Saturday, July 30, 2022

The Late Great David Warner

David Warner, photograph by Rory Lewis
David Warner, who appeared in such films as Morgan A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966), The Omen (1976), Time After Time (1979), and TRON (1982), died on July 24 2022 at the age of 80. He died of an illness related to lung cancer.

David Warner was born on July 29 1941 in Manchester. His father often changed jobs, so that David Warner spent time in a variety of towns as a child. It also meant that he did poorly in school. Eventually his parents separated and he did not see his mother again until she was dying David Warner trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

He made his professional debut in 1962 in  the Royal Court Theatre in January 1962 in a production of A Midsummer's Night Dream. That March, at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, he appeared in Much Ado About Nothing. In June 1962 he appeared Afore Night Come at the New Arts Theatre in London. It was in 1962 that he made his film debut in We Joined the Navy (1962). He made his television debut in an episode of BBC Sunday-Night Play in 1963. In the Sixties he appeared in the movies Tom Jones (1963), Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966), The Deadly Affair (1967), The Bofor's Gun (1968). Work is a Four Letter Word (1968), The Fixer (1968), The Sea Gull (1968), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), Michael Kohlhaas - Der Rebell (1969),  The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), and A Perfect Friday (1970). On television he appeared in the mini-series The War of the Roses. He guest starred on the shows Z Cars, Armchair Theatre, and NBC Experiment in Television. In April 1963 he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In the Seventies David Warner appeared in the movies Straw Dogs (1972), A Doll's House (1973), From Beyond the Grave (1974), Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (1974), The Old Curiosity Shop (1975), The Omen (1976), Providence (1977), Cross of Iron (1977), Age of Innocence (1977), Silver Bears (1977), The Disappearance (1977), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), Nightwing (1979), The Concorde... Airport '79 (1979), Time After Time (1979), and The Island (1980). In the Seventies he appeared in the television mini-series Holocaust and Clouds of Glory. He appeared on the TV series Three Comedies in Marriage, and in the TV movies The Blue Hotel and S.O.S. Titanic.

In the Eighties David Warner appeared in the television mini-series Masada, Nancy Astor, Marco Polo, Charlie, and Hold the Back Page. He guest starred on the shows Remington Steele, Hart to Hart, Faerie Tale Theatre, Crossbow, Worlds Beyond, and Father Dowling Mysteries. He appeared in the TV movies Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, Love's Labour Lost, Desperado, Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen, and The Secret Life of Ian Fleming. He appeared in the films  Time Bandit (1981), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), TRON (1982), The Man with Two Brains (1983), The Company of Wolves (1984), Summer Lightning (1984), My Best Friend is a Vampire (1987), Hanna's War (1988), Waxwork (1988), Mr. North (1988), Hostile Takeover (1988), Hansel and Gretel (1988), Pulse Pounders (1988), Keys to Freedom (1988), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Mortal Passions (1989), Grave Secrets (1989), Magdalene (1989), and Tripwire (1989).

In the Nineties he appeared in the movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), Blue Tornado (1991), Drive (1991), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), The Lost World (1992), Return to the Lost World (1992), The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter (1992), L'oeil qui ment (1992), Spies, Inc. (1992), Necronomicon (1993), Piccolo grande amore (1993), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Felony (1994), Tryst (1994), Inner Sanctum (1994), Loving Deadly (1994), Taking Liberty (1995), Ice Cream Man (1995), Final Equinox (1995), Luise knackt den Jackpot (1995), Naked Souls (1996), Seven Servants (1996), The Leading Man (1996), Money Talks (1997), Titanic (1997), Scream 2 (1997), The Last Leprechaun (1998), Wing Commander (1999), Shergar (1999), and Back to the Secret Garden (2000).

