Otto-biography

April 23, 2008 7:03 AM

Otto Preminger died on this day 22 years ago at 79 years old, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

Notable film noir director of many classic films such as Laura (Gene Tierney's most popular role), Fallen Angel, Carmen Jones, and Anatomy of a Murder.

Although his resume only includes three oscar nominations, his legacy stems a fearless portrayal of many controversial issues such as homosexuality in the movie Advise and Consent, heroin use in The Man with the Golden Arm, and *gasp* using the word "virgin" in The Moon is Blue (earning him a condemnation by the Catholic Legion of Decency).

Oh, he was an actor too.

Here is a rare interview with the director.

Here is the German wikipedia entry.

posted by Bathtub Bobsled (20 comments total)

Oh, I forgot to mention, Otto Preminger was Mr Freeze.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 7:09 AM on April 23, 2008

.?
posted by dgaicun at 7:13 AM on April 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure why the 22nd anniversary is significant, though. What's the big deal? Or is he purportedly famous/significant enough that he gets a thread every year?
posted by Brockles at 7:22 AM on April 23, 2008

I will watch Skidoo in his memory today.
posted by steveburnett at 7:23 AM on April 23, 2008 [2 favorites]

Woodlawn cemetery is two blocks from my house and an amazing place. I haven't been since it started getting warm this year. Maybe this weekend!
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 7:28 AM on April 23, 2008

Or is he purportedly famous/significant enough that he gets a thread every year?

Check back next April 23 and see!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:30 AM on April 23, 2008

I'm not sure why the 22nd anniversary is significant, though. What's the big deal? Or is he purportedly famous/significant enough that he gets a thread every year?

He's famous/significant enough to deserve at least one thread... and here it is.

If I waited three years would it have increased the likelihood people give a toss?
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 7:32 AM on April 23, 2008

Not for me, I guess, no.

I wondered why it was suddenly relevant, rather than just extremely-old-news-filter. I figured I had missed something, but it appears not...
posted by Brockles at 8:00 AM on April 23, 2008

James Wolcott wrote about Preminger just the other day.

Mostly, he slaps Preminger around, but he does like Daisy Kenyon.
posted by barjo at 8:02 AM on April 23, 2008

I don't like much post-1950 Preminger. I just saw The Moon Is Blue, which confirmed my dislike. It short-circuits its own radical intentions by placing the words "virgin," "seduce," and "mistress" in the mouth of a girl who's so completely unworldly that I wondered for a while if she was supposed to be mentally handicapped. It's "shocking," I guess, but it's the shock of a child asking her mommy "what's intercourse?" instead of a real, adult shock. Good Preminger: Laura, Daisy Kenyon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Fallen Angel.
posted by goatdog at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

I always think of him as the Kommandant in Stalag 17. Great flick.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:34 AM on April 23, 2008

Otto is a palindrome.
posted by fixedgear at 8:35 AM on April 23, 2008

When speaking of his acting career, I always think of him in Sunset Boulevard.

But Laura is one of my all-time favorite films. It's such a world of european decadence with Tierny as an out-of-place hard ass in the middle of. Plus, it's really disorienting to watch Vincent Price as the dandy in it. He has one of my fave lines of all time:

"I don't know a lot about anything. But I know a little about practically everything."
posted by lumpenprole at 9:33 AM on April 23, 2008

Skidoo is fucking insane. Not always in a good way.
posted by Viomeda at 9:35 AM on April 23, 2008

lumpenprole: I believe you're thinking of Erich von Stroheim.
posted by barjo at 11:34 AM on April 23, 2008

Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King is an excellent biography. I'm a big fan of Anatomy of a Murder and Laura.
posted by lukemeister at 4:14 PM on April 23, 2008

Just to remind everyone, Preminger's unreleased drug comedy Skidoo has a torrent up at greylodge. It's illegal, but considering it's really the only chance most people will have to see it ever....
posted by JHarris at 4:49 PM on April 23, 2008

Is it too late for me to crap all over this post?

Actually I would just like to say, regardless of relevance, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll add his flicks to my short list.
posted by P.o.B. at 6:52 PM on April 23, 2008

.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:28 PM on April 23, 2008

I will watch Skidoo in his memory today.

steveburnett, that is one of my favorite films. Right up there with Harvey, The Muppet Movie, and Dr. Strangelove.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:45 PM on April 23, 2008