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Don Siegel

January 09, 2023

Donald Siegel (/ˈsiːɡəl/ SEE-gəl; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film and television director and producer.

Donald Siegel
Siegel while directing Coogan's Bluff in 1968
Born(1912-10-26)October 26, 1912
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1991(1991-04-20) (aged 78)
Nipomo, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film and television director and producer
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1948; div. 1953)​

​
​
(m. 1957; div. 1975)​

Carol Rydall
​
​
(m. 1981)​
Children5, including Kristoffer Tabori

Siegel was described by The New York Times as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut plots centered on individualistic loners".[1] He directed the science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), as well as five films with Clint Eastwood, including the police thriller Dirty Harry (1971) and the prison drama Escape from Alcatraz (1979). He also directed John Wayne's final film, the Western The Shootist (1976).

Early life

Siegel was born in 1912 to a Jewish family[2] in Chicago; his father was a mandolin player. Siegel attended schools in New York and later graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge in England. For a short time he studied at Beaux Arts in Paris, but left at age 20 and later went to Los Angeles.[3]

Career

Siegel found work in the Warner Bros. film library after meeting producer Hal Wallis,[3] and later rose to head of the Montage Department, where he directed thousands of montages, including the opening montage for Casablanca. In 1945, two shorts he directed, Star in the Night and Hitler Lives, won Academy Awards, which launched his career as a feature director.

He directed whatever material came his way, often transcending the limitations of budget and script to produce interesting and adept works. He made the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), described by The Guardian in 2014 as a "fatalistic masterpiece" and "a touchstone for the sci-fi genre" which spawned three remakes.[4] For television, he directed two episodes of The Twilight Zone, "Uncle Simon" (1963) and "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross" (1964), and was the producer of The Legend of Jesse James (1965).[5] He worked with Eli Wallach in The Lineup, Elvis Presley and Dolores del Río in Flaming Star (1960), with Steve McQueen in Hell Is for Heroes and Lee Marvin in the influential The Killers (1964) before directing five of Eastwood's films that were commercially successful in addition to being well received by critics. These included the action films Coogan's Bluff and Dirty Harry, the Albert Maltz-scripted Western Two Mules for Sister Sara, the American Civil War melodrama The Beguiled, and the prison-break picture Escape from Alcatraz. He was a considerable influence on Eastwood's own career as a director, and Eastwood's film Unforgiven is dedicated "for Don and Sergio".

He had a long collaboration with composer Lalo Schifrin, who scored five of his films: Coogan's Bluff, The Beguiled, Dirty Harry, Charley Varrick and Telefon.

Schifrin composed and recorded what would have been his sixth score for Siegel on Jinxed! (1982), but it was rejected by the studio despite Siegel's objections. This was one of several fights Siegel had on this, his last film.[6]

Siegel was also important to the career of director Sam Peckinpah. In 1954, Peckinpah was hired as a dialogue coach for Riot in Cell Block 11. His job entailed acting as an assistant to the director, Siegel. The film was shot on location at Folsom Prison. Siegel's location work and his use of actual prisoners as extras in the film made a lasting impression on Peckinpah. He worked as a dialogue coach on four additional Siegel films: Private Hell 36 (1954), An Annapolis Story (1955), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Crime in the Streets (1956).[7] 25 years later, Peckinpah was all but banished from the industry due to his troubled film productions. Siegel gave the director a chance to return to filmmaking. He asked Peckinpah if he would be interested in directing 12 days of second unit work on Jinxed!. Peckinpah immediately accepted, and his earnest collaboration with his longtime friend was noted within the industry. While Peckinpah's work was uncredited, it would lead to his hiring as the director of his final film The Osterman Weekend (1983).[8][9]

Cameos

He has a cameo role as a bartender in Eastwood's Play Misty for Me, as well as in Dirty Harry. In Philip Kaufman's 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a remake of Siegel's own 1956 film, he appears as a taxi driver. In Charley Varrick starring Walter Matthau (a film slated for Eastwood but ultimately turned down by the actor), he has a cameo as a ping-pong player. He also appears in the 1985 John Landis film Into the Night.

