Films Where the Producer Forced the Director's Hand

[Ash]

What films can you think of where the producer almost literally forced the director's hand so that the film ends up not being that which the director is most known for but more like the producer's?

I'm referring to "Poltergeist".

It was directed by Tobe Hooper (I always see his name and think it's pronounced without the "Y" sound at the end of it...for those of you that didn't know, it's actually pronounced "Toby"...I always say it like "Toad" only with a "B"at the end of it...Hehe!) but was produced by Steven Spielberg.
If I didn't know better I'd say that it was directed by Spielberg himself.

The camera shots, score & pretty much the ENTIRE film looks as if 'ol Stevie directed it.
I've heard stories that Spielberg literally hovered over the shoulder of Hooper while filming it.
What do you think?

What films can you think of where the producer, who also happens to be a director, is listed in the credits as the producer, but the film looks like it was guided by his hand?
As far as I know, "Poltergeist" is the only example....maybe you know of another.

What do you think of the original "Poltergeist"?



Post Edited (11-03-03 03:19)

[Ash]

I'm sure I'll get alot of responses that almost ALL major studios force and/or tie a director's hands....that's not what I'm interested in.

I'm referring to where you cannot even tell that a certain director directed it.....it seems to be the work of the producer.
Just had to get that outta the way first!



Post Edited (11-04-03 14:53)

[dean]

i know that this doesn't fit what you were asking, but i can't think of any off the top of my head [though i know there are more, and probably half involve speilberg!] but nevertheless i will defy your wishes ash ;-) just to say that good ol' jerry brukhiemer seems to have a heavy hand in what goes into his productions.  they all seem to have that bruckhiemer feel to them that sometimes really gets on my nerves.

and then i realise i'm just a slave to the industry and come to remember that jerry has moulded the modern day cinema audience into laughing at his jokes and watching his stuff.  damn scummy bastard has his hands dipped in many pies!

[Conrad]

As I recall it, "The Thing From Another World" is supposedly directed by Christian Nyby, with Howard Hawks as producer, but it comes across as a film definitely directed by Hawks.

[Fearless Freep]

"Raggedy Ann" is probably pretty close.

[JohnL]

>I've heard stories that Spielberg literally hovered over the shoulder of Hooper
>while filming it.

Read that article on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that I posted the link for. IT talks about Tobe and Poltergeist.

[AndyC]

John, where did you post that link?

[Lee]

"She Shoots Strait." The movie was directed by Cory Yuen and produced by Sammo Hung. Or atleast that's how they are credited. But when you watch it you are positive it's a movie Sammo directed. Granted Cory's style seems vary from movie to movie but I do wonder about this one.

[JohnL]

>John, where did you post that link?

In the post about the true story of the TCM. Here's the link;

TCM Story

[Mr_Vindictive]

"Tobe....

Tobe Wong....

Tobe Wong.....

Tobe Chung....

f**king Charlie Chan!"




Couldn't help it.  That quote always pops in my head when I see Tobe Hooper's name.


(That quote is from Reservoir Dogs, BTW)