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NEW YORK American film and stage director Arthur Penn, best known for his revolutionary 1967 movie “Bonnie and Clyde,” has died, a friend of the filmmaker told AFP Wednesday. He was 88.
“He died Tuesday night here in New York,” said Evan Bell, a fried and financial advisor to Penn, without giving any further details.
Penn, who pioneered live television drama in the 1950s, left an inedible mark on American cinema with the film in which he directed Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the legendary Depression-era outlaws.
Despite being laced with comic moments, the film was more sexually explicit and blood-soaked then those usually screened in the United States at the time and broke many taboos.
Although it was panned by some shocked critics, “Bonnie and Clyde” went on to win two Oscars and is now seen as a landmark film, paving the way for a new wave of gritty movies such as “The Graduate” and “Easy Rider.”
Penn may also have helped shape Americas history, the New York Times said, describing how he directed John F. Kennedy in the 1960 television debates with Richard Nixon, which helped propel the young senator into the White House.
After the success of “Bonnie and Clyde,” Penn went on to direct several more movies including “Little Big Man” in 1970 starring Dustin Hoffman and “Night Moves” with Gene Hackman in 1975.
In later years, he turned to television dramas directing several episodes of “Law and Order.”During his long career, Penn was nominated for many awards including three Oscars for “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Alices Restaurant” and “The Miracle Worker.” He is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren. -AFP
