Pat McGilligan, the rare film historian who prefers living in America's interior to either coast, has just published a biography of director Nicholas Ray. He discusses his new book -- Nicholas Ray: The Glorious Failure of an American Director -- in an interview in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.McGilligan, with whom I was acquainted during our undergraduate years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, does his work the old-fashioned way. He really interviews subjects, does plenty of documentary due diligence, and takes a professional approach to his writing. Some of his books, such as his George Cukor biography, are significant contributions to film histories written in English. My personal favorite is Backstory, a five-volume series McGilligan edited and, in some cases, wrote. The books feature intelligently conducted interviews with screenwriters who discuss their experiences in the movie business over many decades. The interviews' length, depth, and respectful treatment of its subjects are in marked contrast to the harried Q&A film journalism that clutters many contemporary magazines and newspapers. They also offer a useful window into how movie projects became finished films. In that way, the interviews provide a dose of reality about a business resolutely involved with illusion.
Nicholas Ray's body of work, and his controversial personal life, make the stuff of a great tale. My guess is that Pat McGilligan relates the director's story well, and the book would be a stimulating, enjoyable book to read. You should check it out.
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