Joel Schumacher | |
|---|---|
 Schumacher in 2003 | |
| Born | August 29, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 2020 (aged 80) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Parsons School of Design |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 1970–2017 |
Joel T. Schumacher (/ˈʃuːmɑːkər/; August 29, 1939 – June 22, 2020) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer who was active from the 1970s to the 2010s.
Schumacher was raised in New York City by his mother and suffered from substance abuse at a young age. He became a fashion designer after graduating from Parsons School of Design, but would continue suffering from substance abuse and high levels of debt until the early 1970s. He first entered film-making as a production and costume designer before gaining writing credits on Car Wash, Sparkle, and The Wiz.
He received little attention for his initial theatrically released films, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and D.C. Cab, but rose to prominence after directing St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys. Schumacher was selected to replace Tim Burton as director of the Batman franchise and oversaw Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. After the Batman franchise Schumacher directed smaller-budgeted films, including Tigerland and Phone Booth. He directed The Phantom of the Opera which was released to mixed-to-negative reviews in 2004. His final directorial work was for two episodes of House of Cards.
Critical reaction to Schumacher's films ranged from critical accolades, for The Lost Boys and Falling Down, to critical disdain, with Batman & Robin being regarded as one of the worst films ever made.
Early life and education[]
Joel T. Schumacher was born on August 29, 1939, in New York City, to Francis Schumacher, a Baptist from Knoxville, Tennessee, who died from pneumonia when he was four, and Marian Kantor, a Swedish Jew. He was raised by his mother in Long Island City, and during his youth he used LSD, methamphetamine, and started drinking alcohol by age 9. In 1965, he graduated from Parsons School of Design, after having studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and later became a designer for Revlon in 1966.[1][2][3][4]
At the time of his mother's death in 1965, Schumacher stated that his "life seemed like a joke" as he was $50,000 in debt, lost multiple teeth, and only weighed 130 pounds. However, in 1970, he stopped using drugs and became employed at Henri Bendel. He later stated that "I got my self-respect back getting a good day’s pay for a good day’s work".[3]
Career[]
Production designer[]
In 1972, Schumacher served as a costume designer for Play It as It Lays and designed the wardrobes of Dyan Cannon, Joan Hackett, and Raquel Welch for the film The Last of Sheila.[5] In 1973, he served as a costume designer for Woody Allen's Sleeper, and Paul Mazursky's Blume in Love.[6] In 1974, he served as the production designer of Killer Bees. He later served as a costume designer for The Time of the Cuckoo, The Prisoner of Second Avenue and Interiors.[7][8]
Early filmmaking[]
In 1974, Schumacher wrote a script for an eponymous biographic made-for-television movie based on the life of Virginia Hill. He was selected to serve as the movie's director and started filming on September 9.[9][10]
In 1974, he and Howard Rosenman wrote the script for Sparkle which later went into production in 1975, and was released in 1976.[11][12] His original plan for the movie was for the movie to be a "black Gone with the Wind", but had to be modest due to the limited budget given to the production by Warner Bros. According to Schumacher the film represented his "personal fascination" with Jesse Jackson, Angela Davis, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross.[13] He was later selected to write the screenplays for Car Wash and The Wiz.[14]
In 1978, Schumacher was selected to serve as the director of Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill which was later released in 1979.[15][16][17] On January 31, 1980, he submitted a script for A Chorus Line, but the film underwent rewrites in development hell.[18][19]
In 1979, he was selected to serve as the director of The Incredible Shrinking Woman, his first theatrically released film, to replace John Landis, who had left after Universal Pictures had reduced the movie's budget.[20][21] In 1981, the film was released to negative reviews, and was a box office bomb.[22][23] The movie was initially given a $30 million budget, but it was reduced to $11–13 million although it would later rise to over $20 million due to the cost of special effects.[24][25]
In 1983, he directed D.C. Cab starring Mr. T, but later stated that he only worked on the movie as he needed a job.[26]
St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys[]
In 1984, Schumacher was selected by Columbia Pictures to direct St. Elmo's Fire and was secretive during the production of the movie.[27][28] In 1987, he directed The Lost Boys. Both movies were successful among young people and were his first major critical and commercial successes.[29][30][31]
