Jonathan Demme

Robert Jonathan Demme (/ˈdɛmi/ DEM-ee;[1] February 22, 1944 – April 26, 2017) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of film and television who earned widespread acclaim.

Jonathan Demme
Demme at the 2015 Montclair Film Festival
Born
Robert Jonathan Demme

(1944-02-22)February 22, 1944
DiedApril 26, 2017(2017-04-26) (aged 73)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Florida
OccupationFilm director, film producer, screenwriter
Years active1968–2017
Notable work
Spouse(s)Joanne Howard
Evelyn Purcell
Children3
RelativesTed Demme (nephew)
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Director
1992 The Silence of the Lambs

Originally beginning his career under B-movie producer Roger Corman, Demme made his directorial debut with the 1974 women-in-prison film Caged Heat, before becoming known for his casually humanist films[2] such as Melvin and Howard (1980), Swing Shift (1984), Something Wild (1986), and Married to the Mob (1988). His direction of the 1991 psychological horror film The Silence of the Lambs (1991), won him the Academy Award for Best Director. His subsequent films earned similar acclaim, notably Philadelphia (1993) and Rachel Getting Married (2008).

Demme also directed numerous concert films such as Stop Making Sense (1984), Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006), and Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids (2016), and worked on several television series as both a producer and director.

Early life

Demme was born on February 22, 1944 in Baldwin, New York, the son of Dorothy Louise (née Rogers)[3] and Robert Eugene Demme, a public relations executive.[4][5] He was raised in Rockville Centre, New York and Miami,[6] where he graduated from Southwest Miami High School[7] before attending the University of Florida.[8]

Career

Early films

Demme broke into feature film working for exploitation film producer Roger Corman early in his career, co-writing and producing Angels Hard as They Come (1971), a motorcycle movie very loosely based on Rashomon,[9] and The Hot Box (1972). He then moved on to directing three films for Corman's studio New World Pictures: Caged Heat (1974), Crazy Mama (1975), and Fighting Mad (1976). After Fighting Mad, Demme directed the comedy film Handle with Care (originally titled Citizens Band, 1977) for Paramount Pictures. The film was well received by critics,[10] but received little promotion,[11] and performed poorly at the box office.[12]

Demme's next film, Melvin and Howard (1980), did not get a wide release, but received a groundswell of critical acclaim, and led to the signing of Demme to direct the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell star vehicle Swing Shift (1984). Intended as a prestige picture for Warner Bros.[13] as well as a major commercial vehicle for Demme,[14] it instead became a troubled production due to the conflicting visions of Demme and star Hawn. Demme ended up renouncing the finished product, and when the film was released in May 1984, it was generally panned by critics and neglected by moviegoers.[13] After Swing Shift, Demme stepped back from Hollywood to make the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense (also 1984) which won the National Society of Film Critics Award for best documentary;[15] the eclectic screwball action-romantic comedy Something Wild (1986); a film-version of the stage production Swimming to Cambodia (1987), by monologist Spalding Gray; and the New York Mafia-by-way-of Downtown comedy Married to the Mob (1988).[a]

Demme formed his production company, Clinica Estetico, with producers Edward Saxon and Peter Saraf in 1987.[16][17] They were based out of New York City for fifteen years.[18][19]

Later films

Demme won the Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs (1991)—one of only three films to win all the major categories (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress).[20] Inspired by his friend Juan Suárez Botas's illness with AIDS[21] and fueled by his own moral convictions,[9] Demme then used his influence to make Philadelphia (1993),[22] one of the first major films to address the AIDS crisis[22] and which garnered star Tom Hanks his first Best Actor Oscar.[22] He also co-directed (with his nephew Ted) the music video for Bruce Springsteen's Best Song Oscar-winning "Streets of Philadelphia" from the film's soundtrack.[23]

Subsequently, his films included an adaptation of Toni Morrison's Beloved (1998), and remakes of two films from the 1960s: The Truth About Charlie (2002), based on Charade, that starred Mark Wahlberg in the Cary Grant role; and The Manchurian Candidate (2004), with Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. Demme's documentary film Man from Plains (2007), a documentary about former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's promotional tour publicizing his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

His art-house hit Rachel Getting Married (2008) was compared by many critics to Demme's films of the late 1970s and 1980s.[24][25][26] It was included in many 2008 "best of" lists, and received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress by lead Anne Hathaway. In 2010, Demme made his first foray into theater, directing Family Week, a play by Beth Henley. The play was produced by MCC Theater and co-starred Rosemarie DeWitt and Kathleen Chalfant.[27]

At one time, Demme was signed on to direct, produce, and write an adaptation of Stephen King's sci-fi novel 11/22/63, but later left due to disagreements with King on what should be included in the script.[28]

He returned to the concert documentary format with Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids (2016), which he described as a "performance film, but also a portrait of an artist at a certain moment in the arc of his career",[21] and his last project was a history of rock & roll for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame compiled from footage from Hall of Fame induction ceremonies set to debut in summer 2017.[21]

