Paul Schrader
Also Known As: Paul Joseph Schrader
Biography: Paul Joseph Schrader (born July 22, 1946) is an American screenwriter, film director, and film critic. He first became widely known for writing the screenplay of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976). He later continued his collaboration with Scorsese, writing or co-writing Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Bringing Out the Dead (1999). Schrader has also directed 24 films, including Blue Collar (1978), Hardcore (1979), American Gigolo (1980), Cat People (1982), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Light Sleeper (1992), Affliction (1997), and First Reformed (2017); the latter earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Schrader's work frequently depicts troubled men struggling through an existential crisis that is then punctuated by a violent, cathartic event. Raised in a strict Calvinist family, Schrader attended Calvin College before electing to pursue film studies at UCLA on the encouragement of film critic Pauline Kael. He then worked as a film scholar and critic, publishing the book Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (1972) before making the transition to screenwriting in 1974. The success of Taxi Driver in 1976 brought greater attention to his work, and Schrader began directing his own films beginning with Blue Collar (co-written with his brother, Leonard Schrader). His three most recent films have been described by Schrader as a loose trilogy: First Reformed (2017), The Card Counter (2021), and Master Gardener (2022). Description above from the Wikipedia article Paul Schrader, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Department: Writing
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Birthday: July 22, 1946
Adult: No
Gender: Male
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Known For:
Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Overview: Interviews with the junior designers swept into the 24-7 world of "The Eamery" are the heart of this complex picture of a husband-and-wife creative team that define the era of Mid-Century Modernism. Narrated by James Franco, the film draws from a trove of archival material, primarily the stunning films and photographs produced in mind-boggling volume by Charles, Ray, and their staff during the hyper-creative forty years of the Eames Office.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2011-11-18
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Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz
Overview: Film noir, which enjoyed particular success in the 1930s and 1940s, is probably the most profound genre of classic Hollywood cinema. Eckhart Schmidt tries to show the background and developments and speaks, among others, with directors such as Richard Fleischer and Robert Wise as well as with "femme fatale" actresses. Filmmakers of the following generations explain how the style and themes of noir continue to shape cinema today.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: de
Release Date: 2004-12-19
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Tales from the Script
Overview: Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), and dozens of other Hollywood screenwriters share hilarious anecdotes and penetrating insights in "Tales from the Script," the most comprehensive documentary ever made about screenwriting. By analyzing their triumphs and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in one of the world's most competitive industries. They also reveal the untold stories behind some of the greatest screenplays ever written, describing their adventures with luminaries including Harrison Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Joel Silver, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. The film was produced in tandem with the upcoming HarperCollins book of the same name.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-01-10
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Raging Bull: Before the Fight
Overview: The first part of a four-part documentary about the production of "Raging Bull."
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-02-08
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The Book of Harth
Overview: A New York City-based conceptual artist embarks on a 20-year art project asking culturally significant people to sign his copy of The Holy Bible.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2022-08-10
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Schrader's Exorcism
Overview: A documentary chronicling director Paul Schrader's ride through hell and back while making film history with his prequel to The Exorcist. Schrader, after being fired from the production and his version of the film shelved, is brought back 2 years later to complete it on a shoestring budget. In true cinéma vérité style we watch as Schrader and editor Tim Silano work all the angles to get the film on its feet and over to Europe for the world premiere.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2008-08-23
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Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That
Overview: Documentary about filmmaker Budd Boetticher.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-12-21
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The Rules of Film Noir
Overview: Matthew Sweet explores his rules of 1940s and 50s American film noir thrillers.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-08-22
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Pictures of Europe
Overview: What makes European cinema so special? Find out in Paul Joyce’s feature-length documentary, Pictures of Europe, which examines the differences between American independent and Hollywood movies and films from European directors. Featuring luminary iconoclasts from European cinema such as Agnes Varda, Bernardo Bertolucci and Pedro Almodovar, as well as American counterpoints from Paul Schrader, and those who have crossed back and forth, such as Paul Verhoeven
Genres: Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-04-25
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The Road to Bresson
Overview: A Dutch documentary about legendary French filmmaker Robert Bresson.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: nl
Release Date: 1984-05-13
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Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade
Overview: An account of the life and work of American film director Sam Peckinpah (1925-84), a tortured artist whose genius and inner demons changed the Western genre forever.
Genres: Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-07-25
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Making 'Taxi Driver'
Overview: A behind the scenes snapshot of the making of one of the greatest films ever made. Filled with trivia, interviews from cast and crew, and more.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-06-14
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The Beauty of Horror: Paul Schrader on The Comfort of Strangers
Overview: An interview with Paul Schrader on his 1990 film "The Comfort of Strangers"
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-08-18
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God's Lonely Man
Overview: An examination of Travis's condition and situation in Taxi Driver
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2007-08-14
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Influence And Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute
Overview: Filmmakers examine the work and influence of Martin Scorsese on modern cinema
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2007-08-14
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Best Served Cold
Overview: A feature length cinema documentary on how THE FARMER (1977) became the most-requested cult film of the new millennium, and it's a crazy tale that involves an actor incarcerated for manslaughter, serious on-set injuries, banana-man costumes- as well as surprising links to Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese. The film also broadens its scope to explore the overlooked, eclectic and often ultra-violent sub-genre THE FARMER belongs to - The Returning Veteran film. A film type that hit its stride in the 1970's with hard hitting character studies such as WELCOME HOME, SOLDIERS BOYS (1971), THE NO MERCY MAN (1973) and ROLLING THUNDER (1977).
