Despair” by "Count Rugen" (Christopher Guest), who admits to a “deep and abiding interest in pain.” The site of the torture in the novel is an underground hunting arena called the “Zoo of Death.” According to Reiner, the change was made due to budget reasons.
The film begins as a man visits his sick grandson with a book, The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern. After the boy begrudgingly agrees to the bedtime story, the grandfather begins reading. This is also true to the novel, in which “S. Morgenstern” is said to be the author of The Princess Bride. Goldman wrote two novels under the pseudonym Simon Morgenstern, the second being The Silent Gondoliers in 1983.
According to Goldman, when he was first trying to get the movie made in the 1970s, a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to play the giant "Fezzik" and he was strongly being considered because Goldman could never get his first choice, André the Giant, to read for the role. By the time the movie was made about twelve years later, Schwarzenegger was such a big star they could not afford him. Andre was cast after all, and the two big men had gone on to become friends.
Goldman was on set during one of the flame burst scenes in the forest when Robin Wright's dress caught fire. Although Goldman knew this was intentional, he was so caught up in the moment that he shouted, "Her dress is on fire!", thus ruining the take.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE's world premiere was at Toronto's 1977 Festival of Festivals, now called the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People's Choice award for that year. The film was well received by critics in general. While The New York Times' review called it a fairy tale, various reviews remarked on the cross-genre nature of the film. Points of universal praise included Goldman's writing and the performances by supporting actors like Christopher Guest and Andre the Giant. However, while The New York Times found the leading couple “properly picturesque”, Variety called the leads “comatose” and the film's look dull. The film is included in the American Film Institute's “100 Years...100 Passions” listing of the greatest love stories on film. It ranks at number eighty-eight.
The $15 million production earned $31 million at the box office, but its real profit has come from years of video releases, which to date have grossed about $51 million. Mark Knopfler's score was released by Warner Bros. in the U.S. and Vertigo Records elsewhere. The film's song “Storybook Love,” written by Willy DeVille , was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 2:02 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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William Goldman and director Rob Reiner re-teamed to work on 1990's horror thriller MISERY. In the film, after famous author "Paul Sheldon" is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving from rescuer "Annie Wilkes" is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.
Stephen King based his novel Misery partly on an encounter with Mark David Chapman, who, sometime before murdering John Lennon of The Beatles, introduced himself to King as his “number one fan” and asked him to sign an autograph with a special pen. King initially refused to sell the rights to Misery, a highly personal novel, after previous film adaptations of his work had proven disappointing. The author changed his mind, however, when Rob Reiner expressed interest, as Reiner had directed STAND BY ME (1986), King’s favorite adaptation of his own work to that time.
Screenwriter Goldman wrote the part of Annie Wilkes, with stage actress Kathy Bates in mind. Goldman credited production company Castle Rock’s autonomy as the reason Bates was eventually cast, because the company operated independently from distributor Columbia and did not have to satisfy the studio’s desire for bankable stars. Bates would go on the win the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film.
According to Goldman's book "Four Screenplays", the role of Paul Sheldon was offered to Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, William Hurt (twice), Kevin Kline, Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Denzel Washington, and Bruce Willis, all of whom declined. James Caan was finally cast in the part.
Richard Dreyfuss almost accepted the Paul Sheldon part because he regretted turning down the lead role in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989) and he didn't want to disappoint director Rob Reiner again. (They previously collaborated on STAND BY ME). Reiner asked Dreyfuss to read the script, but he didn't like it. Goldman concluded that few actors wanted the role of Paul Sheldon, because Annie Wilkes overshadowed him so much as a character. Warren Beatty commented before declining, that the hobbling scene made Sheldon "a loser for the rest of the film". Goldman was determined to keep that scene in the film, as it was his favorite from the novel.
In the novel, Annie cuts off Paul's foot to prevent him from escaping. Goldman had decided to adapt the book to film primarily because of this gruesome scene, and the effect it would have on the audience. However, Rob Reiner and Andrew Scheinman's script revision changed the method of torture to Paul getting his ankles broken with a sledgehammer. Goldman was opposed to the change until viewing the film.
