The Resume

(March 2, 1914-December 8, 1990)
Born in New York City, New York
Directed 'Edge of the City' (1957), 'The Long Hot Summer' (1958), 'Hud' (1963), 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' (1965), 'Hombre' (1967), 'The Great White Hope' (1970), 'The Molly Maguires' (1970), 'Sounder' (1972), 'The Front' (1976), 'Norma Rae' (1979), 'Cross Creek' (1983), 'Murphy's Romance' (1985), 'Nuts' (1987) and 'Stanley & Iris' (1990)
Acted in 'Winged Victory' (1944), 'End of the Game' (1975) and 'The Slugger's Wife' (1985)

Why he might be annoying:

Despite a long career, he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director only once (for 'Hud').
His favorite of the films he directed, 'The Molly Maguires,' was one of his few flops.
He wore one-piece jump suits for almost every occasion, no matter how formal.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was married to Adele Ritt for 53 years until his death.
He was blacklisted from television for contributing to the Russian War Relief Fund during WWII. (Later, conservative 20th Century Fox President Spyros Skouras would ask, 'You were blackisted for that?')
His experience with the blacklist inspired his film 'The Front,' for which he hired several blacklisted actors, including Zero Mostel, Herschell Bernardi and Lloyd Gough.
He declined to put his name above the title of his films, despite having the clout to do it.
He had a reputation as an 'actor's director,' and directed Oscar-winning performances from Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas (both in 'Hud') and Sally Field ('Norma Rae').

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Artsy/Fartsy Directors
• Blacklisted
• Born on Dr. Seuss Day [March 2nd] (Ranked: 1914)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 35]
• Horse Owners
• I Attended St. John's University
• I Died in 1990 (Ranked: 76)
• Look at Me, I've Got a Camera Too
• Pauline Kael Doesn't Like Me
• Profiles 31001-31250 (Ranked: 31237)
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying