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Martin Ritt

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.

Highest rated movies

43% 33% End of the Game
0% 20% The Slugger's Wife

Filmography

Movies

Credit
29% 50% Stanley & Iris Director $5.5M 1990
41% 71% Nuts Director,
Producer
$29.5M 1987
0% 20% The Slugger's Wife Burly DeVito (Character) - 1985
73% 76% Murphy's Romance Director $27.3M 1985
59% 77% Cross Creek Director - 1983
40% 47% Back Roads Director - 1981
91% 79% Norma Rae Director - 1979
80% 71% Casey's Shadow Director - 1978
69% 74% The Front Director,
Producer
- 1976
43% 33% End of the Game Hans Baerlach (Character) - 1976
71% 78% Conrack Director,
Producer
- 1974
67% 70% Pete 'n' Tillie Director - 1972
91% 77% Sounder Director - 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet Awake and Sing! Unknown (Character) - 1972
90% 62% The Molly Maguires Director,
Producer
- 1970
43% 67% The Great White Hope Director - 1970
60% 24% The Brotherhood Director - 1968
94% 80% Hombre Director,
Producer
- 1967
86% 82% The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Director,
Producer
- 1965
20% 42% The Outrage Director - 1964
86% 89% Hud Director,
Producer
- 1963
0% 62% Adventures of a Young Man Director - 1962
69% 68% Paris Blues Director - 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Five Branded Women Director - 1960
17% 61% The Black Orchid Director - 1959
60% 44% The Sound and the Fury Director - 1959
86% 82% The Long, Hot Summer Director - 1958
No Score Yet 75% No Down Payment Director - 1957
No Score Yet 74% Edge of the City Director - 1957
No Score Yet No Score Yet Winged Victory Gleason (Character) - 1944