Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
05-14-10, 12:50 PM
#1
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Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
I don't understand how a director can make such a great film or two, and then release crap. Here are the ones that I can think of. Movie directors seem so unreliable. Great book authors don't seem to be like this. If you find a good author, I notice that the majority of books they make are ones that you like - not the other way around - one great book and then awful books thereafter.
Nicolas Roeg
Brian De Palma
Francis Ford Coppola
I was going to say Walter Hill, but I just realized he was always a B-movie director after checking his IMDB page. I just always assumed that he made early masterpieces back in his day with a name like that, "Walter Hill."
I'm still hoping Wolfgang Peterson and Paul Verhoven go back to their old ways. Verhoven already is on his way after doing Black Book.
Any other disappointing directors you can think of?
Nicolas Roeg
Brian De Palma
Francis Ford Coppola
I was going to say Walter Hill, but I just realized he was always a B-movie director after checking his IMDB page. I just always assumed that he made early masterpieces back in his day with a name like that, "Walter Hill."
I'm still hoping Wolfgang Peterson and Paul Verhoven go back to their old ways. Verhoven already is on his way after doing Black Book.
Any other disappointing directors you can think of?
Last edited by toddly6666; 05-14-10 at 12:53 PM.
05-14-10, 01:03 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Much as I hate to say it, add in Carpenter to that list of Johns.
After his tremendous output from '76-'88, he started making films that weren't up to par with his prior works. Which isn't to say I don't like them, but he lost his stride along the way.
After his tremendous output from '76-'88, he started making films that weren't up to par with his prior works. Which isn't to say I don't like them, but he lost his stride along the way.
05-14-10, 01:10 PM
#4
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
E.A. Dupont, who made an acclaimed silent classic of German Expressionism, VARIETY (1925), wound up in Hollywood directing actual B-movies like PROBLEM GIRLS (1953), THE NEANDERTHAL MAN (1953) and RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND (1954).
But, from more recent names to fit this description, I'd go with TallGuy's pick of John Frankenheimer. He had a great run in the '60s, from YOUNG SAVAGES, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ and MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, to SEVEN DAYS IN MAY, THE TRAIN and SECONDS and then...? Pretty much garbage for the rest of his career. And, yes, I know that REINDEER GAMES and RONIN have their fans here, but they're still just glorified B-movies to me.
But, from more recent names to fit this description, I'd go with TallGuy's pick of John Frankenheimer. He had a great run in the '60s, from YOUNG SAVAGES, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ and MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, to SEVEN DAYS IN MAY, THE TRAIN and SECONDS and then...? Pretty much garbage for the rest of his career. And, yes, I know that REINDEER GAMES and RONIN have their fans here, but they're still just glorified B-movies to me.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 05-14-10 at 01:18 PM.
05-14-10, 03:28 PM
#5
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Lost his stride? That's putting it lightly! Carpenter must have fallen into a hole somewhere!
05-14-10, 03:40 PM
#6
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
J. Lee Thompson Remember him?
This is the same guy who directed The Guns of Navarone & the original Cape Fear to finishing his career directing Charles Bronson action flicks for Cannon Films.
This is the same guy who directed The Guns of Navarone & the original Cape Fear to finishing his career directing Charles Bronson action flicks for Cannon Films.
05-14-10, 04:41 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
I'm confused. Are you talking about directors who made prestige pics and then wound making B-movies, or once-great directors whose recent output has been disappointing?
05-14-10, 04:58 PM
#8
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
From this:
To that:
To that:
05-14-10, 05:06 PM
#10
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Not a "great" director by any means, but Joel Schumacher has done both A-list and B-list movies. Generally, his B-list movies are pretty good. His A-list movies? Ummm...not so much.
05-14-10, 06:45 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
John Badham
he's had a mix through his career, very decent early on with WarGames, Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit, Stakeout then quickly descended into B-movie territory with Drop Zone, Nick of Time, Another Stakeout, now i think relegated to merely directing tv episodes. but the gem for me is American Flyers, a great B-movie sandwiched between some higher profile and best cycling movie ever!
he's had a mix through his career, very decent early on with WarGames, Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit, Stakeout then quickly descended into B-movie territory with Drop Zone, Nick of Time, Another Stakeout, now i think relegated to merely directing tv episodes. but the gem for me is American Flyers, a great B-movie sandwiched between some higher profile and best cycling movie ever!
