Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Robert Aldrich

Role / Field:

Maverick auteur of Hollywood, known for dark melodramas and genre pushing.

Born:

1918-08-09

Died:

1983-12-05

Century / Era:

1918s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. An iconoclastic and maverick auteur working in many genres during the Golden Age of Hollywood, he directed mainly films noir, war movies, westerns and dark melodramas with Gothic overtones. His most notable credits include Vera Cruz (1954), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), The Big Knife (1955), Autumn Leaves (1956), Attack (1956), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and The Longest Yard (1974).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Containing a "macho mise-en-scène and resonant reworkings of classic action genres," Aldrich's films were known for pushing the boundaries of violence in mainstream cinema, as well as for their psychologically complex interpretations of genre film tropes. The British Film Institute wrote that Aldrich's work displays "a subversive sensibility in thrall to the complexities of human behaviour." Several of his films later influenced the French New Wave. Aside from his directorial work, Aldrich was also noted for his advocacy as a member of the Directors Guild of America, serving as its president...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alan Moorehead — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Australian war correspondent and author of popular histories, famed for Nile explorations.
• Alfred Tarski — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• Amy Winehouse — Contemporary (Born in 1983) (1983): Iconic British soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and retro sounds.
• Alexandre Alexeieff — Shared historical date (08-09 · Died) (1982): Russian-born artist, filmmaker, and illustrator known for inventing the pinscreen technique.
• Almanzor — Shared historical date (08-09 · Died) (1002): Powerful Andalusian statesman and military leader who effectively ruled Islamic Iberia.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Shared historical date (12-05 · Died) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Adolph Caesar — Shared historical date (12-05 · Born) (1933): Acclaimed American actor known for his deep voice and Off-Broadway staple status.
• 1918 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1918
• August 9 (08-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 9
• 1983 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1983
• December 5 (12-05) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Aldrich