Robert Aldrich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Aldrich
Aldrich directing Bette Davis during filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Born	Robert Burgess Aldrich (1918-08-09)August 9, 1918 Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	December 5, 1983(1983-12-05) (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter assistant director
Years active	1945–1981
Spouse(s)	Harriet Foster ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1965)​ Sibylle Siegfried ​ (m. 1966⁠–⁠1983)​
Children	4 (with Foster)
Awards	Silver Lion for The Big Knife (1955)

Robert Burgess Aldrich (born August 9, 1918 – died December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was known for making many different types of movies. These included exciting film noir stories, intense war movies, westerns, and dark dramas.

Some of his most famous films are Vera Cruz (1954), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and The Longest Yard (1974).

Robert Aldrich's Early Life

Robert Burgess Aldrich was born in Cranston, Rhode Island. His family, "The Aldriches of Rhode Island," was very wealthy and well-known. His father, Edward Burgess Aldrich, published The Times newspaper in Pawtucket. He was also an important person in state politics. Robert's mother, Lora Elsie, died when he was 13 years old.

Robert had an older sister named Ruth. His family tree included famous people like Nathanael Greene, a general in the American Revolution, and Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island Colony.

His grandfather, Nelson W. Aldrich, became a millionaire on his own. He was a U.S. Senator for 30 years. People called him "General Manager of the Nation" because he had a big role in shaping the country's money rules.

Many of Robert's uncles had impressive jobs. One was a successful banker, another was a famous architect, and one was a member of the United States House of Representatives. An aunt, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, married John D. Rockefeller Jr., whose family was very rich from Standard Oil. She helped start the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Nelson Rockefeller, who was a governor and later U.S. vice-president, was Robert's first cousin.

Education and Family Choices

As the only boy in his family line, Robert felt a lot of pressure to do well. He had to compete with his many cousins, who were all very successful.

Robert went to Moses Brown School in Providence from 1933 to 1937. He was captain of the track and football teams and was elected president of his senior class.

He didn't get into Yale, so he went to the University of Virginia from 1937 to 1941. He studied economics there and continued to be good at sports and campus activities.

During the Great Depression, Robert started to question his family's powerful politics. He began to agree more with left-wing social ideas. This caused tension between him and his father.

Robert showed he could have a career in finance, but he decided to leave college in his senior year without finishing his degree. This went against his father's wishes.

Robert asked his uncle Winthrop W. Aldrich for help. His uncle got him a job at RKO Studios as a production clerk, earning $25 a week. Because of this choice, Robert's father cut him off from the family money. Robert accepted this and rarely talked about his wealthy family after that.

Starting in Hollywood: 1941–1952

At 23, Robert Aldrich started working at RKO Pictures as a production clerk. This was a starting job, even though he could have used his family connections to get a higher position.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet Foster, just before moving to Hollywood in May 1941.

RKO was one of Hollywood's smaller top studios. But it had famous directors like George Cukor and John Ford, and stars like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Aldrich started working there shortly after Orson Welles signed a contract with RKO after his movie Citizen Kane (1941) came out.

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Aldrich joined the Air Force Motion Picture Unit. However, he was quickly discharged because an old football injury made him unable to serve in the military. Because many people from the film studios were away fighting, Aldrich was able to get jobs as a director's assistant. This helped him learn the basics of filmmaking.

Learning the Ropes as Assistant Director

In just two years, he worked on many movies with well-known directors. He was a second assistant director on films like Joan of Paris (1942) and Behind the Rising Sun (1943).

Later, he became a first assistant director, making comedy short films.

In 1944, Aldrich left RKO to work as a freelance assistant director at other big studios like Columbia and Paramount.

Working with Top Filmmakers

Aldrich was lucky to work as an assistant director for many talented Hollywood filmmakers. Over nine years, he learned important skills for making movies. He learned about "set location and atmosphere" from Jean Renoir on The Southerner (1945). He learned "how to plan a shot" from Lewis Milestone on The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). He learned about "action scenes" from William A. Wellman on The Story of G.I. Joe (1946). He also learned the "importance of talking with actors" from Joseph Losey on The Prowler (1951), and "how to connect the camera with the audience" from Charlie Chaplin on Limelight (1952).

He learned from both the good and bad parts of these projects and directors.

During these years, Aldrich made strong professional friendships with talented people who would work with him throughout his career. These included cinematographer Joseph Biroc, film editor Michael Luciano, and screenwriter Lukas Heller. He also often worked with a group of loyal actors like Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance, Lee Marvin, and Charles Bronson.

The Enterprise Studios: A Key Learning Period

Aldrich's time at The Enterprise Studios was very important for his learning. This company was known for independent filmmakers who made movies about social issues.

