Sooner or later, everyone gets to direct. A lot of first-time directors never direct again. Here are five (six) films directed by individuals that might surprise you.
Renaldo and Clara (1978) – Bob Dylan wrote and directs this mixture of melodrama and performance. It’s an interesting mess of a film. Four hours long, it got only a small release before it was pulled from distribution. Dylan mixes his real life into a fictional story and features many of the artists from his Rolling Thunder Review.
Tough Guys Don’t Dance (1987) – Norman Mailer puts his pen down, an unlikely choice to helm an adaptation of his book. Starring Ryan O’Neal and Isabella Rossellini in this campy film noir that was considered a major bomb. The plot involves a father and son who must dispose of dead bodies. Beyond that, it’s difficult to figure out.
Maximum Overdrive (1986) – Stephen King didn’t like the way Hollywood adapted his books for the screen, so he adapted his own short story (called “Trucks”) and sat in the director’s chair. Machines out of control and exacting revenge on humans. I’ve seen it several times. An adequate “B” film. Starring Emilio Estevez and Pat Hingle.
Falling from Grace (1992) – John Mellencamp directed this film, and he starred in it, but it’s really an ensemble cast of veteran Hollywood character actors including Kay Lenz, Mariel Hemingway and Claude Akins. Written by Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), it’s the story of a music star who returns home to drama with his father, old girlfriend and current wife. Pent-up disappointment, old wounds and uncertain feeling turn this visit upside down.
Up in Smoke (1978) – Lou Adler stepped behind the camera, at least he is credited as director of this first Cheech & Chong film. He was Cheech & Chong’s manager and guided (and financed) this film about the misadventures of pot smoking buddies in a world of troubles. Lou is known as a record label owner, concert producer and record producer, and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On a budget of under $2M, this film made over $100M from its initial release.
Bonus
92 in the Shade – Thomas McGuane is a writer much like Larry McMurtry, an award-winning novelist and essayist, was hired to adapt his novel, 92 in the Shade for the screen, and had enough cache to direct it. In the 1970s, studios allowed most anyone with some measure of power or fame to direct. McGuane also wrote the scripts for Rancho Deluxe and The Missouri Breaks. The film, starring Peter Fonda and Warren Oats, was a disappointment to the audience and those who made the film. Something happened on the way to the screen.
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