Monte Hellman

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Monte Hellman (born July 12, 1932, in New York City, New York) is an American film director, producer, and film editor.

Hellman is among a group of directing talent mentored by Roger Corman, who produced several of the director's early films. Hellman's most critically acclaimed film to date has been Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), a road movie that was a box office failure at the time of its initial release but has subsequently turned into a perennial cult favorite.[1] Hellman's two acid westerns starring Jack Nicholson, Ride in the Whirlwind and The Shooting, both shot in 1965 and released directly to television in 1968, have also developed cult followings, particularly the latter.[1] A third western, China 9, Liberty 37 (1978), was far less successful critically, although it too has its admirers[2], as do Cockfighter (1974) (aka Born to Kill) [3] and Iguana (1988).[4] None of Hellman's films have been large financial successes, and by 1989 he was reduced to cranking out the low-budget splatter film Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!, his last theatrically released directorial effort to date.

Hellman is much admired by Quentin Tarantino and was the Executive Producer of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.[5]

He currently teaches in the Film Directing Program at the California Institute of the Arts.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Peary, Danny. Cult Movies, Delta Books, 1981. ISBN 0-517-20185-2
  2. ^ Wells, Ron. China 9, Liberty 37. Film Threat. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  3. ^ Cockfighter. DVD Beaver. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  4. ^ Thompson, Nathaniel. The Films of Monte Hellman. Mondo Digital. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  5. ^ White, Mike. Monte Hellman: In His Own Words. Cashiers Du Cinemart. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.


[edit] External links