In the Nineties he was a regular voice on the animated TV shows The Legend of Prince Valiant, Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Frekazoid!, Spider-Man, Toonsylvania, and Men in Black the Series. He was a guest voice on the animated shows Mighty Max, Iron Man, Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys, Superman, Batman Beyond, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. He provided a guest voice on the sitcom Dinosaurs. He had a recurring role on Twin Peaks and Signs and Wonders. David Warner appeared in the mini-series Wild Palms and The Choir. He guest starred on the shows Tales from the Crypt; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Murder, She Wrote; The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; The Larry Sanders Show; Babylon 5; Perversions of Science; Roar; Total Recall 2070; The Outer Limits; The Hunger; The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, and Love & Money.

In the Naughts David Warner appeared in the movies Planet of the Apes (2001), The Little Unicorn (2001), Superstition (2001), The Code Conspiracy (2002), Kiss of Life (2003), Straight into Darkness (2004), Cortex (2004), Ladies in Lavender (2004), Cyber Wars (2004), The League of Gentleman's Apocalypse (2005), and Black Death (2010). On television he appeared in the mini-series Conviction and The Battle for Rome, and provided a voice for the animated Doctor Who miniseries Doctor Who: Dreamland. He appeared in the TV movies Hornblower: Mutiny, Hornblower Retribution The Investigation, Hearts of Gold, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2003), Sweeney Todd, Mr. Loveday's Little Outing, Hogfather, Perfect Parents, and Albert's Memorial. He guest starred on the shows Agatha Christie's Marple, Sensitive Skin, Wild at Heart, and Graceless. He was a guest voice on the animated shows Grim & Evil; and What's New, Scooby-Doo?.

In the Teens he appeared in the movies A Thousand Kisses Deep (2011), Before I Sleep (2013), You, Me and Him (2017), and Mary Poppins Returns (2018). He appeared in the mini-series The Secret of Crickley Hall. He had recurring roles on Mad Dogs, Wallander,  and Ripper Street. He guest starred on the shows Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful, Inside No. 9, Lewis, and The Alienist. He had a recurring role on the animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. He was a guest voice on Teen Titans Go!.

David Warner was an actor of immense talent and he was extremely versatile. As a young man he played the protagonist of the title in Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment, a mentally disturbed, failed, working class, London artist. It was also early in his career that he played Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Over the years he played a diverse number of roles. In The Ballad of Cable Hogue he played the Reverend Joshua Douglas Sloan, Cable's somewhat philosophical and spiritual partner.  In TRON he played multiples roles,  He played the corrupt Senior Executive Vice President of ENCOM Ed Dillinger, as well as Commander Sark (a program created by Dillinger in the cyberspace of the ENCOM mainframe) and the voice of Master Control in the cyberspace of the ENCOM mainframe. In Time After Time he played a yet even more unpleasant character, Dr. John Leslie Stevenson, also known as Jack the Ripper. Over the years he played everything from Keith Jennings, the photographer who realizes the truth about Damien's birth, in The Omen to Chancellor Gorkon of the Klingon High Council in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country to Dr. Alfred Necessiter, the scientist who developed a way to store living brains, in The Man with Two Brains. David Warner played  a wide variety of roles throughout his career. If he was so very prolific, it was because he was very good.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Vanessa Marquez Singing, "Fly Me to the Moon"

It was three years ago today that the mother of Vanessa Marquez, a few friends, and myself gathered atop Mount Lee in Los Angeles to scatter Vanessa's ashes. It is for that reason that Vanessa has been on my mind a lot today. I have listened to songs I identify with her and taken note of every butterfly I have seen (Vanessa always said her name meant "butterfly.").

