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{{other people|David Miller}}
{{other people|David Miller}}
'''David Miller''' (November 28, 1909 – April 14, 1992) was an American [[movie director]] who directed such varied films as ''[[Billy the Kid (1941 film)|Billy the Kid]]'' (1941) with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] and [[Brian Donlevy]], ''[[Flying Tigers (film)|Flying Tigers]]'' (1943) with [[John Wayne]], and ''[[Love Happy]]'' (1949) with the [[Marx Brothers]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bawden |first=Jim |date=February 13, 2012 |title=David Miller Remembered |url=http://www.thecolumnists.com/bawden/bawden73.html |work=TheColumnists.com}} Bawden is a veteran Canadian film critic; this webpage contains his 1982 interview of Miller and a note of his date of death.</ref> He directed ''[[Lonely Are the Brave]]'' (1962) with [[Kirk Douglas]]; [[Emanuel Levy]] wrote in 2009 that it "is the most accomplished film of David Miller, who directs with eloquent feeling for landscape and attention to character."<ref>{{cite web |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |title=Lonely Are the Brave (1962) |date=July 13, 2009<!--from Rotten Tomatoes--> |url=http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/}}</ref>
'''David Miller''' (November 28, 1909 – April 14, 1992) was an American [[movie director]] who directed such varied films as ''[[Billy the Kid (1941 film)|Billy the Kid]]'' (1941) with [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] and [[Brian Donlevy]], ''[[Flying Tigers (film)|Flying Tigers]]'' (1943) with [[John Wayne]], and ''[[Love Happy]]'' (1949) with the [[Marx Brothers]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bawden |first=Jim |date=February 13, 2012 |title=David Miller Remembered |url=http://www.thecolumnists.com/bawden/bawden73.html |work=TheColumnists.com}} Bawden is a veteran Canadian film critic; this webpage contains his 1982 interview of Miller and a note of his date of death.</ref> He directed ''[[Lonely Are the Brave]]'' (1962) with [[Kirk Douglas]]; [[Emanuel Levy]] wrote in 2009 that it "is the most accomplished film of David Miller, who directs with eloquent feeling for landscape and attention to character."<ref>{{cite web |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |title=Lonely Are the Brave (1962) |date=July 13, 2009<!--from Rotten Tomatoes--> |url=http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/}}</ref>

==Short Subject Films==
Miller was a highly respected director of short films in the 1930s and 1940s. He made 26 short subject films (one reel) from 1935 to his last short in 1947 — the notable [[Seeds of Destiny]] which won the [[Academy Award]] for best documentary short subject. Miller's short subject films were nominated for best short subject Academy Awards five times, winning the award in 1938 for ''Penny Wisdom'' and in 1947 for ''Seeds of Destiny.''

==Feature Films==
His 1942 picture [[Flying Tigers]] starred [[John Wayne]] and was about mercenary pilots fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry in World War II. It was a theatrical drama [[propaganda film]] that was well received by movie-goers who were seeking a patriotic "flagwaver" during that time.<ref>Orriss 1984, p. 59.</ref>


Miller's popular films included [[Billy the Kid (1941 film)|Billy the Kid]], [[Our Very Own (1950 film)|Our Very Own]], [[Diane (film)|Diane]], [[Midnight Lace]], and [[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]. These pictures were of the melodramatic and thriller genres.

==Miller's Critical Achievements==
Miller's most acclaimed projects were [[The Story of Esther Costello]] (1957), [[Lonely Are the Brave]] (1962), [[Captain Newman, M.D.]] (1963), and [[Executive Action (film)|Executive Action]] (1973).

[[The Story of Esther Costello]] (1957) was extremely popular in Great Britain, winning the [[BAFTA]] Best Actress Award for [[Heather Sears]] and nomination for Best Screenplay ([[Charles Kaufman]]). Sears was also nominated for a [[Golden Globe]] Award and Miller was nominated for the [[Venice Film Festival]] Golden Lion Award. It was the 11th top grossing theatrical film in Britain in 1957. The picture is an expose of professional fundraisers and the surly tactics engaged by corporate charities. Charity activists in the U.S. became so enraged by the film that they threatened libel lawsuits. <ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051015/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1</ref>