At Enterprise, Aldrich worked closely with screenwriter and director Abraham Polonsky. Their films often showed how individuals struggled against unfair societies.

One film, Body and Soul (1947), made a big impression on Aldrich. It was about a boxer who tries to stand up to mobsters. The film criticized capitalism. Aldrich often looked back at this movie for ideas on how to show progressive ideas in his own films.

In 1948, Aldrich worked on the early noir film Force of Evil. This movie's strong visuals and sound would later influence Aldrich's films like Kiss Me Deadly.

Many of Aldrich's colleagues at Enterprise were investigated by the HUAC in the late 1940s. Some were even blacklisted and put in prison. However, Aldrich was never targeted by the authorities.

While at Enterprise, Aldrich also worked as an assistant director on films like Arch of Triumph (1948) and Caught (1949).

During his training, Aldrich learned how important it was to have full control over every part of making a movie to achieve his creative vision. He always tried to have this control over his films.

Freelance Assistant Director Work

After Enterprise Studios closed, Aldrich continued to be a sought-after assistant director. He worked on films like The Red Pony (1949) and M (1951).

His most notable assistant director job was on Limelight (1952) with Charlie Chaplin.

Moving to Television: 1952–1954

By 1952, at 34, Aldrich was ready to direct his own movies, but no offers came in Hollywood. So, he moved to New York City to work in the new television industry.

Television was just starting, and producers were happy to hire talented people from Hollywood. This move gave Aldrich a chance to use his filmmaking skills in a new way.

Aldrich recalled that TV directors were not paid much. "Only guys that had never directed or couldn't get a shot" would work for that pay. He ended up directing "thirty or forty shows."

Procter & Gamble hired Aldrich in 1952 to direct episodes of The Doctor, an early soap opera. The filming schedules were very tight. Despite this, Aldrich spent a lot of time on rehearsals, which helped the actors and made the live shows run smoothly.

After The Doctor, Aldrich returned to Hollywood to direct twenty episodes of China Smith. He also directed episodes for Four Star Playhouse and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.

Aldrich saw early TV as a "director's crash course." He could experiment with different techniques and stories that he would later use in his films. He used cinematic framing and close-ups to show character emotions and highlight dialogue. This made his TV episodes look like polished Hollywood productions.

Becoming a Feature Film Director

First Feature Films

In 1951, producer Irving Allen announced that Robert Aldrich would direct his first feature film, The Gamma People. However, this film was delayed for several years.

Aldrich finally directed his first feature film, Big Leaguer (1953), for MGM. It was a low-budget baseball movie.

The film wasn't very successful, so Aldrich went back to television. He directed more episodes of Four Star Playhouse, some written by Blake Edwards.

Aldrich still wanted to make feature films. He raised money for an action movie called World for Ransom (1954). He used many of the same sets and actors from China Smith. Aldrich produced and directed this film himself.

Working with Burt Lancaster

World for Ransom was seen by Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster. They hired Aldrich to direct his first color film, Apache (1954). This was a western starring Lancaster as an Apache fighter. The film was a big hit, earning $6 million.

Hecht and Lancaster worked with Aldrich again on Vera Cruz (1954), another western starring Gary Cooper and Lancaster. This movie was even more successful, making $9 million. This success made Aldrich a well-known director.

Becoming a Producer: Kiss Me Deadly and The Big Knife

The success of these films allowed Aldrich to start his own company, The Associates and Aldrich. They signed a deal with United Artists.

Aldrich produced and directed Kiss Me Deadly (1955), a film noir movie. He also made The Big Knife (1955), a film about a movie star.

His company then made Attack (1956).

These three films were not huge box office successes, but they did get some great reviews. Kiss Me Deadly became a very popular cult film in France. Aldrich said these experiences taught him to choose projects carefully to ensure they would be profitable.

Working with Columbia and in Europe

Between making The Big Knife and Attack, Aldrich directed the drama Autumn Leaves (1956) starring Joan Crawford, which was a small hit.

In 1956, Robert Aldrich signed a deal with Columbia to make two films through his own company. He started directing The Garment Jungle (1957) but was replaced before it was finished.

Aldrich found it hard to get funding for new projects. His company had the rights to the script for 3:10 to Yuma but ended up selling it to Columbia.

Aldrich then went to Europe. He wrote and directed Ten Seconds to Hell (1959) in Germany. He also made The Angry Hills (1959) in Greece, but he was unhappy with how the film was edited.

He tried to make several other films, but they didn't happen. He returned to Hollywood to direct TV episodes for shows like Hotel de Paree and Adventures in Paradise.

He directed a western called The Last Sunset (1961), starring Kirk Douglas and Rock Hudson.