Among the songs I identify with Vanessa Marquez is "Fly Me to the Moon." It was many years ago that she got the chance to sing "Fly Me to the Moon" with jazz singer Rick Blessing at Jax Bar & Grill in Glendale, California. Some of her friends sprung it on Vanessa as a surprise, so she was not expecting it at all and as a result she was nervous. It might seem odd for an actress who had appeared on stage and screen, but Vanessa did suffer from stage fright. It is for that reason she forgot the words, "Baby, kiss me." I think she handled very well. In fact, when I first saw the video I thought it was simply part of the act. Regardless, Vanessa had a beautiful singing voice. It is a shame that she didn't get to utilize it as an actress. The only time she got to sing on television, much less film, was on the classic sketch comedy show Culture Clash. At any rate, if I hadn't loved Vanessa before seeing this video, I certainly would have fallen in love with her afterwards!

Anyway, in memory of my dearest Vanessa Rosalia Marquez, here she is singing, "Fly Me to the Moon" in duet with Rick Blessing.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Godspeed Tony Dow

Tony Dow, who played Wally on Leave It to Beaver and directed many television shows, died on July 27 2022 at the age of 77. The cause was liver cancer.

Tony Dow was born on April 13 1945 in Hollywood, California. His family had an artistic bent, so that he was exposed to art at an early age. When he was young he won several titles at swimming and diving competitions, and he even trained for the Olympics.

It was in 1957 that he was cast as Wally Cleaver on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver. He played the role of Beaver's older brother for the entirety of the show's run from 1957 to 1963. In the Sixties he starred on the daytime serial Never Too Young. He guest starred on the show General Hospital, The Eleventh Hour, The Greatest Show on Earth, My Three Sons, Mr. Novak, NBC Children's Theatre, Lassie, and Adam-12.  From 1965 to 1968 he served in the National Guard.

In the Seventies Tony Dow guest starred on the shows Love, American Style; The Mod Squad; Emergency!; and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. He appeared in the TV movies A Great American Tragedy and Death Scream,. He appeared in the movie The Kentucky Fried Movie.

In the Eighties Tony Dow reprised his role as Wally in the TV reunion movie Still the Beaver. Afterwards he starred as Wally in the sitcom of the same name. He guest starred on the shows Square Pegs; Quincy M.E., Knight Rider, Mike Hammer; Murder, She Wrote; The Love Boat; Jesse Hawkes; Charles in Charge; and Freddy's Nightmares. He appeared in the TV movies The Ordeal of Bill Carney and High School U.S.A. It was with Still the Beaver that Tony Dow began directing television and he directed several episodes of the show. In the Eighties he also directed episodes of The New Lassie, Coach, Swamp Thing, and Get a Life.  He appeared in the movie Back to the Beach (1987).

In the Nineties Tony Dow appeared in the TV movie The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space. He guest starred on the shows Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction and Diagnosis Murder. He directed several episodes of Coach, Swamp Thing, and Babylon 5. He also directed episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Honey, I Shrunk the Kids; Crusade; Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family; and Manhattan, AZ. He also directed the TV documentary Child Stars: Their Story and produced the TV movies The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space and It Came From Outer Space II. In the Naughts he appeared in the movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003). In the Teens he guest starred on the TV series Suspense.

Tony Dow was also a talented sculptor. He was one of only two American sculptors whose sculptures were featured at the Carrousel du Louvre. His work was also displayed at the  Salon 2008 de la National des Beaux Arts in Paris.  His works have been displayed at he  Karen Lynne Gallery, Topanga Canyon Gallery, the Morgan Gallery, and the Bilotta Gallery.

While I am not nearly as big a fan of Leave It to Beaver as many of my generation, I always appreciated that it was the first sitcom to focus on the kids in the family rather than the parents. What is more, Tony Dow was perfect as Wally, the big brother many with they had. Of course, he played many more roles than just Wally. On Diagnosis Murder he played  a role as far from Wally as one could get, a television network executive. On Adam-12 he played a young corporal in the military whose car had been stolen. On Love, American Style he played a husband whose wife was leaving him. Over the years Tony Dow not only played Wally, but medical doctors, school principals, and motorcyclists as well.

Of course, Tony Dow also directed several hours of television. He was a very good television director and seemed to have a gift for both science fiction and comedy. His episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, "Field of Fire," is one of the best of the series.

