Wikipedia

Peter Yates

For other people named Peter Yates, seePeter Yates (disambiguation).

Peter James Yates(24 July 1929[1]– 9 January 2011) was an English film director and producer, known for his versatility and “attention to detail” across a variety of genres.[2]He received nominations for fourAcademy Awards(twice forBest DirectorandBest Picture), threeBAFTA Awards,and twoGolden Globe Awards.

Peter Yates
Born
Peter James Yates

(1929-07-24)24 July 1929
Aldershot,Hampshire,England
Died9 January 2011(2011-01-09)(aged 81)
London,England
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Film director, producer
Years active1958–2010
Spouse
Virginia Pope
​
​
(m.1960)​
Children2

Originally training as an actor at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art,Yates entered the film industry as anassistant directorfor top directors likeTony Richardson.After directing television programmes likeThe SaintandDanger Man,Yates made a breakthrough helming the heist filmRobbery(1967). This led him to direct theSteve McQueenpolice thriller filmBullitt(1968), which was a major critical and commercial success.

Subsequently, Yates made films in a variety of genres. He directed theDustin HoffmanandMia Farrow-starring romantic dramaJohn and Mary(1969), the World War II pictureMurphy's War(1971), the heist filmThe Hot Rock(1972), theBoston-set gangster filmThe Friends of Eddie Coyle(1973), the coming-of-age dramedyBreaking Away(1979), the cult science fantasy filmKrull(1983), and thefilm versionof the acclaimed stage playThe Dresser.In the 2000s, he returned to directing television, includingDon Quixote(2000).

Early life and education

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Yates was born inAldershot,Hampshire.[3]The son of an army officer, he attendedCharterhouse Schoolas a boy, graduated from theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Artand worked for some years as an actor, director and stage manager. He directed plays in London and New York. He also spent two years as racing manager forStirling Mossand Peter Collins.[4]

Career

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1958–1966

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In the 1950s he started in the film industry doing odd jobs such as dubbing foreign films and editing documentaries. He eventually became a leading assistant director. He was an assistant director toMark RobsononThe Inn of the Sixth Happiness(1958),Terence YoungonSerious Charge(1959) withCliff Richard,Terry BishoponCover Girl Killer(1959),Guy HamiltononA Touch of Larceny(1960),Jack CardiffonSons and Lovers(1960),Tony RichardsononThe Entertainer(1960) andA Taste of Honey(1961),J. Lee ThompsononThe Guns of Navarone(1961) andJosé QuinteroonThe Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone(1961).[5]). Through the influence of Richardson, he directedAlbee'sThe American DreamandThe Death of Bessie Smithat London'sRoyal Court Theatre.[6]

Yates' first feature as director wasSummer Holiday(1963), a "lightweight"[7]vehicle forCliff Richard.It was the second most popular movie at the British box office in 1963.[8]Yates had seen the originalRoyal Courtproduction ofN.F. Simpson's playOne Way Pendulumand got the job of making thefilm versionreleased in 1964. It was produced byMichael Deeley.The movie was not widely seen.[9][10]During the mid 1960s, Yates directed episodes of television, notablyThe SaintandDanger Man.

1967–1984

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Yates' third feature as director was the heist filmRobbery(1967), a fictionalised version of theGreat Train Robberyof 1963 starringStanley Bakerand produced by Deeley.[11]Robberywas a critical success in the US and led to an offer to directBullitt(1968), of which Bruce Weber has written, "Mr. Yates's reputation probably rests most securely onBullitt(1968), his first American film – and indeed, on one particular scene, an extended car chase that instantly became a classic. "[12]

Yates later said, "In Hollywood back then, everyone knew a British director couldn't do action, so I think the studio had another motive in letting me come over. I think the reason they let McQueen bring me in was because if they let him have his way, they'd get him out of the studio – and out of their hair – for a while."[13]Yates moved to New York. "A filmmaker must go where the stories are," he said.[14]Bullittwas a huge success. Yates signed a contract with the Mirisch Company to make four films over seven years.[15]

Dustin HoffmanandMia FarrowinJohn and Mary(1969)

