Renowned for his masterful storytelling, Alan J. Pakula (1928–1998) left an indelible mark on cinema history. Alan J. Pakula: Interviews offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the director’s illustrious career, from his early days in Hollywood to his rise as a major filmmaker. From the famous “paranoid trilogy” of Klute, The Parallax View, and All the President’s Men to the gripping psychological drama of Sophie’s Choice and his often-undervalued later work, Pakula’s diverse filmography has captivated audiences and critics alike.
The first published collection of interviews with the acclaimed director, this volume presents an illuminating portrait of Pakula as a filmmaker, an artist, and a man of many parts. The eighteen pieces compiled here, including an illuminating introduction and previously unpublished 1983 interview by editor Tom Ryan, provide a broad overview of Pakula’s career. In his own words, Pakula recounts his experience as Robert Mulligan’s producer, reflects on the bulk of films he made as director, and outlines his approach to the art of filmmaking. Taken as a whole, Alan J. Pakula: Interviews is a treasure trove of cinematic wisdom and a fitting tribute to the legacy of an important American filmmaker.
Tom Ryan is a former cinema studies lecturer and an Australian critic who has been a regular contributor to film magazines and the arts pages of newspapers for almost forty years. He is author of The Films of Douglas Sirk: Exquisite Ironiesand Magnificent Obsessions and editor of Baz Luhrmann: Interviews and Fred Schepisi: Interviews, all published by University Press of Mississippi, and has contributed to numerous anthologies about film and sport.