In real life, Tony Dow was a lot like Wally, simply a nice guy. While I never got to meet Mr. Dow, I have many friends who did and they all the said same thing. He really was the big brother everyone wanted. Tony Dow was a talented actor, a talented director, a talented sculptor, and, most importantly of all, simply a good person.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

The Legendary Paul Sorvino

Paul Sorvino, who appeared in such movies as Goodfellas (1990), The Rocketeer (1991), and Nixon (1995), and starred on the second and third seasons of Law & Order, died yesterday, July 25 2022, at the age of 83. He had issues with his health for the past several years.

Paul Sorvino was born on April 13 1939 in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. He was drawn to singing from when he was young, and even aspired to become an opera singer. He sang at resorts in the Catskills as a teenager. Paul Sorvino graduated from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn.

Paul Sorvino worked as a copywriter at an advertising agency, and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. It was ultimately his asthma that lead him to pursue acting rather than a career in opera as he wanted. He later founded the Sorvino Children's Asthma Foundation. He wrote the 1985 book How to Become a Former Asthmatic. Paul Sorvino studied acting under Sanford Meisner and William Esper.

Paul Sorvino made his debut on Broadway in Bajour in 1964. In the Sixties he appeared in the Broadway productions Mating Dance and Skyscraper. He made his film debut in Carl Reiner's movie Where's Poppa? in 1970. In the Seventies Mr. Sorvino appeared in Broadway in That Championship Season and An American Millionaire. He directed the Broadway production Wheelbarrow Chasers. On television he starred on the TV shows We'll Get By and Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (a spinoff of The Streets of San Francisco). He guest starred on the shows Great Performances, The Streets of San Francisco, and Insight. He appeared in the mini-series Seventh Avenue. Paul Sorvino appeared in the films The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Cry Uncle (1971), Made for Each Other (1971), Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972), A Touch of Class (1973), The Day of the Dolphin (1973), The Gambler (1974), Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue (1974), I Will...I Will..For Now (1976), Oh God! (1977), Bloodbrothers (1978), Slow Dancing in the Big City (1978), The Brink's Job (1978), Lost and Found (1979), and Cruising (1980).

In the Eighties Paul Sorvino appeared in the films Reds (1981), Melanie (1982), I, the Jury (1982), That Championship Season (1982), Off the Wall (1983), Very Close Quarters (1984), The Stuff (1985), A Fine Mess (1986), Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986), Dick Tracy (1990), Goodfellas (1990), and DMZ (1990). On television he starred on the TV show The Oldest Rookie and the mini-series Chiefs. He guest starred on the shows Today's F.B.I.; Moonlighting; and Murder, She Wrote. He appeared in the TV movies My Mother's Secret Life, With Intent to Kill, Surviving, Chiller, and Almost Partners.

In the Nineties Paul Sorvino starred on the TV shows Law & Order and That's Life. He guest starred on the TV shows Star Trek: The Next Generation and Work with Me. He was a guest voice on the animated series Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man. He appeared in the TV movies Don't Touch My Daughter, The Last Mile, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives, Parallel Lives, Without Consent, Escape Clause, The Art of the Cigar, Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way, Houdini, That Championship Season, Cheaters, and The Thin Blue Lie. He appeared in the movies The Rocketeer (1991), Age Isn't Everything (1991), The Firm (1993), Backstreet Justice (1994), Cover Me (1995), Nixon (1995), Love is All There Is (1996), Romeo + Juliet (1996), American Pefekt (1997), Money Talks (1997), Men with Guns (1997), Most Wanted (1997), Bulworth (1998), Knock Off (1998), Dead Broke (1998), Harlem Aria (1999), Scriptfellas (1999), and The Amati Girls (2000).

