Passing of Richard Franklin
Australian director Richard Franklin, a very skilled and exacting craftsman who was best known for thrillers such as Roadgames (an excellent genre piece; reportedly a favorite of Quentin Tarantino's), Cloak and Dagger, Link, Psycho 2 and F/X2, died of prostate cancer in Melbourne on July 11th. The poor guy was only 58.
I got to know Franklin a bit when I was working at Cannon Films in '87 and writing the press notes for Link, which I rather liked. (Before the press screenings at Cannon we used to play The Kinks' "Ape Man"as a sort of overture.) I remember telling him once that I really admired the very careful photography and perfectly- timed editing that went into Link. He was very grateful to hear this, but added that making a film turn out just so was very hard work.
Terrence Stamp, who starred in Link, told me during a Limey interview seven or or eight years ago that Franklin was very tough on film crews.
Director Phillip Noyce called from Australia to say he didn't really know Franklin, having met him only once. Filmmakers from Melbourne (where Franklin resided) and Sydney don't travel in the same circles. He said that Franklin was the first Australian director to demand his own on-set director's chair, which, before this happened sometime in the late '70s, had been an unknown thing in Australia.
Franklin was a lifelong Alfred Hitchcock devotee, and you could sense this in the style and language of many of his films. This "Senses of Cinema" piece by Aaron Graham is a good appreciation.
Link
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 19, 2007 at 12:26 AM
comment #1
BurmaShave
says ...
I was about to say "Very classy Wells, I'm impressed", and then, that capper. Damned with hearsay even after death. Anyone ever teach you the sandwich rule? Maybe try reversing the last two paragraphs. In the future, when you approach these pieces, play "Living On a Thin Line" as a kind of overture.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 19, 2007 1:27 AM
comment #2
Breedlove
says ...
Burma, I don't understand your post...What am I missing? Seems like a pretty positive remembrance to me. Not sure what you mean by "that capper" or reversing the last two paragraphs. Did Jeff already edit this thing, is Burma insane, or am I insane? Possibly all three.
I have strong memories of 'Cloak and Dagger' from when I was a kid, I always loved that movie. No idea if it would hold up now or not.
Posted by Breedlove
at July 19, 2007 7:39 AM
comment #3
Tim
says ...
Breedlove: Agree on the Cloak & Dagger tip. As a kid, that was always the coolest movie. But I'd rather not kill my Dabney Coleman love by attempting to watch it as an adult.
Posted by Tim
at July 19, 2007 7:43 AM
comment #4
jimjonesiii
says ...
mr welles edited the thing.
Posted by jimjonesiii
at July 19, 2007 7:44 AM
comment #5
le corbeau
says ...
Psycho II is just a little tail on a big dog, but it's quite enjoyable. The way Perkins says "cu-hutlery" is worth the price of admission.
Posted by le corbeau
at July 19, 2007 7:47 AM
comment #6
The Winchester
says ...
Cloak and Dagger is pretty solid today. I watched it as a kid, then caught it again a year ago on cable. Coleman rocks ass in it.
And I'll probably be the only person to state this aloud, but I dig F/X 2 as well. Sad to see him go.
Posted by The Winchester
at July 19, 2007 8:12 AM
comment #7
JD
says ...
Thanks for keeping this positive, Jeff. Cloak & Dagger was a childhood favorite and I still watch Patrick, Psycho 2, and Roadgames every now and then. Hell, I re-visited Roadgames just 2 moinths ago.
Posted by JD
at July 19, 2007 8:37 AM
comment #8
christian
says ...
PSYCHO 2 has some great things in it.
ROADGAMES i watched repeatedly on hbo in the 80's.
Posted by christian
at July 19, 2007 10:00 AM
comment #9
Josh Massey
says ...
Psycho II is actually a very well-made horror film. I think it has a reputation of being bad, but that's only because of its impossible-to-live-up-to source material.
Now Psycho III on the other hand...
Posted by Josh Massey
at July 19, 2007 10:01 AM
comment #10
MiraJeffAICN
says ...
I'll admit, I also enjoyed F/X2 and I think with all the advances in spy and gaming technology, Cloak and Dagger is ripe to be remade. It could be a really good PG-13 thriller, a kid's movie but not an overblown tentpole.
Posted by MiraJeffAICN
at July 19, 2007 11:46 AM
comment #11
BurmaShave
says ...
Wow, well done Wells. Very classy. Glad to help give you some perspective in the wee small hours.
FEEEEEEEL MYYYYYY POWEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 19, 2007 1:23 PM
comment #12
Ogami Itto
says ...
So what did Wells say that pissed you off so much, BurmaShave?
Posted by Ogami Itto
at July 19, 2007 2:51 PM
comment #13
BurmaShave
says ...
It wasn't a Bob Clark thing by any means, but originally it ended with a Terrence Stamp story about how he was so disliked by a particular film crew that they tied him to a cactus and left him there over night. Also, on the set of LINE, he refused to kneel before Zod.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 19, 2007 2:58 PM
comment #14
BurmaShave
says ...
*LINK. KNEEL!
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 19, 2007 2:59 PM