The $20 million film was a big hit at the box office, grossing more than $61 million. Marc Shaiman's score was released by Bay Cities.
William Goldman later adapted his script for the stage for a limited run on Broadway during the 2015-2016 season. The play starred Bruce Willis as Paul Sheldon and Laurie Metcalf as Annie Wilkes. It marked as Willis' debut on Broadway.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 2:27 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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William Goldman originally wrote several drafts of the screenplay for the 1992 romantic comedy MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN, all of which were rejected. He wrote it as a simple comedy, and the producers preferred to use the film to "explore the loneliness of invisibility". Eventually, he left the project, though he still receives a screenplay credit along with Robert Collector and Dana Olsen. Goldman claimed never to have seen the movie, and thus could not say for sure how much of his material was actually in the film.
Chevy Chase and Daryl Hannah starred in the film, in which, after a freak accident, a man turns invisible and runs from a treacherous CIA official, while trying to cope with his new life. John Carpenter directed the picture. Shirley Walker's score was released by Varese Sarabande.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 2:51 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In 1992, director-producer Peter Yates and writer William Goldman had an ongoing twenty-year friendship going back to their collaboration on THE HOT ROCK (1972), and were neighbors in both New York City and the French Rivera. The men shared a love of sophisticated dining, great wine, and Scotland, and decided it would be fun to make a movie about their favorite things.
From these beginnings came Goldman's original screenplay for 1992's YEAR OF THE COMET. In the story, an extremely rare bottle of wine (bottled during the appearance of the Great Comet of 1811) is discovered. Wine merchant "Margaret Harwood" (Penelope Ann Miller) is sent to Scotland to retrieve it so it can be sold at auction. "Oliver Plexico" (Tim Daly) is assigned as her travel guide/bodyguard for the trip. However, other people desperately want the bottle and will stop at nothing to get it. A simple little trip becomes an international chase.
William Goldman had envisioned Glenda Jackson for the female lead when he first wrote the script in 1978. John Barry wrote and recorded a score for the film, but it was rejected and a new one by Hummie Mann was subsequently commissioned. Mann's score was released by Varese Sarabande. The $15 million film was a disaster at the box office, grossing only $2.8 million in the U.S.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 3:11 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In November 1988, Sir Richard Attenborough announced plans to direct a Charlie Chaplin biopic, as part of his $75 million, three-picture deal with Universal Pictures. Having become friendly with Chaplin and his family in the 1970s while vacationing near them in the south of France, Attenborough received Oona O’Neill Chaplin’s blessing in acquiring film rights to her late husband’s autobiography and footage from his films. The idea for a Chaplin biopic was originally suggested to Attenborough by Diana Hawkins, director of Attenborough’s Marble Arch Productions, after Universal had passed on Attenborough’s proposed Tom Paine biopic. A longtime fan of Chaplin’s, Attenborough recalled seeing THE GOLD RUSH (1925) at the age of eleven, and credited the silent film star with inspiring his early acting career.
Bryan Forbes was brought on in 1990 to write a first draft of CHAPLIN. By mid-summer, the script was in final draft. Universal, however, was unhappy with the casting of Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead. The studio wanted a bigger name in the starring role, preferring Dustin Hoffman or Billy Crystal. When Attenborough refused to comply, the film was put into turnaround and a new producer had to be found. Mario Kassar and TriStar Pictures agreed to take the reigns, but demanded that the film include the latter part of Charles Chaplin's life in Switzerland. William Goldman was then brought in to write these new sequences. William Boyd and Tom Stoppard also did some re-writes, and all received onscreen credit except Stoppard.
CHAPLIN was Goldman's third picture with director Attenborough. John Barry's score for the 1992 film was released by Epic Records. The $31 million production was a bust at the U.S. box office, grossing only $9.3 million.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 3:51 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In the 1996 African adventure film THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS, a bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers. William Goldman first heard about the story when travelling in Africa in 1984, and thought it would make a good script. In 1989, he pitched the story to Paramount as a cross between LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and JAWS, and they commissioned him to write a screenplay which he delivered in 1990.
