Robert Towne, 1934–2024
July 14, 2024 8:39 AM Subscribe
Robert Towne, who wrote the script for Chinatown, punched up the script for The Godfather, and had numerous other writing and a few writer-director credits to his name, died July 1.
His Wikipedia entry includes this fascinating tidbit: "He took an acting class with Roger Corman taught by Jeff Corey where his classmates also included Jack Nicholson (with whom he shared an apartment), Irvin Kershner, and Sally Kellerman." Imagine being in that class.
In addition to Chinatown, he wrote for a few other movies starring Jack Nicholson: The Last Detail, The Missouri Breaks, and The Two Jakes. Warren Beatty spoke his words in Bonnie and Clyde, Heaven Can Wait, and Shampoo, McCabe and Mrs Miller. Faye Dunaway in Chinatown, The Two Jakes, Bonnie and Clyde. Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 1&2, Days of Thunder.
Terry Gross interviewed Robert Towne in 1988.
Robert Town on Metafilter, previously.
His Wikipedia entry includes this fascinating tidbit: "He took an acting class with Roger Corman taught by Jeff Corey where his classmates also included Jack Nicholson (with whom he shared an apartment), Irvin Kershner, and Sally Kellerman." Imagine being in that class.
In addition to Chinatown, he wrote for a few other movies starring Jack Nicholson: The Last Detail, The Missouri Breaks, and The Two Jakes. Warren Beatty spoke his words in Bonnie and Clyde, Heaven Can Wait, and Shampoo, McCabe and Mrs Miller. Faye Dunaway in Chinatown, The Two Jakes, Bonnie and Clyde. Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 1&2, Days of Thunder.
Terry Gross interviewed Robert Towne in 1988.
Robert Town on Metafilter, previously.
Chinatown to this day still remains a damn near perfect film.
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:19 AM on July 14 [4 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:19 AM on July 14 [4 favorites]
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posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:32 AM on July 14
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:32 AM on July 14
Oh man. Massive fan in the day, and I wanted to be a screenwriter for a hot minute (well, a couple years) because of him.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:29 AM on July 14
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:29 AM on July 14
More relevant than ever -- the metaphorical Chinatown is everywhere.
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posted by credulous at 1:06 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]
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posted by credulous at 1:06 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]
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posted by mochapickle at 1:13 PM on July 14
posted by mochapickle at 1:13 PM on July 14
Terry Gross interviewed Robert Towne in 1988.
Robert Towne's talent and contributions are colossal and will find their well-deserved honors in the history of film - and every time I read or hear a reference indicating how long Terry Gross has been doing what she does I cannot avoid the involuntary cringe I incur at the mere thought of no longer having Terry Gross doing what she does.
It's been similar with so many beloved NPR hosts and voices over the years but perhaps none will I miss more than hers. Thankfully, there's prolly still thousands of interviews available that I've yet to hear and will surely outlast my time.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 4:27 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]
I’m currently reading Syd Field’s excellent Screenplay, and Towne’s Chinatown is the well-deserved default example screenplay throughout the book.
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posted by jklaiho at 12:03 AM on July 15
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posted by jklaiho at 12:03 AM on July 15
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posted by doctornemo at 8:53 AM on July 14