Richard Brooks

RICHARD BROOKS

American director, actor, screenwriter, writer, and producer.

His real name is Ruben Sax.

He was born May 18, 1912 in Philadelphia in a family of Jewish immigrants from Russia.

Graduated from Temple University.

He worked as a sports columnist, was an announcer and commentator on TV, and wrote scripts for radio.

Brooks began working in cinema in 1942 as a screenwriter (White Slavery). His scripts were used for such famous films as Key Largo (1948), Crossfire (1947) and Brute Force (1947), which were characterized by their topicality, sociality and sharp plot.

These qualities also distinguish Brooks's novels, which he began writing in the 1940s after returning from the war (he served as a submariner in the navy).

Brooks' interest in acute social problems and politics was clearly manifested in his directorial works: Crisis (1950), The U.S. Press Crime Story (1952), The Last Hunt (1956), Something of Value (1957) about colonialism destroying the national values of African peoples. These films had little resonance.

The topic of juvenile delinquency was dealt with in Brooks's School Jungle (1954). Brooks as a director was talked about after this film, groundbreaking in its theme of exposing unsightly morals in American schools.

Interesting was also a western "The Last Hunt" (1957) with Robert Taylor. Slightly less successful was "Something of Value" (1957), in which Brooks paid tribute to the denunciation of colonialism.

Then came a long period of fascination with screen adaptations. But neither The Brothers Karamazov (1958) nor Lord Jim (1965) based on Joseph Conrad, despite the participation of such stars as Yul Brynner and Peter O'Toole, brought Brooks acclaim, for these adaptations suffered from simplification and style-heaviness.

Of the two screen adaptations of Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and The Sweet-voiced Bird of Youth ((1962) only the former was partly due to the compelling acting of Burl Ives and Elizabeth Taylor.

In 1960 Brooks directed his best film, Elmer Gantry, based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis, which won three Oscars, including Burt Lancaster for his role as a traveling preacher and Brooks for his elegant script.

In later years Brooks successfully debunked the mythology of the Western in The Professionals (1966), the heist film in Dollars (1971) and the adventure film in Suck a Bullet (1975).

Brooks' films, "In Cold Blood" (1967) based on Truman Capote and "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977) based on Judith Rossner, received high critical acclaim. The story of the murder of a family in Kansas is presented in a semi-documentary manner, and the confession of a sexually frustrated woman in a lyrical-exalted manner, not generally characteristic of the director.

Brooks' last films, in which he paid tribute to international terrorism, The Wrong One (1980), and to the world of gamblers, Bookmaker's Fever (1985), testify to the fading talent for storytelling for which he was always famous.

Brooks' work in his best films belongs to the golden fund of Hollywood and is distinguished by elaborate scripted moves, precise psychological drawing of roles and humanism.

He passed away on March 11, 1992, in Beverly Hills.

PRIZES AND AWARDS

Screenwriters Guild of America Award:

1960 - Best American Drama ("Elmer Gantry").

1966 - For Career Achievement.

Directors Guild of America Award nomination:

1955 - Best Director ("Schoolhouse Jungle")

1958 - Best Director (The Brothers Karamazov).

1958 - Best Director (A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)

1960 - Best Director (Elmer Gantry).

1966 - Best Director (The Professionals)

1967 - Best Director (Murder in Cold Blood)