In the Naughts Paul Sorvino continued to appear on the TV show That's Life. He had regular and recurring roles in the TV series Still Standing and Mogli a pezzi. He appeared in the mini-series L'onore e il rispetto. He guest starred on the shows Jack & Bobby. He appeared in the TV movies Mafia Doctor, Doc West, and Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe. He appeared in the movies Perfume (2001), See Spot Run (2001), Plan B (2001), Longshot (2001), Ciao America (2002), The Cooler (2003), Mambo Italiano (2003), Mr. 3000 (2004), Goodnight, Joseph Parker (2004), Mr. Fix It (2005), Greetings from the Shore (2007), Last Hour (2008), Carnera: The Walking Mountain (2008), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), The Wild Stallion (2009), and Switchback (2010).  He was a voice in the animated movie Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002).

In the Teens Paul Sorvino had roles on the TV shows Bad Blood and Godfather of Harlem. He appeared in the mini-series Airship Dracula. He guest starred on the shows Elementary, The Goldbergs, Grandfathered,  and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. He provided the voice of Augustin Mouchot  in the documentary mini-series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. He appeared in the TV movies Imaginary Friend, Jersey Shore Shark Attack, and Paulie. He appeared in the movies Kill the Irishman (2011), God Don't Make the Laws (2011), The Trouble with Cali (2012), The Devil's Carnival (2012), For the Love of Money (2012), Divorce Invitation (2012), How Sweet It Is (2013), Last I Heard (2013), Immigrant (2013), A Winter Rose (2014), A Place for Heroes (2014), The Hybrids Family (2015), Careful What You Wish For (2015), No Deposit (2015), Sicilian Vampire (2015), Cold Deck (2015), Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival (2016), Kidnapped in Romania (2016), Falling (2016), The Bandit Hound (2016), Chasing Gold (2016), Detours (2016), The Bronx Bull (2016), The Brooklyn Banker (2016), The Red Maple Leaf (2016), Rules Don't Apply (2016), Lost Cat Corona (2017), Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game (2017), Undercover Grandpa (2017), Price for Freedom (2017), Executor (2017), Papa (2018), Acts of Desperation (2018), Beneath the Leaves (2019), Welcome to Acapulco (2019), Bad Impulse (2019), and Most Guys are Losers (2020). His last appearance on film was in The Birthday Cake (2021).

Paul Sorvino was a gifted tenor who not only sang on Broadway, but performed  for the New York Opera at Lincoln Center in 2006. He was also a talented sculptor. Among his works was a sculpture of playwright Jason Miller. He was also a painter.

Paul Sorvino played many gangsters and police officers in his career. Indeed, among his best known roles are gangsters Paul Cicero in Goodfelllas and Eddie Valentine in The Rocketeer. He is also known for playing Detective Phil Cerretta on the TV show Law & Order. While Paul Sorvino was very good at playing gangsters and police officers, he was such a talented actor he could play other sorts of roles with ease. He played the historical figures Henry Kissinger in Nixon and Louis C. Fraina in Reds. He was the protagonist in the TV movie A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives, playing one of the defence attorneys filling Perry Mason's shoes following the death of Raymond Burr. Over the years Paul Sorvino played everything from CEOs to a clergyman to a fashion designer to a CIA Deputy Director.

Beyond being an enormously talented actor and an incredible tenor, Paul Sorvino was also a genuinely good man. I have friends who have had the opportunity to meet him in person. Every single one of them commented on how kind and how sweet he was. I have never heard of a fan who had a bad experience meeting Paul Sorvino. His wife Dee Dee is on Twitter and has taken part in both TCMParty and Svengoolie live tweets. She would sometimes relay something Paul had said, and his niceness would shine through. Paul Sorvino was a remarkable actor, a remarkable tenor, and a remarkable man. The world seems a little dimmer without him.

Monday, July 25, 2022

The Late Great Bob Rafelson

Bob Rafelson, the co-creator of the TV series The Monkees with Bert Schneider and director of such films as Head (1968), Five Easy Pieces (1970), The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), and Mountains of the Moon (1990), died on July 23 2022 at the age of 89. The cause was lung cancer.

