Philip Kaufman

Philip Kaufman (October 23, 1936-) is a film director and screenwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Chicago and later Harvard Law School. After spending some time backpacking in Europe with his wife, Kaufman relocated back to the United States. He held some odd jobs including mailman. It was also during one of his frequent travels that he met Anais Nin, lover of writer Henry Miller which later lead to the inspiration for his film Henry and June.

Related Topics:
October 23 - 1936 - Film director - Screenwriter - Chicago, Illinois - University of Chicago - Harvard Law School

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His directorial debut was in 1965 for the film Goldstein for which he was awarded the Prix de la Nouvelle Critique at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1976 he wrote The Outlaw Josey Wales, and was at one point signed on to direct it, but was later replaced by Clint Eastwood.

Related Topics:
Goldstein - Cannes Film Festival - 1976 - The Outlaw Josey Wales - Clint Eastwood

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In 1978 Kaufman directed the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which would become his first hit. Soon after, in 1981, Kaufman became involved with the first Indiana Jones film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, for which he receives story credit. While the character of Indiana Jones was created by George Lucas, it was Kaufman who came up with the story and the pursuit of the Ark of the Covenant.

Related Topics:
1978 - Invasion of the Body Snatchers - 1981 - Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark - George Lucas - Ark of the Covenant

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In 1983 Kaufman directed the critically acclaimed film, The Right Stuff, an adaptation of the book of the same name by Tom Wolfe. In 1988 Kaufman was nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

Related Topics:
1983 - The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe - 1988 - Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay - The Unbearable Lightness of Being

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In 1990 he wrote and directed Henry and June, which is said to be a major factor in the development of a new MPAA rating, NC-17.

Related Topics:
1990 - Henry and June - MPAA - NC-17

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In 1993 he directed Rising Sun, an adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel which removed the anti-Japanese bias of the book. The film starred Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes.

Related Topics:
1993 - Rising Sun - Michael Crichton - Novel - Japanese - Sean Connery - Wesley Snipes

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In 2000 Kaufman directed Quills, a satirical horror film about the increasingly desperate efforts of the Marquis de Sade's jailers to censor his licentious works.

Related Topics:
2000 - Quills - Satirical - Horror - Marquis de Sade - Censor

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In 2003 he directed Twisted, a thriller about a young policewoman whose casual sex partners are murdered while she herself suffers alcoholic blackouts. It starred Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia.

Related Topics:
2003 - Thriller - Alcoholic - Blackouts - Ashley Judd - Samuel L. Jackson - Andy Garcia

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Kaufman is based in San Francisco alongside other such luminaries as Francis Ford Coppola, Chris Columbus and nearby neighbor George Lucas, where he runs his production company Walrus and Associates with his family. A local restaurant has a wall devoted to Kaufman of pictures and autographs, called The Steps of Rome.

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