Following The Lost Boys he directed Cousins, a remake of the French film Cousin Cousine, Flatliners, Dying Young, Falling Down, and The Client.[29][30][31]
Batman[]
Schumacher was selected by Warner Bros. in 1993 to replace Tim Burton as the director of the Batman franchise. He directed Batman Forever, which was a stylistic departure from Burton's Batman and Batman Returns. Batman Forever was released to mixed reviews, but was more financially successful than Batman Returns.[29][30][31][32]
He later directed Batman & Robin, which was rushed into production following Batman Forever and was intentionally made toyetic and light-hearted to appeal to children and sell merchandise. The film was released to mostly negative reviews and did not perform as well at the box-office as any of its predecessors causing a planned sequel, Batman Triumphant, to be cancelled. Schumacher later approached Warner Bros. to pitch concepts for a new Batman movie which were inspired by Frank Miller's graphic novels, Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. But due to the critical failure of Batman & Robin along with the negative impact that the film had on his reputation, Warner Bros. refused to let him develop another Batman film.[33] Schumacher later apologized for the quality of Batman & Robin in 2017.[34][29][30][31]
It was alleged that Schumacher, a gay man, had added homoerotic elements to the film with the most prominent being the rubber nipples, codpieces, and close-up camera shots of Batman and Robin's buttocks.[35] Schumacher stated that the designs of the suits had been based on anatomically correct Greek statues and medical drawings. However, in 2005, Clooney said that Schumacher told him that Batman was gay.[34][36]
Later career[]
Following Batman & Robin Schumacher directed 8mm, Flawless, Gossip, Tigerland, Bad Company, Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, The Phantom of the Opera, The Number 23, Blood Creek, Twelve, and Trespass.[29][30][31]
In August 2008, Schumacher directed the music video for American rock band Scars on Broadway, for their single "World Long Gone".[37]
In 2013, he directed two episodes of the television series House of Cards.[30]
Death[]
On June 22, 2020, Schumacher died from cancer. Following his death, he was praised by Jim Carrey and Matthew McConaughey, who credited Schumacher with launching their careers.[38]
Personal life[]
Schumacher became sexually active at age 11, and had sex with three girlfriends during his youth. When he was 15 he started a relationship with a 17-year-old boy that lasted two years. Schumacher said that he had had sex with between 10,000 and 20,000 men. During the AIDS epidemic, he lost multiple friends, and had multiple tests on himself performed due to fears that his promiscuity would give him AIDS.[39]
In 1984, he purchased the horse stables that belonged to Rudolph Valentino from Doris Duke.[40]
He made political donations to the Democratic Party, the congressional campaigns of Robert J. Mrazek, Nick Clooney, and Donna Shalala, and John Kerry's presidential campaign.[41]
Filmography[]
Films[]
Filmmaking credits[]
| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkle | 1976 | Yes | Directed by Sam O'Steen | [31] | ||
| Car Wash | 1976 | Yes | Directed by Michael Schultz | [14] | ||
| The Wiz | 1978 | Yes | Directed by Sidney Lumet | [14] | ||
| The Incredible Shrinking Woman | 1981 | Yes | Directorial debut | [31] | ||
| D.C. Cab (a.k.a Street Fleet) | 1983 | Yes | Yes | [31] | ||
| St. Elmo's Fire | 1985 | Yes | Yes | [14] | ||
| The Lost Boys | 1987 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Cousins | 1989 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Flatliners | 1990 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Dying Young | 1991 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Falling Down | 1993 | Yes | [14] | |||
| The Client | 1994 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Batman Forever | 1995 | Yes | [14] | |||
| The Babysitter | 1995 | Executive | Directed by Guy Ferland | |||
| A Time to Kill | 1996 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Batman & Robin | 1997 | Yes | [14] | |||
| 8mm | 1999 | Yes | Yes | [14] | ||
| Flawless | 1999 | Yes | Yes | Yes | [14] | |
| Gossip | 2000 | Executive | Directed by Davis Guggenheim | |||
| Tigerland | 2000 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Bad Company | 2002 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Phone Booth | 2002 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Veronica Guerin | 2003 | Yes | [31] | |||
| The Phantom of the Opera | 2004 | Yes | Yes | [14] | ||
| The Number 23 | 2007 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Blood Creek | 2009 | Yes | [14] | |||
| Twelve | 2010 | Yes | [31] | |||
| Man in the Mirror | 2011 | Yes | Short film | |||
| Trespass | 2011 | Yes | [14] |
Other credits[]
| Title | Year | Role | Director | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play It as It Lays | 1972 | Costume designer | Frank Perry | [31] | |
| Blume in Love | 1973 | Costume designer | Paul Mazursky | [31] | |
