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Martin Ritt

Highest Rated: 94% Hombre (1967)

Lowest Rated: 0% The Slugger's Wife (1985)

Birthday: Mar 2, 1914

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

In a 1987 article in The New Republic, critic Stanley Kaufman wrote that Martin Ritt "is one of the most underrated American directors, superbly competent and quietly imaginative." While his films generally revolved around moral themes and he did not develop a particular visual style, Ritt became noted as a superlative craftsman with a particular affinity for actors, stemming no doubt from his own long and distinguished performing career. Indeed, he guided a baker's dozen of performers to Oscar nominations with three (Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas in "Hud" 1963 and Sally Field in "Norma Rae" 1979) taking home the statue. Born and raised in NYC, Ritt had originally considered a career in law until he was persuaded by Elia Kazan to work with the Group Theater. His Broadway debut was in the Group's production of Clifford Odets' "Golden Boy," on which he also served as assistant stage manager and understudy to lead John Garfield. Over the next five years, Ritt worked steadily with them until he was called for military service in the US Army Air Force Special Forces during WWII. Utilizing his theatrical background, he appeared with the landmark stage production "Winged Victory" and made his feature acting debut in the 1944 film version of that play. After his discharge, Ritt made the move to directing with 1946's "Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker" at NYC's Music Box Theatre.

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Highest-Rated Movies

94% 80% Hombre
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91% 77% Sounder
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91% 79% Norma Rae
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90% 62% The Molly Maguires
Watchlist 86% 82% The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Watchlist 86% 89% Hud Watchlist
86% 82% The Long, Hot Summer
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80% 71% Casey's Shadow
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73% 76% Murphy's Romance
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71% 78% Conrack
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Martin Ritt

Martin Ritt THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, from left: director Martin Ritt, Richard Burton, on set, 1965 swciftc1965-fsct03(swciftc1965-fsct03) THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, director Martin Ritt, on location, 1965 swciftc1965-fsct02(swciftc1965-fsct02) HUD, director Martin Ritt (seated left), Brandon De Wilde (seated center), Paul Newman (standing right) on set, 1963, TM & Copyright (c) 20th Century Fox Film Corp. THE MOLLY MAGUIRES, director, Martin Ritt, 1970. THE SLUGGER'S WIFE, Martin Ritt, 1985, (c) Columbia Pictures. END OF THE GAME, Martin Ritt, Jon Voight, 1975, (c) 20th Century Fox END OF THE GAME, Robert Shaw, Martin Ritt, 1975, (c) 20th Century Fox NORMA RAE, director Martin Ritt going over scene with Ron Leibman, on set, 1979. ©20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, TM & Copyright MURPHY'S ROMANCE, Martin Ritt, Sally Field, Brian Kerwin, 1985 View more photos

Filmography

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Stanley & Iris 29% 50% 1990 Director Nuts 42% 71% 1987 Director, Producer The Slugger's Wife 0% 20% 1985 Burly DeVito Actor Murphy's Romance 73% 76% 1985 Director Cross Creek 61% 77% 1983 Director Back Roads 40% 47% 1981 Director Norma Rae 91% 79% 1979 Director Casey's Shadow 80% 71% 1978 Director The Front 69% 74% 1976 Director, Producer End of the Game 43% 33% 1976 Hans Baerlach Actor Conrack 71% 78% 1974 Director, Producer Pete 'n' Tillie 67% 70% 1972 Director Sounder 91% 77% 1972 Director Awake and Sing! 1972 Actor The Molly Maguires 90% 62% 1970 Director, Producer The Great White Hope 43% 67% 1970 Director The Brotherhood 60% 24% 1968 Director Hombre 94% 80% 1967 Director, Producer The Spy Who Came in From the Cold 86% 82% 1965 Director, Producer The Outrage 20% 42% 1964 Director Hud 86% 89% 1963 Director, Producer Adventures of a Young Man 0% 62% 1962 Director Paris Blues 69% 68% 1961 Director Five Branded Women 1960 Director The Black Orchid 17% 61% 1959 Director
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