Aldrich then went back to Italy to direct the big Biblical movie Sodom and Gomorrah (1962). He didn't like the final film, which cost $6 million to make.

Success with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Aldrich's career got a big boost when he got the rights to the novel What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). He cast famous actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as the stars. The film was a huge hit and earned five Academy Award nominations. This brought Aldrich back into the spotlight and made Davis and Crawford popular again. It also led to a new type of horror movie starring older actresses.

Still at Warner Bros., Aldrich wrote, produced, and directed a comedy western called 4 for Texas (1963), starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The film was somewhat popular, but Aldrich didn't enjoy working with Sinatra.

More Hits: Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte and The Dirty Dozen

After his recent successes, Aldrich announced plans for many new films. He started with a follow-up to Baby Jane, called Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964). Bette Davis starred in it. Joan Crawford was supposed to be in it too, but she left and was replaced by Olivia de Havilland. The movie was popular.

Aldrich then made The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), an action story with an all-male cast including James Stewart. This film was not a big hit at first but eventually made a profit.

Aldrich had his biggest hit with The Dirty Dozen (1967). This war film starred Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, and Ernest Borgnine. It was a massive success at the box office.

Aldrich Studios and Later Films

Aldrich sold his share of the profits from Dirty Dozen for $1,350,000. He used this money to buy his own film studios, which he called the Aldrich Studios. He had always dreamed of owning his own studio. The studios opened in August 1968.

Aldrich's success with The Dirty Dozen led to a four-film contract with the new company ABC Pictures.

His first film for ABC was The Killing of Sister George (1968). It was notable for showing a lesbian relationship. The movie was popular but lost money because it cost a lot to make.

Aldrich produced, but did not direct, What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969), a thriller similar to Baby Jane. This film also lost money.

Aldrich then produced and directed Too Late the Hero (1970), a war film. Despite starring Michael Caine, the film lost a lot of money.

Aldrich's next film for ABC was The Grissom Gang (1971), which was also a financial failure.

By this time, Aldrich's relationship with ABC was difficult. In January 1972, he put his studios up for sale.

Westerns and Other Films

Aldrich returned to westerns with Ulzana's Raid (1972), which reunited him with Burt Lancaster. The film was not a commercial success but is now considered one of his best movies.

He followed it with Emperor of the North Pole (1973), a story about railway hobos. This film also struggled at the box office but has gained a better reputation over time.

Working with Burt Reynolds

Aldrich's commercial success returned with a prison comedy starring Burt Reynolds, The Longest Yard (1974). It was his biggest hit since The Dirty Dozen.

Aldrich and Reynolds then made another film together, Hustle (1975), a police drama. This was also a box office success. However, there was tension between Aldrich and Reynolds during filming, so they didn't make any more movies together. In 1975, Aldrich was elected president of the Directors Guild of America.

Final Films

Aldrich signed a deal with Lorimar Productions for two films. The first was Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977), an action thriller. The second was a comedy, The Choirboys (1977).

Aldrich's last movies were comedies: The Frisco Kid (1979), a western with Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, and ...All the Marbles (1981), about female wrestling. Neither of these films was very popular.

Personal Life

Robert Aldrich had four children with his first wife, Harriet Foster (married 1941, divorced 1965). All of his children—Adell, William, Alida, and Kelly—work in the film business. In 1966, after his divorce, he married fashion model Sibylle Siegfried.

His Legacy

Film critic John Patterson said in 2012 that Aldrich was "a punchy, caustic, macho and pessimistic director, who depicted corruption and evil unflinchingly, and pushed limits on violence throughout his career." He noted that Aldrich's films were "often crass and crude, but never less than utterly vital and alive."

Robert Aldrich died from kidney failure on December 5, 1983, in a Los Angeles hospital. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

John Patterson also commented that Aldrich's work was "in danger of slipping over the horizon," meaning it might be forgotten. However, Japanese film director Kiyoshi Kurosawa has said that Aldrich influenced him.

In the FX miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan, Robert Aldrich is played by English actor Alfred Molina. This TV series shows the making of Baby Jane and Sweet Charlotte.

Robert Aldrich's Films

Movies He Directed

Other Film Work

• The Southerner (1945) (assistant director)
• The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) (assistant director)
• Force of Evil (1948) (assistant director)
• Caught (1949) (uncredited director of reshoots)
• When I Grow Up (1950) (assistant director)
• Limelight (1952) (assistant director)
• The Gamma People (1956) (story)
• The Garment Jungle (1957) (uncredited original director)
• What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969) (producer)

Television Shows He Directed

Images for kids

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  Aldrich directing Bette Davis during filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

See also

In Spanish: Robert Aldrich para niños