In early drafts of the script, the fictional character "Charles Remington" was originally going to be an enigmatic figure. Goldman's inspiration for the character was Burt Lancaster. Originally, Remington was called Redbeard, and Goldman says his purpose in the story was to create a mythic character who could be killed by the lions and make the real-life "John Patterson" (Val Kilmer) seem more heroic. But when Michael Douglas chose to play Remington, the character's role was expanded and was given a history. In Goldman's book Which Lie Did I Tell?, the screenwriter argues that Douglas' decision ruined the mystery of the character, making him a wimp and a loser.
Director Stephen Hopkins wanted his longtime collaborator Peter Levy to be the film's cinematographer, but he was overruled by Paramount executives, who wanted Vilmos Zsigmond. The film was shot in Kenya and South Africa. Zsigmond's work was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography by the American Society of Cinematographers. He lost the award to John Seale for THE ENGLISH PATIENT.
Jerry Goldsmith's score was most recently released by Intrada in 2015. The $55 million film came up short at the U.S. box office, grossing only $39 million.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 4:24 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Reportedly, William Goldman did some uncredited work on the screenplay for 1997's FIERCE CREATURES. The film's script was credited to star John Cleese and Iain Johnstone.
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While practicing law, author Dave Baldacci turned to novel writing, taking three years to write his first book Absolute Power. Published in 1996, it was an international best seller. The book tells the story of a fictional American president and his Secret Service agents who are willing to commit murder in order to cover up the accidental death of a woman with whom the President was having an affair.
Baldacci's novel, as it turns out, had started out life as a screenplay. Baldacci met producer Karen S. Spiegel in 1992. They worked on a three paragraph outline, and four drafts of a screenplay, which became the basis for Baldacci's novel. Spiegel took the project to Castle Rock Entertainment, whereupon William Goldman was contracted in 1994 to write the final script.
Clint Eastwood said of his 1997 film ABSOLUTE POWER: "I was sent the script by the production team at Castle Rock and I liked it immediately. It was written by William Goldman, who is one of the best screenwriters around. He had nicely tightened up the story from the book to fit into a film format while keeping the characters well defined and interesting people." While Eastwood liked the source novel's plot and characters, he did not like the ones he thought interesting being killed, and asked Goldman to ensure that "everyone the audience likes doesn't get killed off."
Directed by Eastwood, the film starred Eastwood as master jewel thief "Luther Whitney," Gene Hackman as the President, Ed Harris as "Detective Seth Frank," and Laura Linney as Luther's estranged daughter "Kate." Lennie Niehaus' score for the film was released by Varese Sarabande. The $50 million production only broke even at the box office.
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Posted: |
Nov 17, 2018 - 5:01 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In 2001's HEARTS IN ATLANTIS, a widowed mother (Hope Davis) and her son (Anton Yelchin) change when a mysterious stranger (Anthony Hopkins) enters their lives. Hopkins discussed psychic ability and synchronicity with the film's director Scott Hicks in an interview included on the film's DVD release. In that exchange, Hopkins tells how he had been in Florence, filming HANNIBAL (2001), and reading a memoir by William Goldman. In the book, Goldman discussed previously working with Hopkins, and discussed Kathy Bates in MISERY (1990). Hopkins recalled thinking that it would be interesting to work with Goldman again, and it would be interesting to work on a Stephen King story. Two days later, a call came that there was a script for him to read, by Goldman, based on a King story. Hopkins accepted immediately.
King's book Hearts in Atlantis is actually a collection of five stories (in order, "Low Men in Yellow Coats", "Hearts in Atlantis", "Blind Willie", "Why We're in Vietnam", and "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling"), across different time eras with different characters. Scott Hicks noted that William Goldman had taken quite a few liberties with the material, to narrow its scope and focus. Since the first and last stories were the only two in which "Bobby Garfield" (Yelchin's character) appeared, but were 40 years apart in time, Goldman used the first story as a flashback, bookended between two parts of the last story and discarded the other three stories.
Seventeen minutes of Mychael Danna's score appeared on the Decca soundtrack CD, along with 8 pop songs. The $31 million film under-performed at the box office, grossing only $24 million in the U.S.
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