Norman Jewison, who directed such films as In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), and Rollerball (1975), died on January 20 2024 at the age of 97.
Norman Jewision was born on July 21 1926 in Toronto, Ontario. His parents ran a general store. His interest in the arts began when he was young, and he studied piano and music theory at the Royal Conservatory. In high school he appeared in musicals and comedies. During World War II he served in the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1949 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Victoria College in the University of Toronto.
Norman Jewison worked as a taxi cab driver and as a radio actor on CBC programs. It was in 1950 that he did his first work in the United States, directing the first episode of the television version of Your Hit Parade for CBS. In 1950 he moved to London for work-study at the BBC. In 1952 he returned to Canada where he went to work for CBC Television. There he directed such shows as The Big Revue, The Denny Vaughan Show, The Wayne & Shuster Show, The Barris Beat and The Adventures of Chich. At the CBC he produced the shows Let's See, On Stage, and The Barris Beat. It was in 1958 that he was hired by NBC in New York City. He directed episodes of Your Hit Parade, The Chevy Showroom Starring Andy Williams, The Big Party, The Revlon Revue, and the television specials An Hour with Danny Kaye and Belafonte, New York 19. He also directed the documentary The Fabulous Fifties, and TV special The Secret World of Eddie Hodges.
Norman Jewison began the Sixties directing the TV movie The Million Dollar Incident and the TV special The Broadway of Lerner and Loewe. He directed the 1962 TV special The Judy Garland Show, and would go onto produce Judy Garland's short-lived 1963-1964 variety show. He directed this first feature film, 40 Pounds of Trouble, which was released in 1962. He followed 40 Pounds of Trouble with The Thrill of It All (1963), Send Me No Flowers (1964), The Art of Love (1965), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), and The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming (1966). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for In the Heat of the Night (1967). Norman Jewison finished the Sixties with The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and Gaily, Gaily (1969).
In the Seventies Norman Jewison directed Fiddler on the Roof (1971), for which he was again nominated for the Oscar for Best Director. He directed the films Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Rollerball (1975), F.I.S.T. (1978), and ...And Justice for All (1979). In the Eighties he directed Best Friends (1982), A Soldier's Story (1984), and Agnes of God (1985). He was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director for Moonstruck (1987). He directed In Country (1989).
In the Nineties he directed Other People's Money (1991), Only You (1994), Bogus (1996), and The Hurricane (1999). He directed an episode of the mini-series Picture Windows and the TV documentary The 20th Century: Funny is Money. In the Naughts he directed the TV movie Dinner with Friends and the feature film The Statement (2003).
Norman Jewison directed some of my favourite films, including Send Me No Flowers,The Russians Are Coming The Russians are Coming, In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball, and Moonstruck. He was certainly versatile. He directed everything from light comedies to crime dramas to musicals to science fiction. Whether he was dealing with comedy or drama, he had a gift for dealing with serious issues. Over the years he dealt with xenophobia and nationalism, racism, religion, corporatism, and religion. What is more, he handled such weighty topics very well. As a director Norman Jewison had a gift for bringing out the best in his actors. While Norman Jewison was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director only a few times, actors in his movies were nominated for Oscars twelve different times. Norman Jewison may well have been the most honoured Canadian director in film history, but he was also among the best directors of all time from any country. He certainly ranks among my favourite directors.
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