Norman Jewison, Oscar-nominated Canadian director, dead at 97 – National | 24CA News
Norman Jewison, the Canadian director of quite a few Oscar-recognized titles — together with “Moonstruck” and “Fiddler on the Roof” — and a champion of homegrown cinematic expertise on the Canadian Film Centre, has died.
A publicist for the Toronto-born filmmaker confirmed that Jewison died peacefully at his dwelling on Saturday. He was 97 years previous.
The charming, strong-willed director-producer tackled a variety of genres all through his distinguished profession, however was notably drawn to initiatives that had a social message and explored the human situation.
His five-time Oscar-winning 1967 crime drama “In the Heat of the Night,” for instance, was the primary of a number of Jewison movies that probed the consequences of racism.
It’s a difficulty that struck Jewison whereas hitchhiking throughout the segregated American South as a teen following his one-year service within the Royal Canadian Navy in the course of the Second World War.
“I saw apartheid for the first time,” he stated in February 2010 throughout a panel dialogue in Toronto on race relations in cinema.
“I couldn’t understand at 18 … why a country would ask young men to go and fight and die for America and then when they came home, they had to sit at the back of a bus and they couldn’t get a cup of coffee at Woolworth’s.”
Jewison revisited themes of racial rigidity along with his three-time Oscar-nominated “A Soldier’s Story” in 1984, and “The Hurricane” in 1999, which earned Denzel Washington an Oscar nomination for finest actor.
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, Rod Steiger, director, Norman Jewison, & Sidney Poitier, rehearsing the script, in Belleville, IL, September 23, 1966. Film was launched in 1967.
THE HURRICANE, Denzel Washington, director Norman Jewison, on set, 1999. (c) Universal Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
His different Oscar-winning or nominated options spanned movie genres, with the crime drama “The Thomas Crown Affair,” the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and the Cold War satire “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.”
There had been additionally the thrillers “…And Justice for All” and “Agnes of God,” in addition to the romantic comedy “Best Friends.”
The beloved romantic comedy “Moonstruck” gained Oscars for Cher as finest actress and Olympia Dukakis for finest actress, in addition to screenplay.
Jewison, born in his grandmother’s home in 1926, was raised a Methodist however was usually confused for being Jewish due to his surname. He was captivated with performing and storytelling from a younger age and obtained a bachelor’s diploma basically arts from University of Toronto’s Victoria College in 1949.
After failing to land performing gigs in New York and Hollywood, Jewison drove a taxi and waited on tables in Toronto to help his fledgling profession in present business.
His first regular showbiz work got here in tv, first as a scriptwriter with the BBC in London after which as a author, director and producer for CBC-TV in Toronto. It was round this time, in 1953, that he wed mannequin Margaret Ann (Dixie) Dixon, with whom he had three youngsters — Michael, Kevin and Jennifer. They remained married till her loss of life in 2004.
Jewison adopted up his CBC gig with a directing place at CBS in New York, the place he oversaw performers together with Harry Belafonte, Jackie Gleason and Judy Garland.
On the suggestion of actor Tony Curtis, Jewison began directing movies and received his breakthrough with the lauded 1965 playing drama “The Cincinnati Kid.”
Many honours adopted, together with being named companion of the Order of Canada in 1992 and incomes the Irving G. Thalberg Award for lifetime achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in 1999.
Jewison’s identify can be immortalized on stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“You don’t see a display of genius like that very often in your life and it’s a direct emanation of the soul of this beautiful man,” David Peterson — Jewison’s good friend and U of T chancellor who was additionally as soon as Ontario premier — stated on the Jewison archive launch.
Norman Jewison celebrates after successful the Irving Thalberg Award, in recognition of his constant top quality of movement image manufacturing, in the course of the 71st Annual Academy Awards Sunday, March 21, 1999, on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon).
Jewison was additionally a beloved colleague and coach within the eyes of many cinematic heavyweights, who stated his directing fashion may draw out the perfect in them.
Dukakis, for example, known as him a “master craftsman” and “consummate teacher” throughout her acceptance speech for her Golden Globe Award for “Moonstruck.”
Many budding homegrown filmmakers regarded Jewison as a mentor throughout their research on the Canadian Film Centre, which he based in 1988.
Jewison additionally confirmed his nationalism by capturing a number of movies in Canada and advocating for Canuck tradition throughout many public talking alternatives.
“The power of our arts is the essence of Canada,” he stated in a June 2008 convocation tackle at what was then known as Ryerson University.
“Artists are our most precious commodity because we supply the images and the words through which we see and understand ourselves as a people.”
Despite having properties in a number of cities round North America, Jewison stated he at all times felt most comfy on Canadian soil, particularly at his farm in Caledon, Ont., northwest of Toronto, the place he and his household raised pigs and cattle.
“Most people consider me a Hollywood director but I feel very Canadian. I always have,” he informed The Canadian Press in 1979.
“Canadians can be more objective (about the Americans). We’re more like them than anyone else but we’re still outsiders.”
Known for his hearty chuckle and feisty confidence, the moviemaker at all times hesitated to choose a favorite movie of his, usually saying they had been all like his youngsters and all a results of willpower, good timing, the best casting and luck.
His greatest piece of recommendation to budding filmmakers: “Believe in yourself.”
“A lot of it is self-confidence when you get into any of the arts,” Jewison informed reporters in September 2008 on the launch of his everlasting archive at his alma mater, the University of Toronto.
“All of the arts are difficult because there’s a lot of competition and a lot of people that tell you that you’re not good enough and you’re not special enough and all of those things, so you’ve got to stay at it … and just stay committed.”
