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OBITUARIES; RICHARD C. SARAFIAN, 1930 - 2013; Director of 'Vanishing Point'
Los Angeles Times
September 19, 2013 Thursday
by Steve Chawkins
Richard C. Sarafian, a Hollywood director best known for the
speed-addled saga of squealing brakes and existential angst chronicled
in the 1971 cult film "Vanishing Point," died Wednesday. He was 83.
Sarafian was recovering from a broken back when he contracted
pneumonia, family members said.
He directed numerous films and, earlier in his career, TV shows that
included episodes of "Gunsmoke," "The Twilight Zone" and "Batman." He
also acted, appearing as hitman Vinnie in the Warren Beatty satire
"Bulworth" and gangster Jack Dragna in Beatty's "Bugsy."
In "Dr. Doolittle 2," he did a comic turn as the voice of the God
Beaver, a don of the dam who ran the forest like a Corleone with
buck teeth.
But it was "Vanishing Point," the story of a tough guy named Kowalski
and his frenzied road trip from Denver to San Francisco, that proved
to be Sarafian's most enduring work.
"I had absolutely no idea that this thing would survive all these
years," he told the website movieweb.com in 2009. "We worked hard in
the hot sun and we partied at night. You just hope, like everything,
that you blow the audience a few kisses and try to fulfill your vision
of what it's about ... freedom, an endless road, and let the cards
fall where they may."
In Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof," the director gave Sarafian a
"special thanks" credit, a bow to the influence of "Vanishing Point."
Its impact has also been felt outside the industry. In 1997, Scottish
rock band Primal Scream paid tribute to Sarafian by naming an album
"Vanishing Point": "It's always been a favorite of the band,"
leader Bobby Gillespie explained. "We love the air of paranoia and
speed-freak righteousness."
In the film, ex-cop, ex-racer and Vietnam vet Kowalski, played by
Barry Newman, bets his drug dealer he can deliver a supercharged 1970
Dodge Challenger to California in 15 hours. The reasons for the wager
are unclear, but it triggers 90 minutes worth of screaming police
cruisers and an excited, crash-by-crash radio narration from Super
Soul, a blind disc jockey played by Cleavon Little. Kowalski also
encounters desert hippies, a rattlesnake wrangler and an alluring,
naked blonde woman on a motorcycle.
Over the years, critics have been puzzled. "Kowalski would be a
contemporary Lone Ranger but for one thing," wrote Danny Peary. "He
forgets to do anything heroic."
Sarafian was undeterred. "The beauty of 'Vanishing Point' was that I
met the challenge to physicalize speed," he told Turner Classic Movies.
Born April 28, 1930, in New York City, Richard Caspar Sarafian was
the son of Armenian immigrants.
He attended New York University but "was a rotten student, drinking
and carousing," he told the Armenian Reporter in 2008. "To make life
easier, I took a two-point course in writing and directing pictures. I
got an A!"
Serving during the Korean War as a reporter for an Army news service,
he was stationed for a time in Kansas City, Mo., where he met future
Hollywood director Robert Altman.
The two became pals and worked together making industrial films. When
Altman directed a local play, Sarafian acted in it. The director's
sister came bounding backstage after he appeared, her arms opened wide.
"Richard, Richard!" she exclaimed. "You were adequate!"
They married and had five children. Helen Joan Altman died two years
ago, after divorcing Sarafian and later remarrying him.
Sarafian got his start in TV as Altman's assistant but quickly
established himself.
The 1963 "Twilight Zone" "Living Doll" episode was one of his more
famous efforts.
After watching the story of the murderous Talky Tina doll, Sarafian's
son Deran sought comfort from his parents.
"That was the most horrible thing I've ever seen," he told them.
His mother sympathized. "By the way," she told him, "your father
directed it."
Sarafian also directed "Man in the Wilderness," "The Man Who Loved
Cat Dancing," "Run Wild, Run Free" and other movies. His first feature
film, "Andy," was the story of a developmentally disabled man getting
by in New York City.
In addition to Deran Sarafian, he is survived by sons Damon, Richard
Jr. and Tedi; and daughter Catherine. All work in the film industry.