Demme directed music videos for artists such as Suburban Lawns, New Order, KRS-One's H.E.A.L. project and Bruce Springsteen. He also produced a compilation of Haitian music called Konbit: Burning Rhythms of Haiti that was released in 1989. (Lou Reed selected Konbit... as one of his 'picks of 1989').[29]

Demme was on the board of directors at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York. In addition to his role on the board, he curated and hosted a monthly series called "Rarely Seen Cinema".[30]

Style

Throughout 1986–2004, Demme was known for his dramatic close-ups in films. This style of close-ups involves the character looking directly into the camera during crucial moments, particularly in the "Quid pro quo" scene in Silence of the Lambs. According to Demme, this was done to put the viewer into the character's shoes. Beginning with Rachel Getting Married (2008), Demme adopted a documentary style of filmmaking.[31][32]

Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson has paid homage to Demme in his films and has cited him as a major influence in his work. In an interview, Anderson jokingly stated that the three filmmakers who inspired him the most are "Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Demme and Jonathan Demme."[33][34] Other directors such as Alexander Payne and Wes Anderson have been known to copy his close-ups in their own work.[35][36]

Political activism

Demme was involved in various political projects. In 1981, he directed a series of commercials for the liberal advocacy group People for the American Way. The spots, titled "Eggs",[37] "Music",[38][39] and "Sports",[40] were produced by Norman Lear and featured Muhammad Ali, Carol Burnett, and Goldie Hawn celebrating Freedom of Expression.[41] In 1985, he directed a video for Artists United Against Apartheid. The short, featured various international musicians including Afrika Bambaataa, Rubén Blades, Jimmy Cliff, Herbie Hancock, Little Steven, Run–D.M.C., and Bruce Springsteen, calling for a boycott of the South African luxury resort Sun City during Apartheid. His documentary Haiti Dreams of Democracy (1988) captured Haiti's era of democratic rebuilding after dictatorship, while his documentary The Agronomist (2008) profiled Haitian journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique. Demme spent six years on the documentary I'm Carolyn Parker (2011), which highlighted rebuilding efforts in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina.

Personal life

Demme was married twice, first to Evelyn Purcell and then Joanne Howard, with whom he had three children: Ramona, Brooklyn, and Jos.[6] He was the uncle of film director Ted Demme, who died in 2002.[42] Demme's cousin was the Rev. Robert Wilkinson Castle Jr., an Episcopal priest who appeared in some of Demme's films.

Demme was a member of the steering committee of the Friends of the Apollo Theater, Oberlin, Ohio, along with Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.[43] In 2013, he returned to Oberlin as part of an alumni reunion during the class of 2013 graduation ceremony and received the award for Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.[44]

Demme was an avid collector and devotee of Haitian art; in particular of Hector Hyppolite; so much so that he called it "an addiction". In 2014, he held an auction in Philadelphia selling thousands from his collection, much of which was donated to a cultural center in Port-au-Prince.[45]

Death

Demme died at his home in Manhattan on April 26, 2017, from complications from esophageal cancer and heart disease; he was 73.[46][6]

"I am heart-broken to lose a friend, a mentor, a guy so singular and dynamic you'd have to design a hurricane to contain him. Jonathan was as quirky as his comedies and as deep as his dramas. He was pure energy, the unstoppable cheerleader for anyone creative. Just as passionate about music as he was about art, he was and will always be a champion of the soul. JD, most beloved, something wild, brother of love, director of the lambs. Love that guy. Love him so much."

Jodie Foster's statement following Demme's death.[47]

Director Brady Corbet dedicated his 2018 film Vox Lux to Demme's memory,[48] as did Luca Guadagnino with his 2018 film Suspiria and Paul Thomas Anderson with his 2017 film Phantom Thread. Demme is thanked in the credits of Spike Lee's 2020 concert film American Utopia starring David Byrne.

Filmography

Feature film

Year Title[49] Credited as Notes
Director Producer Writer
1971 Angels Hard as They Come Yes Yes
1972 The Hot Box Yes Yes
1973 Black Mama White Mama Story
1974 Caged Heat Yes Yes
1975 Crazy Mama Yes
1976 Fighting Mad Yes Yes
1977 Handle with Care Yes originally titled Citizens Band
1979 Last Embrace Yes
1980 Melvin and Howard Yes
1984 Swing Shift Yes
1986 Something Wild Yes Yes
1987 Swimming to Cambodia Yes
1988 Married to the Mob Yes
1991 The Silence of the Lambs Yes Academy Award for Best Director[20]
Won- BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Nominated- Golden Globe Award for Best Director[50]
1993 Philadelphia Yes Yes
1998 Beloved Yes
2002 The Truth About Charlie Yes Yes Yes
2004 The Manchurian Candidate Yes Yes
2008 Rachel Getting Married Yes Yes
2013 A Master Builder[22] Yes
2015 Ricki and the Flash Yes

