Otto Preminger 1960-1979 (The Old Man is Still Alive, Part 7)
Feb 25, 2025
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Explore the audacious career of Otto Preminger, starting with his blockbuster 'Exodus' and his daring Oscar-nominated direction. Delve into the controversial 'Skidoo,' where Preminger mingled with the counterculture by dropping acid with Timothy Leary. Uncover the complexity of his film 'Such Good Friends,' shedding light on women’s roles during the sexual revolution. Amidst box office failures, Preminger's innovative yet provocative cinema challenges societal norms and reflects a tumultuous era in Hollywood.
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Quick takeaways
Otto Preminger's career began with the blockbuster 'Exodus,' which highlighted his ability to tackle contentious social issues while gaining commercial success.
Despite gaining notoriety for his bold storytelling, Preminger's later films, particularly 'Skidoo,' struggled to resonate with audiences amid shifting cultural dynamics.
Preminger's attempts at addressing themes of race and identity in films like 'Hurry Sundown' and 'The Human Factor' revealed his struggle to adapt to evolving cinematic trends.
Deep dives
The Impact of Otto Preminger's Early Career
Otto Preminger, born into an aristocratic Jewish family in Austria, became a significant figure in cinema, notorious for his demanding directing style and impact on the Hollywood landscape. He established a repertory group of actors, frequently collaborating with Burgess Meredith, Peter Lawford, and Jill Hayworth. His films encompassed a range of genres, from hard-hitting noir to female-centered melodramas, consistently pushing boundaries and addressing controversial social issues. Preminger's career began in the 1930s, and he would go on to direct over 30 films, gaining recognition for his audacious storytelling and willingness to confront Hollywood norms.
Exodus and the End of Blockbuster Success
Preminger's film 'Exodus' marked a pivotal moment in his career as it became a major box office success, making it the third highest-grossing film in North America upon its release in 1960. This adaptation of Leon Uris's novel served as a Zionist narrative, depicting the struggle for Jewish independence in post-war Palestine and controversially portraying British and Arab characters. Despite its commercial triumph, 'Exodus' foreshadowed a decline in Preminger's subsequent films, which would not achieve similar mainstream success. Following this peak, his later projects began to lose their impact, leading to a series of lesser-known films with minimal box office reception.
Social Commentary in Preminger's 'Hurry Sundown'
In 'Hurry Sundown,' Preminger tackled themes of race and societal norms while depicting a Southern story steeped in racial tension. The film faced backlash for its portrayal of African American characters and stereotypes that some critics felt were dated and offensive. Despite the criticism, it made an effort to address systemic racism in the South while featuring a mix of complex and caricaturized white characters. Ultimately, the film's reception suggested that although Preminger sought to critique these issues, his approach often retained a level of contention and superficiality that detracted from its purpose.
The Shift to Experimental Cinematic Styles
With the late 1960s came a distinct shift in Preminger's directorial style, exemplified by his film 'Skidoo,' which aimed to satirize counterculture yet failed to resonate with audiences. The film utilized a hodgepodge of established actors, reflecting a clash between an old Hollywood and the emerging youth culture, resulting in a confusing product that audiences largely rejected. It was notable for its psychedelic themes and the incorporation of contemporary cultural touchstones but bedridden with critical disdain. This period marked a challenging transition for Preminger, as he struggled to align his vision with the rapidly evolving cinematic landscape of the time.
Preminger's Final Works and Legacy
In his later years, Preminger's films like 'Rosebud' and 'The Human Factor' continued to grapple with social issues, yet they failed to recapture the commercial or critical success of his earlier work. 'Rosebud' dealt with themes of terrorism and personal identity against an espionage backdrop, while 'The Human Factor' captured the complexities of political allegiance amidst personal struggle. Both films revealed a director attempting to adapt to a changing industry environment while confronting harsh realities of filmmaking. Although his later works have been criticized, they still showcase a director committed to exploring socially relevant narratives, securing Preminger's legacy as a complex and controversial figure in film history.
Long an antagonist to Hollywood’s norms (not to mention its actresses), Preminger began the 1960s by directing a massive blockbuster (Exodus) and earning his second Oscar nomination (for directing The Cardinal). But towards the end of the decade, with 1967’s Hurry, Sundown, he began a run of six films which attempted to respond to changing times, all of which flopped. We’ll focus primarily on two of these: the much-maligned Skidoo, an indictment of both hippies and the true American establishment which Preminger prepared for by dropping acid with Timothy Leary; and the unfairly forgotten Such Good Friends, the rare sex comedy of the era to understand the extent to which the sexual revolution did little to liberate women from the expectations of men.
