The Art of Longevity Interview | Video Librarian

Few can boast a career in pictures that was as long, as fruitful or as successful as the great Robert Wise…

A diligent workaholic, whose humble beginnings in Hollywood saw him climb his way up from studio lot errands boy to Academy Award-winning director - Wise’s filmography is so vast and all-encompassing that even fans of his films may be unaware of the true extent of his work. One reason for this is because Robert Wise’s cinema is almost impossible to pin down. He had the resourceful ability to work within any budget, the talent and creativity to explore almost any genre, and a strong humanitarian conscience for telling stories that reflected the societal issues of the time. Furthermore, Wise’s reputation as a mildly-tempered and approachable director meant that he was always well-respected amongst executives, cast and crew.  

Now, with a Steven Spielberg remake of Robert Wise’s record-breaking 1961 musical film adaptation, West Side Story scheduled for release later this month, the great director’s influence is coming full-circle. I sat down with writer J.R Jordan, author of Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures to touch on the continued legacy of a Hollywood stalwart.     

Read the original article and full interview for Video Librarian here.

For more on J.R Jordan’s book ‘Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures’ click here.