Yates followedBullittwith a romantic comedy,John and Mary(1969) withDustin HoffmanandMia Farrow."I like to change the kind of stories I do," said Yates. "If you're not careful, you get pigeonholed and sooner or later someone better will come along."[16]In 1970, Yates said he would makeDon QuixotewithRichard Burtonbut the project stalled.[17]Instead he did a war film with Peter O'Toole produced by Deeley,Murphy's War(1971). Yates did another heist film,The Hot Rock(1972), based on a novel byDonald WestlakestarringRobert Redfordfrom aWilliam Goldmanscript. After this he was going to makeThe Leatherstocking Sagaand Jonathan Schwartz'sAlmost Homebut neither was made.[18]

In 1972 he signed a four picture deal with Paramount which was to start withDeadly Edgefrom a Westlake novel.[19]Yates stayed with crime withThe Friends of Eddie Coyle(1973) starringRobert Mitchum.He then did two comedies:For Pete's Sake(1974) withBarbra Streisand,andMother, Jugs & Speed(1976); he produced the latter along with writerTom Mankiewicz.Yates had a big commercial success with the adventure filmThe Deep(1977), where Mankiewicz did some uncredited writing.

Yates used his clout fromThe Deepto raise finance forBreaking Away(1979), written bySteve Tesich,whose playThe Passing Game,Yates had directed in New York. Yates produced and directed the film.Breaking Awaywas nominated for fiveAcademy Awards,includingBest DirectorandBest Filmfor Yates. It led to ashort-lived TV seriesthat Yates also produced.[20]Yates and Tesich were reunited on the thrillerEyewitness(1981) starringWilliam Hurt.He tried fantasy withKrull(1983), but it was not a success at the box office.

Yates also produced and directedThe Dresser(1983), an adaptation of theRonald Harwoodstage play. The film received seven BAFTA and five Oscar nominations, including theBAFTA Award for Best Filmand for Best Direction and the Academy Award for Best Film and for Best Director for Yates.The Dresserwas also entered into the34th Berlin International Film Festival.[21]Along withEddie CoyleandBreaking Away,The Dresserwas one of Yates' three favourite films.[13]"I'm ambitious in my own way," said Yates around this time. "I don't crave power. I really wouldn't want to trade places with anyone, not even Steven Spielberg. Look at what power can do to a gifted director like Robert Altman. It isn't necessarily healthy. I just want to make the movies that I want to make and, if by chance a few of them should turn out to be important or influential or successful, well, that would be an accident, wouldn't it?"[22]

1985–2004

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FollowingThe Dresser,Yates next four directorial efforts proved to be unsuccessful at the box office:Eleni(1985), written by Tesich;Suspect(1987), a thriller withCherandDennis Quaid;The House on Carroll Street(1988), which he also produced; andAn Innocent Man(1989) withTom Selleck.[23]In the early 1990s, after 18 years in New York, Yates moved to Los Angeles.[24]He madeYear of the Comet(1992), which was a flop despite being based on a William Goldman script, andRoommates(1995).[25]He was an executive producer onNeedful Things(1992). Yates went to Ireland to makeThe Run of the Country(1995) which he also produced.

In 1997 Yates returned to London. "The work was starting to close down," he admitted. "Firstly, you're supposed to be under 30, if possible. Secondly, I prefer to develop my own projects... There were a lot of teenage films around, which I wasn't right for and didn't feel connected to, and special-effects films of a kind I didn't know enough about. You have to be brought up in a computer-literate generation."[24]He madeCurtain Call(1998) withMichael Cainethen made atelevision filmof Don Quixote in 2000, withJohn Lithgowin the title role of the Cervantes novel.[24]Yates' final film wasA Separate Peace(2004)

Directorial style

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Yates has two distinct styles: one used for his thriller, action, and drama projects—which frequently reflects on the principal character's state of alienation with a humanistic perspective—and another expressive and sentimental style which focuses on the moral dilemmas of the characters, predominantly seen in his coming-of-age and other dramatic films.[26]"I think there's probably some truth in the theory that I prefer heroes who fight against adversity and make it through from being the underdog to winning," said Yates.[13]

Death

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Yates died from heart failure in London on 9 January 2011. He was 81 years old.[1][27]

