When I think of great screenwriters, the first one that comes to mind is William Goldman. His half-century career began with a fun movie called Harper, which I saw when I was a wee lad. It was adapted from a detective novel and demonstrated the extraordinary promise Goldman delivered throughout his career with his trademark snappy dialogue and brilliant narrative ability.
As I've stated before in the S32 forum, I've rarely read a better script than The Great Waldo Pepper, a movie that flopped that was one of Goldman's favorites screenplays. After watching the film a few years back, I had to get a hold of the script because the aerial sequences featuring vintage post WWI planes and daredevil feats was so beautifully delivered by George Roy Hill, that I had to see Goldman's screenplay for the project. I've rarely seen such beautiful narrative writing. It's truly the definition of a visual screenplay.
Goldman is much more famous for films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men and The Princess Bride. However, he also gave Hollywood some memorable sci-fi and horror screenplays including the popular Stepford Wives and the unsettling Magic, as well as superb action films including Absolute Power and one of my favorite nineties films, The Ghost in the Darkness. Finally, his career as a novelist could stand alone for his admirable contributions including The Marathon Man, which he also wrote the script for and the military novel, Soldier In the Rain.
Again, when I think of screenwriters, ones I aspire to be, Goldman is the first one that comes to mind. Not only did he work with every genre, he excelled at them and leaves behind a body of work that is prolific and will be long remembered as a towering achievement in the realm of movie making. RIP William Goldman.
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That's really sad. Over the last few days, Stan Lee, Roy Clark and William Goldman have passed this earth. As did Olga Harmony, Kurt Kaiser, and Morten Grunwald. They will always be here, though...and they all had great long lives. My sympathies and condolences to their families and friends.
BEST HOPES, PRAYERS AND WISHES TO THE VICTIMS, FAMILIES AND FIREFIGHTERS IN CALIFORNIA
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The introduction of Harper (making coffee), using actions and no dialogue, was a masterful stroke by Goldman. In just a few minutes. he let you know of Harper's character and circumstances. It's been copied many times since in various degrees, but Goldman's intro was the best.
Bill C and Dash: Great posts. I loved the into to Harper too. The scene where he goes to meet Samson's wife, daughter and boy toy is also terrific. And bit about the wacky 60's religious cult was cutting edge. Definitely a nice nod to Chandler and Hammett. Goldman sprinkled nice bits of humor in Harper, as he did with much of his work. I've borrowed from him a few times.
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Holy crap, Mr. Hardy. I didn't realize Goldman also wrote Marathon Man. One of the best thrillers I've ever seen! "Is it safe?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzw1_2b-I7A )
Dash
He leaves us with an amazing body of work
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Goldman also wrote the adaptation for Misery.
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Just got done reading Adventures in the Screen Trade. Excellent Read. He will be very missed
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It's difficult to know where someone who is universally acclaimed but so hard on their work falls between false modesty or raw, public pronouncement of self-doubt.
Goldman felt there were too many reversals in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." He didn't like many of his scripts.
My bet is on painful self-doubt.
I am inspired by a writer who tells us this is a writer's most important quality; that nasty voice that disrupts the calm in their minds. Springsteen said the most creative people grew up with a parent building them up while the other tried to tear them down.
I'm unaware of Goldman's upbringing, but I thank him for holding up a mirror.
The first paragraph and Readers know they’re in the hands of a master storyteller.