Elliot Silverstein

• Name — Elliot Silverstein • Born — 3 August 1927 • Birthplace — Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. • Died — 24 November 2023 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Director • Years Active — 1954–1994 • Notable Works — Cat Ballou The Happening A Man Called Horse

Silverstein was born in Boston on August 3, 1927; he was raised in Dorchester. The son of a doctor, he initially pursued study at Boston College in biology but changed his major to drama. Elliot Silverstein was the director of six feature films in the mid-twentieth century. The most famous of these by far is Cat Ballou, a comedy-western starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. The other Silverstein films, in chronological order, are The Happening, A Man Called Horse, Nightmare Honeymoon, The Car, and Flashfire. Other work included directing for the television shows The Twilight Zone, The Nurses, Picket Fences, and Tales from the Crypt. While Silverstein was not a prolific director, his films were often rewarded. Cat Ballou, for instance, earned an Academy Award and was nominated for four more. It was his experiences with not being able to make his own cut when filming an episode on television that spurred him to push for a "director's cut". He urged Directors Guild of America president George Sidney to make a committee in late 1963 to meet up about the matter, which Silverstein chaired that included members such as Robert Altman and Sydney Pollack. The "Bill of Creative Rights" stated the following: "The arrangement of the recorded images and sounds in a relationship the Director considers proper shall be known as the ‘Director’s Cut. It is the Director’s creative right and obligation to prepare this cut, and he must be given the time he deems necessary to fulfill this function.” In the fall of 1964, the Bill of Creative Rights was included in the new DGA contract with producers.

Silverstein was married three times, each ending in divorce. His first marriage was to Evelyn Ward in 1962; the couple divorced in 1968. His second marriage was to Alana King. During his first marriage, he was the stepfather of David Cassidy. Silverstein lived in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Actively retired, Silverstein had taught film at USC and continued to work on screenplays and other projects. He died in Los Angeles on November 24, 2023, at the age of 96.

• Flashfire (1994) • Tales from the Crypt (TV series) (1991–94) • Picket Fences (TV series) (1993) • Rich Men, Single Women (TV movie) (1990) • Fight for Life (TV movie) (1987) • Night of Courage (TV movie) (1987) • Betrayed by Innocence (TV movie) (1986) • The Firm (TV series) (1982–1983) • The Car (1977) • Nightmare Honeymoon (1974) • A Man Called Horse (1970) • The Happening (1967) • Cat Ballou (1965) • Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV series) (1963–64) • The Defenders (TV series) (1962–64) • Arrest and Trial (TV series) (1964) • The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series) (1962–64) • Twilight Zone (TV series) (1961–64) • Breaking Point (TV series) (1963) • Dr. Kildare (TV series) (1961–63) • The Dick Powell Theatre (TV series) (1962) • Belle Sommers (TV movie) (1962) • Naked City (TV series) (1961–62) • Have Gun - Will Travel (TV series) (1961) • Route 66 (TV series) (1960–61) • Checkmate (TV series) (1961) • The Westerner (TV series) (1960) • Assignment: Underwater (TV series) (1960) • Black Saddle (TV series) (1960) • Suspicion (TV series) (1958) • Omnibus (TV series) (1954–56)