Called the father of American independent cinema, John Cassavetes began his career as an actor and continued to call on those skills to fund his directorial efforts. Born Dec. 9, 1929, the New York City native worked steadily in television and film during the 1950s.In 1959, Cassavetes helmed his first movie, the self-financed, largely improvised Shadows, which was hailed as a landmark achievement. Soon after, he signed on to direct for Paramount, but the experience proved bitter. Vowing to control his work, Cassavetes returned to acting to raise money, appearing in 1960s movies such as The Dirty Dozen (which earned him an Oscar nod).
In 1968, Cassavetes again took the director's seat with Faces, which starred his wife, Gena Rowlands. He followed up with Husbands (1970), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) and his cinematic masterwork, A Woman Under the Influence (1974). He died Feb. 3, 1989.
Rosemary's BabyRosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), the young wife of a struggling actor (John Cassavetes), is thrilled to find out she's pregnant. But the larger her belly grows, the more certain she becomes that her unborn child is in serious danger. Perhaps there's something sinister behind the odd enthusiasm her... Read More
Whose Life Is It Anyway?Sculptor Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is paralyzed in a car accident and left unable to do anything but speak. Now, he just wants to die, but no one will allow it, including his doctor (Christine Lahti) and the hospital's chief of staff (John Cassavetes). Harrison's fight for the right to control... Read More
Mikey and NickyAfter 30 years, two friends, Mikey (Peter Falk) and Nicky (John Cassavetes), may finally have hit a wall in their friendship. With his pal embroiled in the mob, Mikey's near the end of his rope, especially when Nicky summons him to get him out of yet another sticky situation. This time, though,... Read More
The FuryTwo years after the debut of Carrie, director Brian De Palma delivers another bloody tale of psychic teenagers. When telekinetic teens Robin (Andrew Stevens, son of Stella) and Gillian (Amy Irving) become the target of a government baddie (John Cassavetes, who wants to exploit their powers for... Read More
Edge of the CityWhen Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes) deserts the Army and goes to work at the New York rail yards, he hits it off with freight car loader Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier), but their interracial friendship enrages the prejudiced, mobbed-up foreman, Charles Malik (Jack Warden). When Malik resorts to... Read More
NR | ||
NR | ||
NR | ||
Big Trouble (1986) | R | |
Tempest (1982) | PG | |
The Incubus (1982) | R | |
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) | R | |
Gloria (1980) | PG | |
The Fury (1978) | R | |
R | ||
Opening Night (1977) | NR | |
R | ||
Mikey and Nicky (1976) | R | |
Two-Minute Warning (1976) | R | |
R | ||
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) | R | |
PG-13 | ||
NR | ||
NR | ||
Rosemary's Baby (1968) | R | |
Faces (1968) | R | |
Devil's Angels (1967) | R | |
NR | ||
A Child Is Waiting (1963) | TV-14 | |
NR | ||
Shadows (1959) | PG | |
Saddle the Wind (1958) | NR | |
Edge of the City (1957) | NR | |
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) | NR | |
NR | ||
The Killers (1946) | NR | |
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