Remembering John Cassavetes: 1929-1989

By Alex Simon

Filmmaker and actor John Cassavetes died twenty years ago, today. Credited by many as the inventor of the American independent film with his first self-financed feature, Shadows (1959), Cassavetes left an indelible mark on both popular culture and the cinematic landscape in his 59 years, often taking roles in classics such as The Dirty Dozen and Rosemary's Baby to finance his own films, which became a genre unto themselves: Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Opening Night, and Love Streams. Even the films he directed that were financed by studios: Too Late Blues and A Child is Waiting (both of which were re-cut by the studios, and he disowned); Husbands, Minnie and Moskowitz, Gloria and Big Trouble, all retained his unique signature. Hollywood finally gave his filmmaking skills a nod when Cassavetes earned Oscar nominations for his screenplay of Faces and direction of Woman, which also earned a Best Actress nod for his wife, and lifelong collaborator, Gena Rowlands, who garnered a second Best Actress nomination for Gloria, in 1980.

The first three clips are excerpts from an interview with Cassavetes, taken from the French TV series "Cineastes de Notre Temps" ("Filmmakers of Our Time"). It was 1965, and he was in the middle of shooting Faces. Each clip gives a candid glimpse into both his personal and professional style.

The final clip is from Cassavetes' 1984 film Love Streams, and showcases his unique, vulnerable, seemingly-improvisational acting style. Like Faces, much of Love Streams was shot in Cassavetes' Hollywood Hills home. The oil painting behind the bar pictures John and Gena, playing chess. The scene also provides a nice coda for the man himself.

Thanks for it all, John, and know that you're missed.