Generally regarded as Miller's most accomplished achievement, [[Lonely Are the Brave]] (1962) is also acclaimed by critics as one of the finest western genre films ever made.<ref name=tcmarticle>Brian Cady [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=81722&category=Articles "Lonely Are the Brave" (TCM article)]</ref> [[Kirk Douglas]], the star of the movie, declared it to be his finest role. <ref name=tcmarticle>Brian Cady [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=81722&category=Articles "Lonely Are the Brave" (TCM article)]</ref> It is the story of a man's last attempt to claim his independence, alienated by a world rapidly changing in the sweep of the modern. Miller captures the sweeping, untamed landscape of New Mexico and makes it Douglas's co-star along with Douglas's spirited horse. <ref>Emanuel Levy, "Lonely Are the Brave" http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/</ref> Douglas was nominated for the Best Actor [[BAFTA]] Award and was nominated for the Best Actor [[Laurel Award]]. The [[Motion Picture Sound Editors]] Association nominated the picture for best sound of 1962. The screenplay by [[Dalton Trumbo]] was adapted from [[Edward Abbey]]'s novel [[The Brave Cowboy]].

[[Captain Newman, M.D.]] is Miller's [[biopic]] adaption of [[Leo Rosten]]'s 1963 novel, loosely based on the life of [[Ralph Greenson]], a psychiatrist in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. The film is one of the first serious perspectives of [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] in popular media. The picture has been viewed in critical comparison to other films which treat mental health during and after military service including [[Catch 22]], [[Johnny Got His Gun]], [[Coming Home]], [[Platoon]], [[Apocalypse Now]], [[Full Metal Jacket]], [[Casualties of War]] and [[The Deer Hunter]]. It starred [[Gregory Peck]], [[Tony Curtis]], [[Angie Dickinson]], [[Eddie Albert]], [[Robert Duvall]], [[Bobby Darin]], and others. It was nominated for three [[Academy Awards]] — Best Supporting Actor (Bobby Darin), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Sound. It also received [[Golden Globe]] nominations for Best Picture, Best Film Promoting International Understanding, Best Actor (Gregory Peck), and Best Supporting Actor (Bobby Darin). In addition, the film was nominated for [[Laurel Awards]] and the [[Writers Guild of America Award]].

Miller's most controversial film was [[Executive Action (film)|Executive Action]] (1973) which evaluates, in a semi-documentary style, the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. It was written by [[Dalton Trumbo]], [[Donald Freed]] and [[Mark Lane (author)|Mark Lane]]. Lane has written extensively on the topic of misinterpretation of information and disinformation related to the Kennedy assassination. The picture was released on November 7, 1973 — two weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. The film, suggesting a conspiracy, asserting involvement of the [[military industrial complex]] and overtly disputing the findings of the [[Warren Commission]], became quite controversial resulting in the distributor pulling the film from theatrical release after only four weeks. The picture has often been compared to [[Oliver Stone]]'s [[JFK]], however, ''Executive Action'' is less emotional and more fact-like in its perspective. It starred [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Robert Ryan]].

===Miller's Style===

David Miller is frequently identified as part of the expressive sentimental style of film directing. <ref>http://www.theyshootpictures.com</ref> Miller was commonly interested in the moral development of characters, with a humanistic attention to the ethical compass of the human condition. Often the lead character is a lone and principled individual tested by tragic events and a preoccupation with moral dilemmas. <ref>Emanuel Levy, "Lonely Are the Brave" http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
{{div col|cols=3}}
{{div col|cols=3}}
* ''Bittersweet Love'' (1976)
* ''[[Bittersweet Love]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Executive Action (film)|Executive Action]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Executive Action (film)|Executive Action]]'' (1973)
* ''Hail, Hero!'' (1969)
* ''Hail, Hero!'' (1969)
Line 17: Line 41:
* ''[[The Opposite Sex]]'' (1956)
* ''[[The Opposite Sex]]'' (1956)
* ''[[Diane (film)|Diane]]'' (1956)
* ''[[Diane (film)|Diane]]'' (1956)
* ''Beautiful Stranger'' (1954)
* ''[[Beautiful Stranger (film)|Beautiful Stranger]]'' (1954)
* ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952)
* ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952)
* ''Saturday's Hero'' (1951)
* ''Saturday's Hero'' (1951)

Revision as of 15:25, 28 April 2013

For other people named David Miller, see David Miller (disambiguation).

David Miller (November 28, 1909 – April 14, 1992) was an American movie director who directed such varied films as Billy the Kid (1941) with Robert Taylor and Brian Donlevy, Flying Tigers (1943) with John Wayne, and Love Happy (1949) with the Marx Brothers.[1] He directed Lonely Are the Brave (1962) with Kirk Douglas; Emanuel Levy wrote in 2009 that it "is the most accomplished film of David Miller, who directs with eloquent feeling for landscape and attention to character."[2]

Short Subject Films

Miller was a highly respected director of short films in the 1930s and 1940s. He made 26 short subject films (one reel) from 1935 to his last short in 1947 — the notable Seeds of Destiny which won the Academy Award for best documentary short subject. Miller's short subject films were nominated for best short subject Academy Awards five times, winning the award in 1938 for Penny Wisdom and in 1947 for Seeds of Destiny.

