ComingSoon.net is counting down our ten favorite films directed by Peter Bogdanovich, who has touched on all kinds of different genres since starting his career back in the late 60s. Check out our choices in the gallery below!
Peter Bogdanovich belongs to the rare breed of Hollywood types who manage to be just as great in front of the camera as they are behind it. Known for his acting as well as his filmmaking, the multi-faceted talent is credited as one of the few remaining purveyors of the screwball comedy. He’s clearly got enough talent to go around, seeing as Bogdanovich was offered the Godfather trilogy, Chinatown, and even brought forth the release of Orson Welles’s long-unfinished film The Other Side of the Wind in 2018.
Bogdanovich was a film scholar through and through—he was close with Orson Welles, Fritz Lang, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn, and countless others. It’s no wonder that a film lover like him was able to make movies that are adored by film lovers. Looking back on his illustrious filmography, it’s worth recognizing the filmmaker-actor’s finest achievements.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Peter Bogdanovich movies
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Paper Moon (1973)
Widely considered Peter Bogdanovich’s greatest achievement, 1973’s Paper Moon shows how talented the filmmaker is. It’s a period piece about a man tasked with delivering a girl who may or may not be his daughter across state lines to her next-of-kin after the death of her mother. It stars a real-life father-daughter duo, Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, which is an excellent touch by Bogdanovich.
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The Last Picture Show (1971)
His other magnum opus, 1971’s The Last Picture Show gives an early look at the movies to come from both Bogdanovich and the film’s then-up-and-coming actors Jeff Bridges and Ellen Burstyn. It tells the story of a couple of teens in Texas coming of age at the start of the 1950s. Bogdanovich clearly understands actors, seeing as he is one himself, so it’s not shocking to see how well he succeeds at bringing out great performances and setting up two very successful careers for his movie’s leads.
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What's Up, Doc? (1972)
Arriving after The Last Picture Show but before Paper Moon, 1972’s What’s Up, Doc? is a loving send-up of screwball comedies from the 1940s and 50s (and a precursor to the kind of movie Bogdanovich would come to be known for). Starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal, the film follows two goofballs as they attempt to track down four identical bags filled with unspeakable treasures. Not to mention, the film also serves as Madeline Kahn’s debut.
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Targets (1968)
A neo-noir thriller—something that Bogdanovich certainly didn’t dabble with often—that features multiple storylines converging at once, Targets follows a normal man with homicidal intentions and an aging actor famous for horror films who plans his final performance. It’s quite good, which is not surprising when you consider that comedies and thrillers both rely on perfect timing. Plus, it’s fun to see B-movie legend Boris Karloff playing a character so close to who he really was.
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Saint Jack (1978)
A character study about a pimp who operates out of Singapore in the 1970s, Saint Jack is based on a novel by the same name written by Paul Theroux. Bogdanovich directs his star Ben Gazzara (of Big Lebowski and Anatomy of a Murder fame) with ease, even though he originally planned for Orson Welles to direct the film. Bogdanovich’s eventual change of heart led to a division between the two friends that lasted until right before Welles’s death.
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They All Laughed (1981)
A caper film about a group of detectives following (and being followed by) a group of women, They All Laughed is a story of lost love and mismatched couples. Starring Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Patti Hansen, and John Ritter, the movie has an all-star cast and some rock-solid genre work. It successfully manages to be a thriller, a comedy, a drama, a mystery, and a romance all in one.
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Noises Off (1992)
A comedy about a theater troupe with more drama going on behind-the-scenes than on stage, Noises Off is a treasure trove of comedic actors having a blast with director Peter Bogdanovich. Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Julie Hagerty, and John Ritter are all superstars in their own right, and Bogdanovich brings them all together perfectly.
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Mask (1985)
One might not associate Cher with great acting, but they’d definitely be making a mistake. Mask is proof enough that she’s a force to be reckoned with. A touching drama about a boy with a skull deformity and his biker gang mother, Cher, Sam Elliot, Eric Stoltz, and Laura Dern deliver one of the most heartfelt films of the 80s (and of Bogdanovich’s career).
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Nickelodeon (1976)
Following the many different careers of Leo Harrigan, Nickelodeon tracks a man as he jumps from lawyer to writer to film director over the course of his life. Loosely based on the life of legendary filmmaker Cecil B. De Mille, Nickelodeon is nothing short of an adorable love story about our hopes and dreams. On top of this, it’s simply a love letter to filmmaking.
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At Long Last Love (1975)
A musical comedy starring Cybill Shephard and iconic actor Burt Reynolds, At Long Last Love sees four socialites suddenly feuding with one another. It’s a one-of-a-kind movie from a one-of-a-kind director, made with love and affection for the craft and a respect for the actors on screen. It’s a total charm fest.