| The Last of Sheila | 1973 | Costume designer | Herbert Ross | [31] | |
| Sleeper | 1973 | Costume designer | Woody Allen | [31] | |
| The Prisoner of Second Avenue | 1975 | Costume designer | Melvin Frank | [31] | |
| Interiors | 1978 | Costume designer | Woody Allen | [31] | |
| Welcome to Hollywood | 1998 | Cameo appearance | Adam Rifkin | Mockumentary film |
Television[]
Filmaking credits[]
| Title | Year | Director | Executive producer |
Writer | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Hill | 1974 | Yes | Yes | TV film | [31] | |
| Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill | 1979 | Yes | Yes | TV film | [31] | |
| Now We're Cookin | 1983 | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot, directed by Noam Pitlik | [42] | |
| Code Name: Foxfire | 1985 | Yes | Story | Creator and producer (8 episodes) / Story (Episode: "Pilot") | ||
| Slow Burn | 1986 | Yes | TV film, directed by Matthew Chapman | |||
| 2000 Malibu Road | 1992 | Yes | Yes | Director (5 episodes) / Producer (1 episode) | ||
| Choose or Lose | 2008 | Yes | TV special | |||
| House of Cards | 2013 | Yes | 2 episodes | [30] | ||
| Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors | 2015 | Yes | 3 episodes |
Other credits[]
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Bees | 1974 | Production designer | TV film, directed by Curtis Harrington | [7] |
| Nightcap | 2017 | Cameo appearance | Episode: "Guest in a Snake" |
Director music videos[]
| Artist | Year | Title |
|---|---|---|
| INXS | 1988 | Devil Inside[43] |
| Lenny Kravitz | 1993 | Heaven Help (European Version) |
| Seal | 1994 | Kiss from a Rose (Version 1)[43] |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 1997 | The End is the Beginning is the End |
| Bush | 1999 | Letting The Cables Sleep |
| The Killing Floor | 2012 | Star Baby |
References[]
- ↑ "Young U.S. Designers Say Paris Has Had It". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times: p. 20. May 6, 1965. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53988231/the-corpus-christi-caller-times/.
- ↑ "They're Egotistical But Lack Confidence". Hartford Courant: p. 38. May 19, 1966. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53988237/hartford-courant/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Joel Schumacher, Director of ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ Is Dead at 80". New York Times. June 22, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/movies/joel-schumacher-dead.html.
- ↑ "Joel Schumacher obituary". The Guardian. June 22, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/23/joel-schumacher-obituary.
- ↑ "Schumacher To Design Clothing". Clarion-Ledger: p. 51. December 8, 1972. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53987582/clarion-ledger/.
- ↑ "Futuristic 'Sleeper': A Film With Behind-Times Costumes". The Los Angeles Times: p. 62. January 1, 1974. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53987773/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Joel Schumacher, Director of Batman Films and ‘Lost Boys,’ Dies at 80". Variety. June 22, 2020. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/joel-schumacher-dead-dies-batman-director-1234644961/.
- ↑ "The Time Of The Cuckoo". The Los Angeles Times: p. 495. March 10, 1974. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54111786/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ "Dyan Cannon In Fall Drama". The Tribune: p. 19. July 20, 1974. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54111916/the-tribune/.
- ↑ "Virginia Hill Filming Starts". The Los Angeles Times: p. 147. August 18, 1974. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54111838/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ "'Sparkle' set". Kenosha News: p. 33. June 26, 1974. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54112132/kenosha-news/.
- ↑ "Shooting Starts On 'Sparkle'". The Atlanta Constitution: p. 157. May 25, 1975. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54112134/the-atlanta-constitution/.
- ↑ "To Schumacher, Black Is Bankable". The Los Angeles Times: p. 82. June 2, 1976. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54167395/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 "Where to Stream the Films of Joel Schumacher". Vulture. June 22, 2020. https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/joel-schumachers-movies-where-you-can-stream-them.html.
- ↑ "Amateur Night Director". The Los Angeles Times: p. 40. May 29, 1978. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54221539/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ "'Amateur Night' no challenge to viewer". Austin American-Statesman: p. 23. January 8, 1979. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54221547/austin-american-statesman/.
- ↑ "AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE DIXIE BAR AND GRILL(1979)". http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/457680/Amateur-Night-at-the-Dixie-Bar-and-Grill/.
- ↑ "'A Chorus Line' – Still No Movie". The Los Angeles Times: p. 273. June 20, 1982. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54292892/the-los-angeles-times/.
