Robert M. Young (director)

Not be confused with Robert Young.

Robert Milton Young, usually known as Robert M. Young (born November 22, 1924 in New York City, New York), is an American multi-award winning screenwriter, director, cinematographer and producer.^[1] In 1985 he was a member of the jury at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.^[2] He has frequently cast Edward James Olmos in his movies, directing him in Alambrista! (1977), Saving Grace (1986), Triumph of the Spirit (1989), Talent for the Game (1991), Roosters (1993), Slave of Dreams (1995) and Caught (1996). He produced Olmos's directorial debut, American Me (1992).

Early life and education

Young was born in New York City in 1924. His father was a cameraman who later owned a film laboratory. Robert began college at MIT to become a chemical engineer. He left after two years to join the Navy in World War II and served in the Pacific in New Guinea and in the Philippines. Upon returning to America after the war he decided to study English Literature at Harvard University.^[3]

He also developed an interest in filmmaking and graduated from Harvard University in 1949.^[4]

Early career

After graduation, Young formed a cooperative partnership with two friends making educational films. In 1960, he worked for NBC making public affairs programs for NBC White Paper. In 1960, on behalf of NBC, he went to the American South to make the film Sit-In about the civil rights protests and sit-ins. The film won a Peabody Award.^[3][5]

He later left NBC to pursue narrative film work.^[3]

Awards

• Venice's Primo San Georgio and The City of Venice Prize, at the Venice Film Festival, for Nothing But a Man
• Camera d'Or for Best First Feature at the Cannes Film Festival for Alambrista!
• Best Feature at the San Sebastian Film Festival, for Alambrista!
• Indie Spirit nomination for Best Picture as well as Best Cinematographer, The Plot Against Harry.
• Indie Spirit Nomination for Best Director, for Caught
• Cuba's Golden Coral for Best Film
• Emmy
• 1960 Peabody Award
• 1960; 1961 George Polk Award for Journalism
• 1961 Hillman Prize
• Academy Award Nomination for Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family
• Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family
• 2015 Satellite Auteur Award

Filmography

• Secrets of the Reef (1956)
• Nothing But a Man, (1964) co-produced and photographed
• To Fly! (1976) writer
• Alambrista! (1977) writer/director and cinematographer, about a young Mexican who illegally crosses into the United States
• Short Eyes (1977) director
• One-Trick Pony (1980) director
• Saving Grace (1986)
• Extremities (1986) – director
• Dominick and Eugene (1988) director
• Triumph of the Spirit (1989) director
• The Plot Against Harry (1989) produced and photographed
• Talent for the Game (1991)
• American Me, (1992) produced with Edward James Olmos
• We Are The Children (1993)
• Roosters (1993)
• Caught (1996)
• Panda: The China Adventure (2001) Imax film director
• Human Error (2004)
• William Kurelek's The Maze (2011) co-directed with David Grubin

Television

• Slave of Dreams Showtime filmed on location in Morocco
• Solomon and Sheba, Showtime, on location in Morocco.
• Nothing Sacred ABC directed
• True to the Game, ITVS, directed, written by a young African-American woman about life in Harlem.
• "La Estrella", American Family directed^[6]
• "Battlestar Galactica

Criticism

• "Film in Review; Human Error", The New York Times, NED MARTEL, September 16, 2005
• "Fishwife Meets Drifter, And All Take a Plunge", The New York Times, JANET MASLIN, September 25, 1996
• "Films Surprisingly Yielding Surprises", The New York Times, MARGO JEFFERSON, December 31, 1996

References

Further reading

• Lewis, Leon (editor). Robert M. Young : essays on the films, Jefferson, N.C. ; London : McFarland & Co., 2005. ISBN 0786420634

External links

• Robert M. Young at the Internet Movie Database
• "Robert M. Young Filmography", Fandango
• A Tribute to Robert M. Young at Cinequest
• Robert M. Young at the Cannes Festival