Feature Films

His 1942 picture Flying Tigers starred John Wayne and was about mercenary pilots fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry in World War II. It was a theatrical drama propaganda film that was well received by movie-goers who were seeking a patriotic "flagwaver" during that time.[3]


Miller's popular films included Billy the Kid, Our Very Own, Diane, Midnight Lace, and Back Street. These pictures were of the melodramatic and thriller genres.

Miller's Critical Achievements

Miller's most acclaimed projects were The Story of Esther Costello (1957), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), and Executive Action (1973).

The Story of Esther Costello (1957) was extremely popular in Great Britain, winning the BAFTA Best Actress Award for Heather Sears and nomination for Best Screenplay (Charles Kaufman). Sears was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and Miller was nominated for the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Award. It was the 11th top grossing theatrical film in Britain in 1957. The picture is an expose of professional fundraisers and the surly tactics engaged by corporate charities. Charity activists in the U.S. became so enraged by the film that they threatened libel lawsuits. [4]

Generally regarded as Miller's most accomplished achievement, Lonely Are the Brave (1962) is also acclaimed by critics as one of the finest western genre films ever made.[5] Kirk Douglas, the star of the movie, declared it to be his finest role. [5] It is the story of a man's last attempt to claim his independence, alienated by a world rapidly changing in the sweep of the modern. Miller captures the sweeping, untamed landscape of New Mexico and makes it Douglas's co-star along with Douglas's spirited horse. [6] Douglas was nominated for the Best Actor BAFTA Award and was nominated for the Best Actor Laurel Award. The Motion Picture Sound Editors Association nominated the picture for best sound of 1962. The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo was adapted from Edward Abbey's novel The Brave Cowboy.

Captain Newman, M.D. is Miller's biopic adaption of Leo Rosten's 1963 novel, loosely based on the life of Ralph Greenson, a psychiatrist in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. The film is one of the first serious perspectives of post-traumatic stress disorder in popular media. The picture has been viewed in critical comparison to other films which treat mental health during and after military service including Catch 22, Johnny Got His Gun, Coming Home, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Casualties of War and The Deer Hunter. It starred Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert, Robert Duvall, Bobby Darin, and others. It was nominated for three Academy Awards — Best Supporting Actor (Bobby Darin), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Sound. It also received Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Film Promoting International Understanding, Best Actor (Gregory Peck), and Best Supporting Actor (Bobby Darin). In addition, the film was nominated for Laurel Awards and the Writers Guild of America Award.

Miller's most controversial film was Executive Action (1973) which evaluates, in a semi-documentary style, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was written by Dalton Trumbo, Donald Freed and Mark Lane. Lane has written extensively on the topic of misinterpretation of information and disinformation related to the Kennedy assassination. The picture was released on November 7, 1973 — two weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. The film, suggesting a conspiracy, asserting involvement of the military industrial complex and overtly disputing the findings of the Warren Commission, became quite controversial resulting in the distributor pulling the film from theatrical release after only four weeks. The picture has often been compared to Oliver Stone's JFK, however, Executive Action is less emotional and more fact-like in its perspective. It starred Burt Lancaster and Robert Ryan.

Miller's Style

David Miller is frequently identified as part of the expressive sentimental style of film directing. [7] Miller was commonly interested in the moral development of characters, with a humanistic attention to the ethical compass of the human condition. Often the lead character is a lone and principled individual tested by tragic events and a preoccupation with moral dilemmas. [8]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Bawden, Jim (February 13, 2012). "David Miller Remembered". TheColumnists.com. Bawden is a veteran Canadian film critic; this webpage contains his 1982 interview of Miller and a note of his date of death.
  2. ^ Levy, Emanuel (July 13, 2009). "Lonely Are the Brave (1962)".
  3. ^ Orriss 1984, p. 59.
  4. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051015/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
  5. ^ a b Brian Cady "Lonely Are the Brave" (TCM article)
  6. ^ Emanuel Levy, "Lonely Are the Brave" http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/
  7. ^ http://www.theyshootpictures.com
  8. ^ Emanuel Levy, "Lonely Are the Brave" http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/lonely-are-the-brave-1962-4/

External links

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