Bob Rafelson was born on February 21 1933 in New York City. His father, Sidney Rafelson, was a hat ribbon manufacturer. Among his cousins was screenwriter and playwright Samson Raphaelson, who wrote such Ernst Lubitsch films as The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and Heaven Can Wait (1943). He attended Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, New York. He took an interest in movies while very young, watching as many as four films a day. He left home when he was only a teenager. For a time he was a rodeo rider, as well as a jazz musician in Acapulco. It was the latter job that would serve as some of the inspiration for the TV show The Monkees. He studied philosophy at Dartmouth College before being drafted into the United States Army. In the Army he served as a disc jockey in Japan. There he also translated Japanese films into English and served as an advisor to  Shochiku Film Company. In Japan he developed an interest in Japanese cinema, particularly the movies of  Yasujirō Ozu.

Once his service in the Army was over, Bob Rafelson returned to the United States. He broke into television as a script editor on the Play of the Week episode "Burning Bright" in 1959. In the same year he served as a script editor on the TV movie The World of Sholom Aleichem. He also wrote several episodes of Play of the Week. From 1960 to 1961 he served as a story editor on David Susskind's television series as a story editor on The Witness. He also wrote one episode of the show. In the Sixties he moved to Hollywood where he went to work for Universal. He served as an associate producer on the TV shows The Greatest Show on Earth and Channing before leaving Universal over a disagreement with  Lew Wasserman. He also wrote one episode of The Greatest Show on Earth.

It was in 1965, while Bob Rafelson was working at Screen Gems, that he and Bert Schneider formed Raybert Productions. Messrs. Rafelson and Schneider created the TV show The Monkees, based in part on Mr. Rafelson's experiences in Mexico as a jazz musician and The Beatles' movies A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965). While The Monkees only received moderate ratings, the TV show and the band both became phenomena in the mid to late Sixties, with success on the record charts and a good deal of merchandise.In addition to producing The Monkees, he also directed and wrote episodes. Bob Rafelson made his feature film directorial debut with The Monkees' movie Head (1968). Bob Rafelson served as a producer on the film Easy Rider (1969). He produced and directed the movie Five Easy Pieces (1970).  It was after Easy Rider came out that Raybert Productions became BBS Productions with the addition of Stephen Blauner as a partner.

In the Seventies Bob Rafelson served as a producer on the movies The Last Picture Show (1971), The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), La maman et la putain (1973), and Stay Hungry (1976). He directed the film The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) and Stay Hungry (1976). In the Eighties he produced and directed the film The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981). He directed the films Black Widow (1987) and Mountains of the Moon (1990).

In the Nineties Bob Rafelson directed the movies Man Trouble (1992) and Blood and Wine (1996). He directed the segment "Wet" for the movie Tales of Erotica (1996). He also directed an episode of the TV show Picture Windows and the TV movie Poodle Springs. In the Naughts he directed the film No Good Deed (2002). He directed the TV documentary Afterthoughts.

I cannot estimate the impact that Bob Rafelson has had on my life. As the co-creator of The Monkees, I can truly say my life would be very different if Bob Rafelson had never existed. As much as I owe to Bob Rafelson for the creation of The Monkees, I know that it was far from his only achievement. Quite simply, Bob Rafelson directed some of my favourite movies, including Head, Five Easy Pieces, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) and Mountains of the Moon. As a director he was versatile. His films ranged from the virtually plotless, freewheeling Head to the drama The King of Marvin Gardens to the neo-noir Black Widow to the Sir Richard Francis Burton historical epic Mountains of the Moon. What is more, Bob Rafelson never conformed to what the major studios thought a film should be. He made movies his own way, even when it meant clashing with the Hollywood establishment. As both the co-creator of The Monkees and a movie director who leaves behind a considerable legacy.