As executive producer

As producer

Documentary

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Producer Writer
1984 Stop Making Sense Yes Yes
1987 Haiti: Dreams of Democracy Yes Yes Yes
1992 Cousin Bobby Yes
1994 The Complex Sessions Yes
One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave:
Secrets from the Dolly Madison Room 1994
[51]
Yes
1996 Mandela Yes
1998 Storefront Hitchcock Yes
2003 The Agronomist Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks Yes
2006 Neil Young: Heart of Gold Yes
2007 Man from Plains Yes Yes
Right to Return: New Home Movies From the Lower 9th Ward[55] Yes
2009 Neil Young Trunk Show Yes
2011 I'm Carolyn Parker[56] Yes Yes Also cinematographer
2012 Neil Young Journeys Yes Yes
Enzo Avitabile Music Life[57] Yes Yes
2015 What's Motivating Hayes[58] Yes Short film
2016 Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids[22] Yes

Television

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1978 Columbo Yes Episode "Murder Under Glass"
1980–86 Saturday Night Live[59] Yes Yes 3 episodes
1982 American Playhouse Yes Episode "Who Am I This Time?"
1987 Trying Times Yes Episode "A Family Tree"
1997 Subway Stories Yes Segment "Subway Car from Hell"
2011 Enlightened[51] Yes 2 episodes
A Gifted Man[51] Yes Yes Episode "Pilot"
2013–14 The Killing[60] Yes 2 episodes
2017 Shots Fired[22] Yes Episode "Hour Six: The Fire This Time"
2018 Seven Seconds Yes Episode "Brenton's Breath" (Posthumous release)

Music videos

Year Title Artist
1985 "The Perfect Kiss"[49] New Order
1985 "Everybody's Young" Sandra Bernhard
1988 "Away" The Feelies[61]
1995 "Murder Incorporated"[49] Bruce Springsteen

Second unit director

Acting roles

Year Title[49] Role Notes
1977 The Incredible Melting Man Matt Winters
1979 Last Embrace Man on Train
1985 Into the Night Federal Agent
1996 That Thing You Do! Producer of That Thing You Do!
Director of Weekend At Party Pier
2000 Oz Commercial Director[51]
2015 I Thought I Told You To Shut Up Narrator[62] Short documentary

Frequent Collaborators

Awards and nominations

References

  1. Weber, Bruce. "Jonathan Demme, Oscar-Winning Director, Is Dead at 73," The New York Times, Wednesday, April 26, 2017.
  2. Seitz, Matt Zoller (April 26, 2017). "A musical soul: Jonathan Demme, 1944-2017". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved February 14, 2020. Demme's laid back brand of optimistic humanism wasn't always a great fit for Hollywood projects, though he applied his talents to them so conscientiously and inventively that he briefly became an A-list director anyhow.
  3. "Dorothy Demme; Character Actress in Son's Movies". LA Times. December 9, 1995. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. "Bonnie-B-Allen - User Trees - Genealogy.com". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
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  6. Weber, Bruce (April 26, 2017). "Jonathan Demme, Oscar-Winning Director, Is Dead at 73". The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  7. "14902: The silenced voice of Radio Haiti speaks again on film (fwd)". Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  8. Gilbey, Ryan (April 26, 2017). "Jonathan Demme obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  9. DeCurtis, Anthony (March 24, 1994). "The Rolling Stone Interview: Jonathan Demme on Philadelphia, Tom Hanks, homophobia". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017. Philadelphia was fueled by three of the director's staunchest convictions: that helping out people who are having a hard time is less a duty than a pleasure; that bigotry is more the result of ignorance than evil; and that for all the country's political outrages, goodness is deep in the American grain.
  10. Sragow, Michael (1984), "Jonathan Demme on the Line", American Film (January/February), archived from the original on July 7, 2004, retrieved March 18, 2009, Although his best two movies to date, Citizens Band (AKA Handle With Care, 1977) and Melvin and Howard (1980), were hailed for bringing the heartiness and sensitivity of a homegrown Jean Renoir into latter-day American film comedy, they failed to score at the box office.
  11. Kaplan, James (March 27, 1988), "Jonathan Demme's Offbeat America", The New York Times, p. 6.48, retrieved March 18, 2009, Paramount figured it might just have a sleeper hit in the small movie, but it took a wait-and-see attitude, spending little on advertising and promotion, and hoping the movie would hook onto the C.B. craze and catch.
  12. Williams, Phillip (October 11, 2002), "The Truth About Jonathan Demme", MovieMaker, We had a great time doing it and we were invited to the New York Film Festival, despite the fact that the film tanked horrendously—and famously—at the box office.
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  24. Burr, Ty (October 12, 2008), "He's back", The Boston Globe, retrieved March 19, 2009, Warm rather than cold, forgiving rather than damning, Rachel is a throwback to the fluky, generous vibe that sustained the director's films in the late 1970s and 1980s – Handle With Care (1977), Melvin and Howard (1980), Stop Making Sense (1984), Something Wild (1986) and Married to the Mob (1988).
  25. Olsen, Mark (September 28, 2008), "Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married", Los Angeles Times, retrieved March 19, 2009, With Rachel Getting Married, Demme, 64, has returned to the playful, deeply humanist storytelling of such early work as 1980's Melvin and Howard and 1986's Something Wild, both of which are widely acknowledged as having influenced a younger generation of filmmakers.
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