Robert Milton Young | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | November 22, 1924
Other names | Robert M. Young |
Alma mater | Harvard University (B.A., 1949) |
Occupation(s) | Director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer |
Robert Milton Young, usually known as Robert M. Young (born November 22, 1924), is an American film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and producer.[1] In 1985 he was a member of the jury at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.[2] He has frequently cast Edward James Olmos in his movies, directing him in Alambrista! (1977), The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982), Saving Grace (1986), Triumph of the Spirit (1989), Talent for the Game (1991), Roosters (1993), Slave of Dreams (1995) and Caught (1996). He produced Olmos's directorial debut, American Me (1992).
Early life and education
Young was born in New York City in 1924. His father was a cameraman who later owned a film laboratory. Robert began college at MIT to become a chemical engineer. He left after two years to join the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific in New Guinea and in the Philippines. Upon returning to America after the war, he decided to study English literature at Harvard University.[3]
He also developed an interest in filmmaking and graduated from Harvard in 1949.[4]
Early career
After graduation, Young formed a cooperative partnership with two friends making educational films. In 1960, he worked for NBC making public affairs programs for NBC White Paper. In 1960, on behalf of NBC, he went to the American South to make the film Sit-In about the civil rights protests and sit-ins. The film won a Peabody Award.[3][5]
He later left NBC to pursue narrative film work.[3]
Filmography
Filmmaking credits
Feature films
Title | Year | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nothing But a Man | 1964 | No | Yes | Yes | |
Short Eyes | 1977 | Yes | Yes | No | Directorial Debut |
Alambrista! | 1977 | Yes | No | Yes | |
Rich Kids | 1979 | Yes | No | No | |
One-Trick Pony | 1980 | Yes | No | No | |
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez | 1982 | Yes | No | Yes | |
Saving Grace | 1986 | Yes | No | No | |
Extremities | 1986 | Yes | No | No | |
Dominick and Eugene | 1988 | Yes | No | No | |
The Plot Against Harry | 1989 | No | Yes | No | Filming in 1969 |
Triumph of the Spirit | 1989 | Yes | No | No | |
Talent for the Game | 1991 | Yes | No | No | |
American Me | 1992 | No | Yes | No | |
Caught | 1996 | Yes | No | No | |
China: The Panda Adventure | 2001 | Yes | No | No | IMAX film |
Human Error | 2004 | Yes | No | No |
Documentaries
Title | Year | Director | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Secrets of the Reef | 1956 | Yes | Yes | |
At the Winter Sea Ice Camp: Part 4 | 1967 | Yes | No | Short film |
The Eskimo: Fight for Life | 1970 | Yes | Yes | |
Children of the Fields | 1973 | Yes | No | Short film |
To Fly! | 1976 | No | Yes | IMAX short film |
Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family | 1993 | Yes | No | |
William Kurelek's The Maze | 2011 | Yes | No | Co-directed with David Grubin |
Cancelled film: Cortile Cascino (1962)[6]
Television
Title | Year | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
World Wide '60 | 1960 | Yes | No | No | Television series (episode "The Living End") |
Sit-In | 1960 | Yes | No | No | Episode of TV series 'NBC White Paper' |
Angola: Journey to a War | 1961 | Yes | No | No | Episode of TV series 'NBC White Paper') |
J.T. | 1969 | Yes | No | No | Television film |
National Geographic Specials | 1972-1976 | Yes | No | No | Television documentary series (4 episodes) |
Amanda Fallon | 1973 | No | No | Creator | Unsold pilot |
Special Treat | 1978 | Yes | No | No | Television series (episode "Snowbound") |
We Are the Children | 1987 | Yes | No | No | Television film |
Solomon & Sheba | 1995 | Yes | No | No | Television film |
Slave of Dreams | 1995 | Yes | No | No | Television film |
Caught | 1996 | Yes | No | No | Television film |
Nothing Sacred | 1997-1998 | Yes | No | No | Television series (2 episodes) |
Battlestar Galactica | 2004-2009 | Yes | No | No | Television series (5 episodes) |
Walkout | 2006 | No | Co-Executive | No | Television film |
Technical credits
Feature films
Title | Year | Cinematographer | Camera operator |
---|---|---|---|
Nothing But a Man | 1964 | Yes | |
Namu, the Killer Whale | 1966 | Yes | |
Alambrista! | 1977 | Yes | |
The Plot Against Harry | 1989 | Yes | |
American Me | 1992 | Yes | |
Berkeley | 2005 | Yes |
Documentaries and other
Title | Year | Cinematographer | Sound | Editor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secrets of the Reef | 1956 | Yes | |||
Stalking Seal on the Spring Ice | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 2 films | ||
Jigging for Lake Trout | 1967 | Yes | |||
Group Hunting on the Spring Ice | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 3 films | ||
Fishing at the Stone Weir | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 2 films | ||
Building a Kayak | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 2 films | ||
At the Winter Sea Ice Camp | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 4 films | ||
At the Spring Sea Ice Camp | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 3 films | ||
At the Caribou Crossing Place | 1967 | Yes | Short series in 2 films | ||
At the Autumn River Camp | 1967 | Yes | Short series (onlty part 2) | ||
The Eskimo: Fight for Life | 1970 | Yes | |||
Deal | 1977 | Yes | |||
Out on a Limb: An Introduction to Jack Hodgins | 1981 | Yes | Short film | ||
Imperfect Union: Canadian Labour and the Left, Part 2: Born of Hard Times | 1989 | Yes | |||
Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family | 1993 | Yes | Yes | ||
The Last Winter | 2002 | Yes | Short film | ||
William Kurelek's The Maze | 2011 | Yes |
Television
Title | Year | Cinematographer | Second unit director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
High Adventure with Lowell Thomas | 1957 | Yes | Television documentary series | |
National Geographic Specials | 1972-1976 | Yes | Television documentary series (4 episodes) | |
Special Treat | 1978 | Yes | Television series (episode "Snowbound") | |
Walkout | 2006 | Yes | Television film |
References
- ↑ "Robert M. Young – Movie and Film Biography, Credits and Filmography". AllMovie. November 22, 1924. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)". MIFF. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- 1 2 3 Alexander, Geoff, "Biography: Robert M. Young", Academic Film Archive of North America (AFANA).
- ↑ Ireland, Corydon, "Nothing but a breakthrough: Landmark 1964 film about race by two Harvard grads launches Film Archive's season", The Harvard Gazette, January 11, 2013
- ↑ "NBC WHITE PAPER: U.S. News Documentary", Museum of Broadcast Communications, Chicago, Illinois.
- ↑ Wall, David C.; Martin, Michael T. (October 20, 2015). The Politics and Poetics of Black Film: Nothing But a Man. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253018502.
Further reading
- Lewis, Leon (editor). Robert M. Young : essays on the films, Jefferson, N.C. ; London : McFarland & Co., 2005. ISBN 0786420634