Personal life and death

From 1948 to 1953, he was married to actress Viveca Lindfors, with whom he had a son, Kristoffer Tabori. He married Doe Avedon in 1957. They adopted four children; they divorced in 1975. He married Carol Rydall, former secretary to Clint Eastwood. They remained together until he died at the age of 78 from cancer in Nipomo, California. He is buried near Highway 1 in the coastal Cayucos-Morro Bay District Cemetery. Siegel was an atheist.[10]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Flint, Peter B. (April 24, 1991). "Don Siegel, Whose Movies Herald Tough, Cynical Loners, Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Erens, Patricia (August 1988). The Jew in American Cinema. Indiana University Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-253-20493-6.
  3. ^ a b Munn, p. 75
  4. ^ Patterson, John (October 27, 2014). "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers: Don Siegel's fatalistic masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Alvin H. Marill (June 2011). Television Westerns: Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs, Scalawags, and Sidewinders. ISBN 9780810881334. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Reported by the Los Angeles Times in 1982.
  7. ^ Weddle, David (1994). If They Move...Kill 'Em!. Grove Press. pp. 116–119. ISBN 0-8021-3776-8.
  8. ^ Weddle, David (1994). If They Move...Kill 'Em!. Grove Press. pp. 534–535. ISBN 0-8021-3776-8.
  9. ^ "Jinxed!". imdb.com. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  10. ^ David Robinson, 'Don Siegel's stories', The Times, 1 May 1975; pg. 11; Issue 59384; col E.

Sources

  • Munn, Michael (1992). Clint Eastwood: Hollywood's Loner. London: Robson Books. ISBN 0-86051-790-X.

External links

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Don Siegel.
  • Don Siegel at IMDb
  • An Academy Salute to Don Siegel, With Curtis Hanson and Clint Eastwood

