Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Herbert Ross

Highest Rated: 100% Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)

Lowest Rated: 0% T.R. Baskin (1971)

Birthday: May 13, 1927

Birthday:

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Choreographer-director-producer Herbert Ross was best known for elevating the role of dance in film and for his ability to elicit exceptional performances out of such leading ladies as Barbara Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft and Julia Roberts. Receiving his start as a Broadway performer and choreographer with the American Ballet Theater, Ross later staged dozens of musical sequences for such films as "Carmen Jones" (1954). Although he was one of Broadway's top choreographers - notably crafting Streisand's show-stopping number in 1963's "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" - Ross yearned to direct films, a goal he achieved with "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969). He began to hit his stride as a director alongside rising megastars like Streisand in "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970) and Woody Allen in "Play it Again, Sam" (1972). Shortly thereafter, he began his prolific working relationship with playwright Neil Simon on "The Sunshine Boys" (1975). At the height of his career, Ross utilized his knowledge of ballet for "The Turning Point" (1977) and reteamed with Simon on "The Goodbye Girl" (1977) to win both critical acclaim and box office gold. Less successful were risky endeavors like the Depression-era Steve Martin musical-fantasy "Pennies from Heaven" (1981). Ross still had a few more cards up his sleeve, though, as the hits "Footloose" (1984) and "Steel Magnolias" (1989) triumphantly capped off a remarkable career. Whether crafting a spectacular dance number or directing a heartfelt romance, Ross' sole ambition to entertain an audience was unwavering.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

100% 71% Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Watchlist
97% 89% Play It Again, Sam
Watchlist
90% 84% The Last of Sheila
Watchlist
83% 64% Pennies From Heaven
Watchlist
82% 64% The Owl and the Pussycat
Watchlist
80% 85% The Goodbye Girl
Watchlist
80% 43% I Ought to Be in Pictures
Watchlist
76% 68% The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Watchlist
74% 63% Soapdish
Watchlist
73% 68% Boys on the Side
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
30% 47% Poster Boy Producer $61.4K 2004
73% 68% Boys on the Side Director,
Producer
$22.2M 1995
37% 67% Undercover Blues Director,
Executive Producer
$12.0M 1993
74% 63% Soapdish Executive Producer $33.9M 1991
44% 45% True Colors Director,
Producer
$304.5K 1991
71% 59% My Blue Heaven Director $22.8M 1990
73% 89% Steel Magnolias Director $79.4M 1989
No Score Yet 25% Dancers Director $138.8K 1987
48% 58% The Secret of My Success Director $65.3M 1987
55% 71% Footloose Director - 1984
33% 38% Protocol Director - 1984
71% 67% Max Dugan Returns Director,
Producer
- 1983
80% 43% I Ought to Be in Pictures Director,
Producer
- 1982
83% 64% Pennies From Heaven Director,
Producer
- 1981
50% 29% Nijinsky Director - 1980
48% 45% California Suite Director - 1978
63% 67% The Turning Point Director,
Producer
- 1977
80% 85% The Goodbye Girl Director - 1977
76% 68% The Seven-Per-Cent Solution Director,
Producer
- 1976
71% 72% The Sunshine Boys Director - 1975
30% 55% Funny Lady Director - 1975
90% 84% The Last of Sheila Director,
Producer
- 1973
97% 89% Play It Again, Sam Director - 1972
0% No Score Yet T.R. Baskin Director - 1971
82% 64% The Owl and the Pussycat Director - 1970
100% 71% Goodbye, Mr. Chips Director - 1969
38% 18% The Skin Game The Jackmans (Character) - 1931