- ↑ "3d studio takes on 'A Chorus Line'". The Philadelphia Inquirer: p. 103. May 8, 1983. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54396602/the-philadelphia-inquirer/.
- ↑ "The Incredible Shrinking Woman Director". Daily News: p. 77. March 23, 1979. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54221624/daily-news/.
- ↑ "Schumacher replaces Landis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. 22. January 13, 1981. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54275086/pittsburgh-post-gazette/.
- ↑ "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN (LA INCREÍBLE MUJER DIMINUTA)". https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_incredible_shrinking_woman.
- ↑ "The Incredible Shrinking Woman Box Office". https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2589689345/weekend/.
- ↑ "'Shrinking' role may restore her confidence". The Philadelphia Inquirer: p. 21. January 20, 1981. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54275849/the-philadelphia-inquirer/.
- ↑ "Budget For New Tomlin Film Grows". The Cincinnati Enquirer: p. 17. June 23, 1980. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54275928/the-cincinnati-enquirer/.
- ↑ "FILM / Damaged goods in the shop window: He's upset America's Hispanics and Koreans, and he's not exactly the toast of Los Angeles. Is Joel Schumacher sorry? Is he hell. Sheila Johnston reports". Independent. May 29, 1993. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-damaged-goods-in-the-shop-window-hes-upset-americas-hispanics-and-koreans-and-hes-not-exactly-2316770.html.
- ↑ "St. Elmo's Fire". Daily News: p. 95. March 30, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54397293/daily-news/.
- ↑ "Secretive production". Daily News: p. 72. July 9, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54397298/daily-news/.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 "Joel Schumacher, director of Batman movies and 'St. Elmo's Fire,' dead at 80". CNN. June 22, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/22/entertainment/joel-schumacher-obit/index.html.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 "Joel Schumacher, Director With a Flair for the Distinctive, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. June 22, 2020. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joel-schumacher-dead-batman-robin-st-elmos-fire-flatliners-director-was-80-1137490.
- ↑ 31.00 31.01 31.02 31.03 31.04 31.05 31.06 31.07 31.08 31.09 31.10 31.11 31.12 31.13 31.14 31.15 31.16 31.17 31.18 31.19 31.20 31.21 31.22 "Joel Schumacher: 1939–2020". Roger Ebert. June 22, 2020. https://www.rogerebert.com/tributes/joel-schumacher-1939-2020.
- ↑ "Batman Battle". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "8 Unmade BATMAN Movies". warpedfactor. October 4, 2019. http://www.warpedfactor.com/2014/09/8-unmade-batman-movies.html.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Twenty Years Later, Joel Schumacher Is Very Sorry About 'Batman & Robin'". Vice. June 12, 2017. https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xw8vpk/twenty-years-later-joel-schumacher-is-very-sorry-about-batman-and-robin.
- ↑ Joel Schumacher, Peter MacGregor-Scott, Chris O'Donnell, Val Kilmer, Uma Thurman, John Glover, Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Part 6-Batman Unbound, 2005, Warner Home Video
- ↑ "‘Happy’ to sign off". Variety. June 27, 2005. https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/happy-to-sign-off-1117925178/.
- ↑ "Scars On Broadway Taps Joel Schumacher For 'World Long Gone' Video Shoot". Blabbermouth.net. August 22, 2008. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Jim Carrey, Matthew McConaughey And More Pay Tribute To Batman Director Joel Schumacher". Cinema Blend. June 23, 2020. https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2548707/jim-carrey-matthew-mcconaughey-and-more-pay-tribute-to-batman-director-joel-schumacher.
- ↑ "In Conversation: Joel Schumacher After five decades in Hollywood, the director has plenty of stories — but don't expect him to kiss and tell.". Vulture. June 22, 2020. https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/joel-schumacher-in-conversation.html.
- ↑ "Rudolph Valentino". The South Bend Tribune: p. 40. September 7, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54397705/the-south-bend-tribune/.
- ↑ "Donor Lookup". https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Joel+Schumacher.
- ↑ "Now We're Cookin". The Indianapolis Star: p. 33. February 20, 1982. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54292241/the-indianapolis-star/.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Joel Schumacher: Stars remember 'creative and heroic' Lost Boys director". BBC. June 23, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53144082.
External links[]
- Joel Schumacher at the Internet Movie Database
- Joel Schumacher at the TCM Movie Database
- Joel Schumacher interview
Template:Joel Schumacher