January 09, 2023
siegel, donald, siegel, gəl, october, 1912, april, 1991, american, film, television, director, producer, donald, siegelsiegel, while, directing, coogan, bluff, 1968born, 1912, october, 1912chicago, illinois, diedapril, 1991, 1991, aged, nipomo, california, occ. Donald Siegel ˈ s iː ɡ el SEE gel October 26 1912 April 20 1991 was an American film and television director and producer Donald SiegelSiegel while directing Coogan s Bluff in 1968Born 1912 10 26 October 26 1912Chicago Illinois U S DiedApril 20 1991 1991 04 20 aged 78 Nipomo California U S Occupation s Film and television director and producerSpouse s Viveca Lindfors m 1948 div 1953 wbr Doe Avedon m 1957 div 1975 wbr Carol Rydall m 1981 wbr Children5 including Kristoffer TaboriSiegel was described by The New York Times as a director of tough cynical and forthright action adventure films whose taut plots centered on individualistic loners 1 He directed the science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 as well as five films with Clint Eastwood including the police thriller Dirty Harry 1971 and the prison drama Escape from Alcatraz 1979 He also directed John Wayne s final film the Western The Shootist 1976 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Cameos 4 Personal life and death 5 Filmography 6 References 6 1 Sources 7 External linksEarly life EditSiegel was born in 1912 to a Jewish family 2 in Chicago his father was a mandolin player Siegel attended schools in New York and later graduated from Jesus College Cambridge in England For a short time he studied at Beaux Arts in Paris but left at age 20 and later went to Los Angeles 3 Career EditSiegel found work in the Warner Bros film library after meeting producer Hal Wallis 3 and later rose to head of the Montage Department where he directed thousands of montages including the opening montage for Casablanca In 1945 two shorts he directed Star in the Night and Hitler Lives won Academy Awards which launched his career as a feature director He directed whatever material came his way often transcending the limitations of budget and script to produce interesting and adept works He made the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 described by The Guardian in 2014 as a fatalistic masterpiece and a touchstone for the sci fi genre which spawned three remakes 4 For television he directed two episodes of The Twilight Zone Uncle Simon 1963 and The Self Improvement of Salvadore Ross 1964 and was the producer of The Legend of Jesse James 1965 5 He worked with Eli Wallach in The Lineup Elvis Presley and Dolores del Rio in Flaming Star 1960 with Steve McQueen in Hell Is for Heroes and Lee Marvin in the influential The Killers 1964 before directing five of Eastwood s films that were commercially successful in addition to being well received by critics These included the action films Coogan s Bluff and Dirty Harry the Albert Maltz scripted Western Two Mules for Sister Sara the American Civil War melodrama The Beguiled and the prison break picture Escape from Alcatraz He was a considerable influence on Eastwood s own career as a director and Eastwood s film Unforgiven is dedicated for Don and Sergio He had a long collaboration with composer Lalo Schifrin who scored five of his films Coogan s Bluff The Beguiled Dirty Harry Charley Varrick and Telefon Schifrin composed and recorded what would have been his sixth score for Siegel on Jinxed 1982 but it was rejected by the studio despite Siegel s objections This was one of several fights Siegel had on this his last film 6 Siegel was also important to the career of director Sam Peckinpah In 1954 Peckinpah was hired as a dialogue coach for Riot in Cell Block 11 His job entailed acting as an assistant to the director Siegel The film was shot on location at Folsom Prison Siegel s location work and his use of actual prisoners as extras in the film made a lasting impression on Peckinpah He worked as a dialogue coach on four additional Siegel films Private Hell 36 1954 An Annapolis Story 1955 Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 and Crime in the Streets 1956 7 25 years later Peckinpah was all but banished from the industry due to his troubled film productions Siegel gave the director a chance to return to filmmaking He asked Peckinpah if he would be interested in directing 12 days of second unit work on Jinxed Peckinpah immediately accepted and his earnest collaboration with his longtime friend was noted within the industry While Peckinpah s work was uncredited it would lead to his hiring as the director of his final film The Osterman Weekend 1983 8 9 Cameos EditHe has a cameo role as a bartender in Eastwood s Play Misty for Me as well as in Dirty Harry In Philip Kaufman s 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers a remake of Siegel s own 1956 film he appears as a taxi driver In Charley Varrick starring Walter Matthau a film slated for Eastwood but ultimately turned down by the actor he has a cameo as a ping pong player He also appears in the 1985 John Landis film Into the Night Personal life and death EditFrom 1948 to 1953 he was married to actress Viveca Lindfors with whom he had a son Kristoffer Tabori He married Doe Avedon in 1957 They adopted four children they divorced in 1975 He married Carol Rydall former secretary to Clint Eastwood They remained together until he died at the age of 78 from cancer in Nipomo California He is buried near Highway 1 in the coastal Cayucos Morro Bay District Cemetery Siegel was an atheist 10 Filmography EditNow Voyager 1942 montage by Across the Pacific 1942 montage director Casablanca 1942 montage director The Hard Way 1943 montage director Star in the Night 1945 short Hitler Lives 1945 documentary short uncredited The Verdict 1946 Night Unto Night 1949 The Big Steal 1949 The Duel at Silver Creek 1952 Count the Hours 1953 China Venture 1953 Riot in Cell Block 11 1954 Private Hell 36 1954 The Blue and Gold 1955 Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 Crime in the Streets 1956 Baby Face Nelson 1957 Spanish Affair 1957 The Gun Runners 1958 The Lineup 1958 Hound Dog Man 1959 Edge of Eternity 1959 Man at Motel Pool uncredited Flaming Star 1960 Hell Is for Heroes 1962 The Killers 1964 The Hanged Man 1964 Stranger on the Run 1967 Coogan s Bluff 1968 Madigan 1968 Death of a Gunfighter 1969 Two Mules for Sister Sara 1970 The Beguiled 1971 Dirty Harry 1971 Charley Varrick 1973 The Black Windmill 1974 The Shootist 1976 Telefon 1977 Escape from Alcatraz 1979 Rough Cut 1980 Jinxed 1982 References Edit Flint Peter B April 24 1991 Don Siegel Whose Movies Herald Tough Cynical Loners Dies at 78 The New York Times Retrieved June 20 2020 Erens Patricia August 1988 The Jew in American Cinema Indiana University Press p 392 ISBN 978 0 253 20493 6 a b Munn p 75 Patterson John October 27 2014 Invasion Of The Body Snatchers Don Siegel s fatalistic masterpiece The Guardian Retrieved June 20 2020 Alvin H Marill June 2011 Television Westerns Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs Scalawags and Sidewinders ISBN 9780810881334 Retrieved June 20 2020 Reported by the Los Angeles Times in 1982 Weddle David 1994 If They Move Kill Em Grove Press pp 116 119 ISBN 0 8021 3776 8 Weddle David 1994 If They Move Kill Em Grove Press pp 534 535 ISBN 0 8021 3776 8 Jinxed imdb com Retrieved March 6 2012 David Robinson Don Siegel s stories The Times 1 May 1975 pg 11 Issue 59384 col E Sources Edit Munn Michael 1992 Clint Eastwood Hollywood s Loner London Robson Books ISBN 0 86051 790 X External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Don Siegel Don Siegel at IMDb Senses of Cinema Great Directors Critical Database An Academy Salute to Don Siegel With Curtis Hanson and Clint Eastwood Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Siegel amp oldid 1132469824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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