John FrankenheimerBirth Place: New York, New York, USA Date of Birth: February 19, 1930 Heritage: American Famous for: Director and producer of 'The Manchurian Candidate' (1962) Contact John Frankenheimer | 
|
|
The Manchurian Candidate Background: “I feel that my job is to create an atmosphere where creative people can do their best work. In other words, I have to create an atmosphere where these people feel safe, where they feel respected, and where they feel that they can contribute.” John Frankenheimer An American film and small screen director noted for his use of innovative camera angles, John Frankenheimer (born in 1930, died in 2002) created a reputation for being one of the magnificent talents to emerge from TV's “Golden Age” and for his string of successes on the big screen, such as “All Fall Down,” “The Birdman of Alcatraz” and “The Manchurian Candidate” (all 1962). He gained additional fame with “Seven Days in May” (1964), from which he won a Bodil Award, “The Train” (1964), “Grand Prix” (1968), “The Iceman Cometh” (1963) and “French Connection II” (1975). He suffered setbacks with such disappointing projects as “Black Sunday” (1977) and “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996). Frankenheimer rebounded in the 1990s with his Emmy-winning direction on the TV films “Against the Wall” (1994) and “The Burning Season” (1994) and the miniseries “Andersonville” (1996) and “George Wallace” (1997, also won two CableAce Awards). He continued to score critical success on the wide screen with the Robert De Niro vehicle “Ronin” (1998). Frankenheimer's last venture, “Path to War” (2002, TV), brought him two Emmy nominations. In 2002, Frankenheimer was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (1997), the San Diego World Film Festival (1998) and the Casting Society of America (1998). He also received a President Award for Robert Wise Director of Distinction at the 1998 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. In addition, he nabbed a Billy Wilder Award from the 1999 National Board of Review and a Hollywood Film Award for Outstanding Achievement in Directing at the 2001 Hollywood Film Festival. Frankenheimer had two daughters with first wife Carolyn Miller (together from 1954 to 1962). At the time of his death, he was survived by wife Evans Evans.
Childhood and Family: John Michael Frankenheimer was born on February 19, 1930, in New York, New York. His father, Walter Frankenheimer, was of German-Jewish origin and worked as a stockbroker. His mother, Helen Frankenheimer, was Irish-American Roman Catholic. John was educated at the LaSalle Military Academy in Oakdale, New York, and received his B.A in English from the Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He served as a U.S. Air Force lieutenant during the Korean War. Before turning to filmmaking, John originally planned a career as a professional tennis player. John had been married twice. He was married to first wife Carolyn Miller from September 22, 1954, until 1962. They had two children together, Elise and Kristi. Daughter Kristi is a Location Manager and had worked with John on several of his projects, including his last, “Path to War” (2002, TV). John married his second wife, Evans Evans, in 1963 and stayed with her until his death. John died on July 6, 2002.
Career: John Frankenheimer joined the Air Force in 1951 and developed a passion for filmmaking while serving in the newly formed film squadron. During the course of his service, he studied fundamental filmmaking techniques and got his first taste of directing TV projects with a local Los Angeles show that was backed by a cattle ranch. After leaving the military, Frankenheimer began working as an assistant director with CBS TV in New York before making a name for himself as one of the respected TV directors of the “Golden Age.” Frankenheimer helmed episodes of the CBS series “You Are There” (1954) and “Climax!” He also worked on the 1959 TV film “The Turn of the Screw,” which starred Ingrid Bergman. In 1957, Frankenheimer made his feature directorial debut with “The Young Stranger,” which was adapted from a “Climax” episode called “Deal a Blow” that he had directed. Starring James MacArthur, the drama received critical acclaim. He returned to television and in 1957 directed Mickey Rooney in a hard-hitting drama written by Rod Serling, “The Comedian,” for “Playhouse 90,” which was counted by some as the best live drama from TV's “Golden Age” due to its characterization of the fledgling medium itself. He also directed the Broadway production of “The Midnight Sun” in 1959. Frankenheimer made his return to the big screen in 1961 with “The Young Savage,” a crime/drama starring Burt Lancaster as an idealistic prosecutor out to save the lives of three innocent mob members. Based on a novel by Evan Hunter titled “A Matter of Conviction,” it received well-founded praised and ignited Frankenheimer to give motion pictures another try. Next, he teamed up with screenwriter William Inge for “All Fall Down” (1962), a melodrama starring Warren Beatty and Eva Marie Saint, and was nominated for the Cannes Golden Palm for his direction. Later that same year, he rejoined Lancaster in “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Considered one of the director's masterpieces, the stimulating prison drama earned four Oscar nominations, including one for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lancaster's fine turn as the titular character. Still in 1962, he made another of his renowned works, “The Manchurian Candidate,” which he co-produced with screenwriter George Axelrod. He won his next DGA nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Director. Following his banner year, Frankenheimer resurfaced in 1964 to helm Lancaster in the political thriller “Seven Days in May,” which brought the director a Bodil for Best Non-European Film and his next Golden Globe nomination, and the WWII action adventure “The Train.” Frankenheimer's next film, “Second” (1966), a sci-fi thriller with Rock Hudson starring in the lead role, earned a negative response at the Cannes film festival and was dropped by Paramount. He immediately bounced back with “Grand Prix” (1968), which met success at the box office and with critics alike. Also in 1968, Frankenheimer, who had a close relationship with Robert F. Kennedy, made campaign commercials for him during the presidential primary season, but the bond ended in tragedy following the assassination of Kennedy. The incident made him fall into a deep depression and led to his move with wife to Europe. The director went on to make “The Fixer” (1968), “The Gypsy Moths” (1969), his last project with Lancaster, and “The Horsemen” (1971), but none were that successful. He gained somewhat of a revitalization with “The Iceman Cometh,” a 1973 moderately well-received drama, and “French Connection II” (1975), a sequel to the 1971 “French Connection” that scored both commercial and critical success, but was put under the radar following the commercial flop of “Black Sunday” (1977). “Prophecy” (1979), “The Holcroft Covenant” (1985), “52 Pick-Up” (1986), “The Fourth War” (1990), “Year of the Gun” (1991) and “The Island of Dr. Moreau”(1996) did little to improve his career. Frankenheimer fared better on the small screen. After directing the HBO remake of “The Rainmaker” (1982) and an episode of that cable network's “Tales From the Crypt” (1992), he took home his first Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special for his work in the HBO TV film “Against the Wall” (1994), written by Ron Hutchinson. He went on to win Emmys for his direction in the TV films “The Burning Season” (HBO, 1994) and “Andersonville” (TNT, 1996). Frankenheimer furthered confirmed he was back in the saddle with his next TV project, “George Wallace” (1997). Starring Gary Sinise, the critically praised miniseries won him an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie and two CableAce awards. Frankenheimer next directed the 1998 action masterpiece, “Ronin” and after making a rare appearance in front of the camera in the disappointing thriller “The General's Daughter” (1999), Frankenheimer directed “Reindeer Games” (2000), a crime/drama starring Ben Afflect and Charlize Theron that was released to mixed reviews. He then made a 6-minute short for BMW called “Ambush” in 2001 and made his return to TV with the Vietnam era drama “Path to War” in 2002, which ultimately became his last directorial effort. The HBO film received eight Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special.
|
|
