Bob Rafelson is Dead to Me

Directed DL fave "Black Widow." And "Five Easy Pieces."

"Mr. Rafelson found inspiration in his uncle, the screenwriter Samson Raphaelson, who worked with the director Ernst Lubitsch on many films, including “Trouble in Paradise” and “The Shop Around the Corner.” Rebelling against his comfortable Upper West Side upbringing, Mr. Rafelson left home as a teenager to work at a rodeo in Arizona and to play with a jazz band in Acapulco, Mexico. He returned to the U.S. to study philosophy at Dartmouth College and on graduation was drafted into the Army. He served in Japan, working as a D.J. for the Far East Network of military radio and television stations. He was court-martialed twice, once for striking an officer and once for uttering an obscenity on the air." NYT

When I finally saw FIVE EASY PIECES, I found it and Nicholson's character tiresome so assume it was of its time and didn't age well. Susan Anspach gave the film some much-needed grace.

In contrast to 'Legal Eagles,' Miss Winger has thoroughly enjoyed her work with Mr. Rafelson, best known for 'Five Easy Pieces.' 'Rafelson is very emphatic,' she suggests, 'but he's also very collaborative. It helps that this movie has a solid story line, which was especially important to me coming off 'Legal Eagles,' where the story has so many holes.'

'I was warned that Debra would be argumentative and difficult,' Mr. Rafelson says. 'But I didn't find that. No actress I've worked with has had a sharper instinct. She reminds me of Jack Nicholson in the way she works. Neither of them likes to overrehearse. They're afraid that they'll burn themselves out and lose the spontaneity.'

Perhaps one reason for their smooth working relationship is that Mr. Rafelson has known Miss Winger for 15 years. 'I first met Debra at a party when she was still a teen-ager,' he recalls. 'And I thought she was this incredibly alive and jovial, even frenzied person. We kept in touch over the years, and when I had completed working on the script for 'Black Widow,' I sent it to her. I think she's at that point in her career when she's moving from playing young girls to playing women.'

I spent most of "Five Easy Pieces" fascinated by how messy and bizarrely decorated Jack Nicholson's wealthy family home in the San Juan islands. If they had a framed painting or a framed photograph in the house, they just stuck it up any old place on the walls--nothing was put up thoughtfully. And the tables and desks in the house were just overspilling with clutter and papers and books.

I still wonder if rich artsy liberals in Washington state really lived like that then.

Interesting in that he was so hot when the great American cinema moment in the 60s/70s was happening but hasn't stood the test of time

Stay Hungry was an underrated gem. It was also the first meaty film role for Sally Field, (and her one nude scene). I believe it was that film, more than anything else, that led her to getting Norma Rae.

I looked at his filmography on IMDB and only STAY HUNGRY and maybe BLACK WIDOW (which I haven't seen in years) really holds up. FIVE EASY PIECES and POSTMAN are very overrated, and KING OF MARVIN GARDENS is quite bad. I tried to watch MAN TROUBLE once and gave up after 20 minutes. I haven't seen MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON, which sounds interesting.

I think he said "Mountains of the Moon" was his favorite; I saw it in the theater when it was released--it's a great true adventure story, but the magic of, say, "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Aguirre: The Wrath of God," is missing.

RIP

With Bert Schneider, also the co-creator of The Monkees.

Five Easy Pieces is a masterpiece and Jack Nicholson's true great performance.

the most famous scene in Rafelson's best Film FIVE EASY PIECES (1970)

^ I wondered when that little scene was going to come up.

I get him mixed up with Nicholas Roeg.

Jeff Bridges@TheJeffBridges

Bob Rafelson is no longer with us; he was such an amazing director and wonderful person. I got the chance to work/play with him in Stay Hungry. His production company, BBS produced some of the most influential and enduring movies. He was a producer from the beginning of my career on The Last Picture show. My love and heart go out to his family and friends.

11:30 AM · Aug 2, 2022·