Richard Brooks

10 films · 1950 to 1975

Born 18 May 1912, Philadelphia · Died 11 March 1992

Richard Brooks was an American film director, screenwriter, journalist and novelist. He directed 24 feature films between 1950 and 1985, and was known for his portrayals of hard-hitting subject matter, psychologically complex characters, and his independently minded auteurist approach to filmmaking. His notable works included Blackboard Jungle (1955), Something of Value (1957), The Brothers Karamazov, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (both 1958), Elmer Gantry (1960), Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), The Professionals (1966), In Cold Blood (1967) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). He is also known for writing the films noir The Killers (1946), Brute Force (1947), and Key Largo (1948). Brooks was an eight-time Academy Award nominee, three for Best Director and five for Best Adapted Screenplay, winning once for the latter for Elmer Gantry.

Biography adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.