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Recipient Result Ref.
1979 Academy Awards Best Picture Breaking Away Nominated [28]
Best Director Nominated
1983 Best Picture The Dresser Nominated [29]
Best Director Nominated
1969 BAFTA Awards Best Direction Bullitt Nominated
1984 Best Film The Dresser Nominated
Best Direction Nominated
1978 Golden Globe Awards Best Director Breaking Away Nominated
1983 The Dresser Nominated
1979 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Achievement in Motion Pictures Breaking Away Nominated
2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Special A Separate Peace Nominated

References

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  1. ^abBaxter, Brian (10 January 2011)."Peter Yates obituary".The Guardian.
  2. ^https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1709-peter-yates-1928-2011.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)
  3. ^Hall, Sheldon."Yates, Peter (1928[sic]–2011)".BFI screenonline.Retrieved14 January2011.
  4. ^Peter Yates: Oscar-nominated British director whose much copied car chase scene in Bullitt established him as a leading film-maker in Hollywood The Times12 Jan 2011: 49.
  5. ^"Three Peter Yates Films Every Movie Fan Should See".ifc.com.Retrieved28 December2013.
  6. ^Yates Cuts Directing Down to Size Blume, Mary. Los Angeles Times 28 December 1969: n18.
  7. ^Child, Ben (10 January 2011)."Bullitt director Peter Yates dies aged 82".The Guardian.
  8. ^"Most Popular Films of 1963." Times [London, England] 3 January 1964: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
  9. ^Michael Deeley,Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies,Pegasus Books, 2009 p 27-29
  10. ^Engel Will 'Move' Burma to Thailand: Beatty Slips Self 'Mickey'; Richardson Sets Pendulum Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 11 March 1964: D15.
  11. ^Lesner, Sam (9 February 1968). "British Director to Film U.S. Dilemma".Los Angeles Times.p. c14.
  12. ^Weber, Bruce (11 January 2011)."Peter Yates, Filmmaker, Is Dead at 81".The New York Times.
  13. ^abcBritish-born director Peter Yates has enjoyed an... ] Portman, Jamie. CanWest News 22 March 1995: 1.
  14. ^British Director to Film U.S. Dilemma Lesner, Sam. Los Angeles Times 9 February 1968: c14.
  15. ^Peter Yates' Life Becomes a Super Thing: Peter Yates Leads the 'Super' Life Warga, Wayne. Los Angeles Times 26 July 1968: f1.
  16. ^Director Yates Cuts to the ChaseDana Kennedy of the Associated Press. St. Louis Post – Dispatch 26 April 1992: 12.C.
  17. ^Peter Waymark. "Burton as Quixote under 'Bullitt' director." Times [London, England] 15 December 1970: 3. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 12 July 2012.
  18. ^Tell Them Polonsky Is Here Again By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 30 May 1971: D11.
  19. ^Life With Father Hitler By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 21 May 1972: D15.
  20. ^A Hot Director Breaks Away From the Mainstream By SHAUN CONSIDINE. New York Times 15 July 1979: D17.
  21. ^"Berlinale: 1984 Programme".berlinale.de.Retrieved26 November2010.
  22. ^'THE DRESSER' – PETER YATES BALTAKE, JOE. Philadelphia Daily News; Philadelphia, Pa. [Philadelphia, Pa]13 Jan 1984: 43.
  23. ^Peter Yates, Filmmaker, Is Dead at 81:Weber, Bruce. New York Times 11 January 2011: A.18.
  24. ^abcTELEVISION; Taking a Classic Turn; With TNT's movie of 'Don Quixote,' Peter Yates joins a list of feature film directors who say that the small screen allows them to present a bigger vision. Gritten, David. Los Angeles Times 2 April 2000: CAL.5.
  25. ^A Vintage Approach to Filmmaking Script Gets Star Treatment in Old-Fashioned Romance Caper: [Home Edition] Gritten, David. Los Angeles Times 7 January 1992: 1.
  26. ^"They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?".TSPDT.
  27. ^"Peter Yates Tribute: The Obituary and Death Notice of Peter Yates".Associated Press.Retrieved10 January2011.
  28. ^"52nd Academy Awards".Oscars.org.Retrieved31 March2013.
  29. ^"The 56th Academy Awards (1984) Nominees and Winners".oscars.org.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2014.Retrieved9 October2011.
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