In response to SandmanJazz’s 30 Day Film Challenge today, to wit, a film by your favorite film director, this one was a tough decision. So many favorites, so where to begin? Going down the list – John Ford, John Huston, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, Francis Ford Coppola – I‘m tempted to say Kubrick but being in the mood I’m in, today’s pick is John Huston.
Huston’s well-known for The Maltese Falcon, but to me his most memorable achievements are The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and The Dead (1987), the latter being the last movie he directed. The Dead is a mesmerizing adaptation of James Joyce’s short story from The Dubliners and The Man Who Would Be King is a cinematic and storytelling tour de force, a brilliant adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s story. I wish he had been able to complete his series, The Bible: In the Beginning, but as it is, it showcases the scope and power of his directorial imagination.
Here’s to you, Mr. Huston! 🍷
This Jolly Beggar 