Bosley Crowther

Bosley Crowther was a renowned American film critic who worked for The New York Times from 1940 to 1967, known for his influential reviews of films such as Citizen Kane, Casablanca, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Crowther's critiques were widely read and respected, and he was a key figure in shaping the public's perception of cinema, often attending premieres at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. His opinions were also sought after by prominent filmmakers, including Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Stanley Kubrick. As a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, Crowther was part of a community that included other notable critics, such as Otis Ferguson and James Agee.

● Early Life and Education

Bosley Crowther was born in Lutherville, Maryland, to a family of Episcopal Church clergy, and spent his childhood in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Swarthmore College, where he developed an interest in journalism and began writing for the college newspaper, The Phoenix. After graduating in 1928, Crowther moved to New York City to pursue a career in journalism, working as a reporter for The New York Herald Tribune and covering events such as the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the 1933 World's Fair. During this time, he also developed a passion for film, often attending screenings at The Museum of Modern Art and The Film Society of Lincoln Center.

● Career

Crowther's career as a film critic began in 1933, when he started writing reviews for The New York Herald Tribune. He quickly gained recognition for his insightful and well-written critiques, which caught the attention of The New York Times. In 1940, Crowther was hired by The New York Times as their film critic, a position he held for 27 years, during which he reviewed films such as The Grapes of Wrath, The Maltese Falcon, and Rear Window. His reviews were widely read and respected, and he became known for his support of French New Wave cinema, as well as his criticism of Hollywood's Motion Picture Production Code. Crowther was also a member of the National Board of Review and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and he often attended the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.

● Film Criticism and Legacy

Crowther's film criticism was known for its thoughtfulness and nuance, and he was particularly admired for his ability to analyze the technical aspects of filmmaking, such as the work of Cinematographers like Gregg Toland and Orson Welles. He was also a strong advocate for the work of Independent filmmakers, such as John Cassavetes and Shirley Clarke, and he often reviewed films that were shown at Film festivals like Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival. Crowther's legacy as a film critic has been recognized by organizations such as the Library of Congress and the American Film Institute, and his reviews have been anthologized in books such as The New York Times Guide to Movies and The Film Criticism of Bosley Crowther. His influence can also be seen in the work of later film critics, such as Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert, who have followed in his footsteps as prominent voices in the world of film criticism.

● Personal Life

Crowther was married to Florence Marks Crowther, and the couple had two children, Bosley Crowther Jr. and Elizabeth Crowther. He was known to be a private person, but his love of film was evident in his personal life, as he often attended screenings at The Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art. Crowther was also a member of the New York Athletic Club and the Century Association, and he often socialized with other prominent figures in the film industry, including Darryl F. Zanuck and David O. Selznick.

● Later Life and Death

In 1967, Crowther retired from The New York Times and was succeeded by Vincent Canby. He continued to write about film, publishing articles in The New Yorker and Film Comment, and he also taught film criticism at Columbia University and New York University. Crowther passed away on March 7, 1981, at the age of 75, in Mount Kisco, New York, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential film critics of his time, with a body of work that includes reviews of films such as The Godfather, Chinatown, and Apocalypse Now. His contributions to the world of film criticism have been recognized by institutions such as the British Film Institute and the Cinémathèque française, and his influence can still be felt in the work of film critics and scholars today, including A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis. Category:American film critics