From: A. Papazian
Los Angeles Times
September 19, 2013 Thursday
by Steve Chawkins
Richard C. Sarafian, a Hollywood director best known for the
speed-addled saga of squealing brakes and existential angst chronicled
in the 1971 cult film "Vanishing Point," died Wednesday. He was 83.
Sarafian was recovering from a broken back when he contracted
pneumonia, family members said.
He directed numerous films and, earlier in his career, TV shows that
included episodes of "Gunsmoke," "The Twilight Zone" and "Batman." He
also acted, appearing as hitman Vinnie in the Warren Beatty satire
"Bulworth" and gangster Jack Dragna in Beatty's "Bugsy."
In "Dr. Doolittle 2," he did a comic turn as the voice of the God
Beaver, a don of the dam who ran the forest like a Corleone with
buck teeth.
But it was "Vanishing Point," the story of a tough guy named Kowalski
and his frenzied road trip from Denver to San Francisco, that proved
to be Sarafian's most enduring work.
"I had absolutely no idea that this thing would survive all these
years," he told the website movieweb.com in 2009. "We worked hard in
the hot sun and we partied at night. You just hope, like everything,
that you blow the audience a few kisses and try to fulfill your vision
of what it's about ... freedom, an endless road, and let the cards
fall where they may."
In Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof," the director gave Sarafian a
"special thanks" credit, a bow to the influence of "Vanishing Point."
Its impact has also been felt outside the industry. In 1997, Scottish
rock band Primal Scream paid tribute to Sarafian by naming an album
"Vanishing Point": "It's always been a favorite of the band,"
leader Bobby Gillespie explained. "We love the air of paranoia and
speed-freak righteousness."
In the film, ex-cop, ex-racer and Vietnam vet Kowalski, played by
Barry Newman, bets his drug dealer he can deliver a supercharged 1970
Dodge Challenger to California in 15 hours. The reasons for the wager
are unclear, but it triggers 90 minutes worth of screaming police
cruisers and an excited, crash-by-crash radio narration from Super
Soul, a blind disc jockey played by Cleavon Little. Kowalski also
encounters desert hippies, a rattlesnake wrangler and an alluring,
naked blonde woman on a motorcycle.
Over the years, critics have been puzzled. "Kowalski would be a
contemporary Lone Ranger but for one thing," wrote Danny Peary. "He
forgets to do anything heroic."
Sarafian was undeterred. "The beauty of 'Vanishing Point' was that I
met the challenge to physicalize speed," he told Turner Classic Movies.
Born April 28, 1930, in New York City, Richard Caspar Sarafian was
the son of Armenian immigrants.
He attended New York University but "was a rotten student, drinking
and carousing," he told the Armenian Reporter in 2008. "To make life
easier, I took a two-point course in writing and directing pictures. I
got an A!"
Serving during the Korean War as a reporter for an Army news service,
he was stationed for a time in Kansas City, Mo., where he met future
Hollywood director Robert Altman.
The two became pals and worked together making industrial films. When
Altman directed a local play, Sarafian acted in it. The director's
sister came bounding backstage after he appeared, her arms opened wide.
"Richard, Richard!" she exclaimed. "You were adequate!"
They married and had five children. Helen Joan Altman died two years
ago, after divorcing Sarafian and later remarrying him.
Sarafian got his start in TV as Altman's assistant but quickly
established himself.
The 1963 "Twilight Zone" "Living Doll" episode was one of his more
famous efforts.
After watching the story of the murderous Talky Tina doll, Sarafian's
son Deran sought comfort from his parents.
"That was the most horrible thing I've ever seen," he told them.
His mother sympathized. "By the way," she told him, "your father
directed it."
Sarafian also directed "Man in the Wilderness," "The Man Who Loved
Cat Dancing," "Run Wild, Run Free" and other movies. His first feature
film, "Andy," was the story of a developmentally disabled man getting
by in New York City.
In addition to Deran Sarafian, he is survived by sons Damon, Richard
Jr. and Tedi; and daughter Catherine. All work in the film industry.
From: A. Papazian