Kramer’s director against Kramer is dead
Robert Benton, winner of three Oscars, was 92 years old.
American cinema loses one of its great storytellers: Robert Bentondirector and screenwriter Oscar winning three times, died Sunday in Manhattan at the age of 92. It was his assistant Marisa Forzano who confirmed the news to the New York Times.
Benton will forever remain the man behind Kramer against Kramer (1979), an intimate drama that has become a global phenomenon, which spoke like never before the divorce, child care, paternity. Haloed 5 Oscars including those of the best filmthe best director and the best scenario, he also made it possible to devote Dustin Hoffman and to reveal a certain Meryl Streep – Then almost unknown.
But Benton’s journey is not limited to this success. Born in Texas, trained in Fine Arts and passed through the illustration, he begins as artistic director for the magazine Esquire. It is there that he meets David Newmanwith whom he co -written in 1967 the legendary Bonnie and Clyde. First refused by the studios, the script explodes on the screen thanks to Arthur Penn And Warren Beattybecoming a classic of the new American wave.
True to an author’s vision, Robert Benton also imagined the neo-black police comedy The cat knows the assassin (1977) and especially the great historical drama The seasons of the heart (1984), who place Sally Field And Danny Glover In the throes of the Great Depression and applies to the filmmaker a silver bear in Berlin and especially a new Oscar for the best scenario (as well as a statuette of best actress for Field).
Then the director tries his hand at the comedy with less success with Nadine (1991), filming the funny couple Kim Basinger And Jeff Bridges.
Robert Benton returns to a modest and elegant cinema by signing An almost perfect man (1994),, Or Paul Newman embodies a casual sixties.
His latest feature film, Love feastmeditation on human feelings, carried by Morgan Freemanwas released in 2007.
Supreme honor, the Writers Guild of America had recently awarded him two awards for his whole writing career. A deserved recognition for a man who, of Bonnie and Clyde has Kramer against Kramerwill have shaped a major part of the history of American cinema.
