Customer Reviews

The Films of Martin Ritt: Fanfare for the Common Man

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had watched a number of films directed by Martin Ritt without particularly paying attention to him as a director and picked up this book to learn more. As an introduction to his life, particularly those influences which led to him becoming a film director, this book fits. It is not a biography as such, for once he starts directing all the biographical information is subsumed by the films themselves. Because a number of these movies are not widely known much of the detail in the individual chapters takes the form of plot summary, although this is less so in (perhaps) his best known films, "Hud", "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" and "Norma Rae".

Having just finished reading the book I am somewhat confused as to why, having maintained a strictly chronological approach to all his other films, in the penultimate chapter he combines 'Stanley and Iris' (Ritt's final film before his death in 1990) with 'The Black Orchid' from 1959. Although they fit thematically, this is true of a number of other films during his career which are retained in their chronological order. The concluding chapter also summarises the thematic statements that the author seems to be making.

If you are looking for a straight biography of a man who lived a fascinating life, then this book is not quite what you want. If you are looking for an in depth analysis of Ritt's films and the work he drew from an impressive line up of excellent actors, this is almost there without quite hitting the spot. If, however, you want a combination of those things which will give you more information about a favourite Ritt film and point you in the direction of others by the same director, then this might be just the book for you.