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
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Milius
Overview: The life story of ‘Zen Anarchist’ filmmaker John Milius, one of the most influential storytellers of his generation.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-03-09
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Murnau, Borzage and Fox
Overview: Documentary focusing on the film careers F.W. Murnau, Frank Borzage and William Fox and their impact on the history of cinema.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2008-12-09
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Hitchcock/Truffaut
Overview: Filmmakers discuss the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock and the book “Hitchcock/Truffaut” (“Le cinéma selon Hitchcock”), written by François Truffaut and published in 1966.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2015-09-04
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What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
Overview: Pauline Kael (1919–2001) was undoubtedly one of the greatest names in film criticism. A Californian native, she wrote her first review in 1953 and joined ‘The New Yorker’ in 1968. Praised for her highly opinionated and feisty writing style and criticised for her subjective and sometimes ruthless reviews, Kael’s writing was refreshingly and intensely rooted in her experience of watching a film as a member of the audience. Loved and hated in equal measure – loved by other critics for whom she was immensely influential, and hated by filmmakers whose films she trashed - Kael destroyed films that have since become classics such as The Sound of Music and raved about others such as Bonnie and Clyde. She was also aware of the perennial difficulties for women working in the movies and in film criticism, and fiercely fought sexism, both in her reviews and in her media appearances.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2019-03-22
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Dog Eat Dog
Overview: Carved from a lifetime of experience that runs the gamut from incarceration to liberation, Dog Eat Dog is the story of three men who are all out of prison and now have the task of adapting themselves to civilian life.
Genres: Drama Crime Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2016-11-04
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Ken San
Overview: KEN SAN pieces together the puzzle of the life and legacy of Japan's mythical acting icon, Ken Takakura. Collaborators, friends and family tell intimate stories of Ken's journey: how one man of quiet dignity became a cultural barrier-breaking film star.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 2016-08-20
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A Decade Under the Influence
Overview: A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-04-25
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Talking with Ozu
Overview: A tribute to the legendary Japanese film director featuring the reflections of filmmakers Lindsay Anderson, Claire Denis, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Aki Kaurismäki, Stanley Kwan, Paul Schrader, and Wim Wenders
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1993-11-27
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Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business
Overview: Following five years in the life and career of independent filmmaker Justin McConnell, this documentary explores the struggles of financing, attracting the right talent, working with practical effects and selling the finished product in the hope of turning a profit. Featuring interviews with a range of industry luminaries, not only are technical aspects and interpersonal skills discussed but also the emotional stamina and little-known tips needed to survive in the low budget film industry.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-03-26
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We Blew It
Overview: How did America change from Easy Rider into Donald Trump? What became of the dreams and utopias of the 1960's and 1970's? What do the people who lived in that golden age think about it today? Did they really blow it? Shot in Cinemascope - from New Jersey to California - this melancholic and elegiac road-movie draws upon the portrait of a confused, complex and incandescent America one year after the start of the electoral campaign. That golden age has become its last romantic border and an inconsolable America is about to pull on a trigger called Trump.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2017-11-08
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Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Overview: Mike Epps, Richard Pryor Jr. and others recount the culture-defining influence of Richard Pryor - one of America's most brilliant, iconic comic minds.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-04-23
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Hollywood Mavericks
Overview: A documentary focusing on seventeen maverick directors who were not afraid to break the rules of filmmaking to advance their art. Among the classic directors profiled are D.W. Griffith, Josef von Sternberg, Erich Von Stroheim, and Preston Sturges up until more current filmmakers like David Lynch, Robert Altman, and Martin Scorsese..
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-09-07
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Untitled: New Blue
Overview: A short film directed by Paul Schrader following the story of a painting from Schrader's collection.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-01-01
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Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light
Overview: Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing intimate peeks at its tough, scheming dames, mischievous misfits and flawed men - all caught in the wicked web of a twisted fate.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2006-07-18
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Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer
Overview: Documentary about the life and work of film director Preston Sturges.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-07-02
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Sex at 24 Frames Per Second
Overview: Directed by Kevin Burns, this documentary from Playboy Home Video examines the oftentimes tense relationship between sex, women, and popular Hollywood culture. With a particular focus given to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Jean Harlow, and Sharon Stone, Sex at 24 Frames Per Second studies the role of female sexuality in film throughout the years. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-09-23
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Paul Schrader: Man in a Room
Overview: In the sixth installment of the Criterion Channel's Meet the Filmmakers series, director Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell, Listen Up Philip) visits the ever-iconoclastic auteur Paul Schrader during the making of his 2017 masterpiece First Reformed. On set and at home- where, for his own pleasure, he continues to work and rework his previous films- Schrader reflects on the highs and lows of his legendary career, the challenges and rewards of slow cinema, and the influences and experiences that continue to shape his approach to filmmaking. With this insightful portrait of one of his filmmaking heroes, Perry captures an artist who is continually at play, intentionally provocative, and never less than vital.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-01-26
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Godard Made in USA
Overview: Documentary by Luc Lagier exploring Godard's career as a filmmaker, the production of Breathless and his influence and his relationship with American cinema.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2010-12-11
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1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
Overview: A remarkable new epic documentary spotlighting the pop culture milestones of 1982 including notable motion pictures, TV, music and video games of that seminal year.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2022-10-08
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Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Overview: The chronicle of the mind-blowing journey that was Hollywood during the seventies; the true and gripping story of the last golden age of American cinema, an exalted celebration of creativity and experimentation; but also of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll: a turbulent and dark tale of ambition, envy, betrayal, hatred and self-destruction.
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-03-09
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Cat People: An Intimate Portrait by Paul Schrader
Overview: Director Paul Schrader discusses the making of 1982's Cat People.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2002-08-27
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Inside Mishima
Overview: Short report on the making of Paul Schrader's film Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, aired as part of the VISIONS: CINEMA programme in 1985.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-10-23
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