Wednesday, February 20, 2008

A birthday remembrance

Film director Robert Altman would have been 83 today, The Writer's Almanac reminds us. For such a ubiquitous film presence, it's hard to believe his first big movie, M.A.S.H., didn't reach screens until 1970, when Altman was 45.

What a record he piled up! Dozens of television programs, from Whirlybirds to Saturday Night Live. On film, McCabe and Mrs. Miller; Nashville; 3 Women; A Wedding; Health; the inexplicable Popeye; Streamers; a segment of the remarkable ensemble Aria; Tanner '88 and Tanner on Tanner; Vincent and Theo; The Player; Pret a Porter; Cookie's Fortune; Dr. T and the Women; Gosford Park; and the inexplicable A Prairie Home Companion. But even Altman on a bad day was better than most directors on their best.

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