05-14-10, 07:07 PM
#14
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Oliver Stone. Whether he was truly great is up for debate (I'm in the pro category), but his ambition has gone the wayside.
Compare his 2 presidential biopics: Nixon and W. My God, it's like they were made by 2 different people. Just check out the 2 trailers to the films:
Nixon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2LWKpeyI8
W.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weELp...eature=related
One's a brilliant, lavish melodrama about our 36th President; the other an extended almost SNL-like parody of our 43rd.
I miss the high octane, experimental Oliver Stone of the 80s and 90s. I want him back.
Compare his 2 presidential biopics: Nixon and W. My God, it's like they were made by 2 different people. Just check out the 2 trailers to the films:
Nixon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2LWKpeyI8
W.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weELp...eature=related
One's a brilliant, lavish melodrama about our 36th President; the other an extended almost SNL-like parody of our 43rd.
I miss the high octane, experimental Oliver Stone of the 80s and 90s. I want him back.
05-14-10, 08:14 PM
#15
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Well during Tales from the Script, one of the writers being interviewed said that Coppola stated after the success of The Godfather, something like "After this, I can fail for ten years and still be accepted." The writer said to him "Ten? More like thirty." Maybe Coppola took that kind of attitude to heart?
05-14-10, 08:56 PM
#16
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Other than The Godfather: Part III (which wasn't nearly as bad as its reputation suggests), what are Coppola's "bad" movies?
The only Coppola movies I've seen (and own) areThe Godfather Trilogy, Dracula, and Youth Without Youth. I really enjoyed all five of those movies.
The only Coppola movies I've seen (and own) areThe Godfather Trilogy, Dracula, and Youth Without Youth. I really enjoyed all five of those movies.
05-14-10, 09:51 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Wow. I had no clue that he directed that movie. 
All I remember was wishing I had Jennifer Lopez as a teacher in my school.
All I remember was wishing I had Jennifer Lopez as a teacher in my school.
05-14-10, 09:57 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
Other than The Godfather: Part III (which wasn't nearly as bad as its reputation suggests), what are Coppola's "bad" movies?
The only Coppola movies I've seen (and own) areThe Godfather Trilogy, Dracula, and Youth Without Youth. I really enjoyed all five of those movies.
The only Coppola movies I've seen (and own) areThe Godfather Trilogy, Dracula, and Youth Without Youth. I really enjoyed all five of those movies.
To me...Coppola must sees are GF I and II, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation. After those...FCC just never had it. Saying that I've yet to see his most recent films: Youth Without Youth and Tetro.
05-14-10, 10:04 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
I have seen both Apocalypse Now and The Conversation (though I scarcely remember anything about either) yet I never realised Coppola directed either of them.
05-14-10, 10:11 PM
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
time for you to watch them again. But honestly...after AN he kind of lost it...Dracula COULD'VE been amazing but it was merely just ok but visually interesting for sure.
05-14-10, 10:16 PM
#22
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
John Badham
he's had a mix through his career, very decent early on with WarGames, Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit, Stakeout then quickly descended into B-movie territory with Drop Zone, Nick of Time, Another Stakeout, now i think relegated to merely directing tv episodes. but the gem for me is American Flyers, a great B-movie sandwiched between some higher profile and best cycling movie ever!
he's had a mix through his career, very decent early on with WarGames, Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit, Stakeout then quickly descended into B-movie territory with Drop Zone, Nick of Time, Another Stakeout, now i think relegated to merely directing tv episodes. but the gem for me is American Flyers, a great B-movie sandwiched between some higher profile and best cycling movie ever!
Ridley Scott went from making bon-a-fide classics to hamming out big budget productions. They have a sense of class pitted against their competition, but no film that will be remembered the way we remember Blade Runner and Alien. Gladiator does have it's audience though.
05-14-10, 10:22 PM
#23
Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
I would also add Rumble Fish
05-14-10, 11:19 PM
#25
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Re: Name great directors that became B-movie directors?
I admire those directors who had a few hits that were REALLY good and then never reached it again over directors who keep pumping out many movies that are great but not at that touched-by-heaven level.