Robert Benton on “Kramer vs. Kramer,” 30 Years Later (Premium Hollywood)
Robert Benton has seen more than one cinematic revolution in his time. He and his late screenwriting partner, David Newman, were major players in two films that forever changed movies: 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” which brought European New Wave aesthetics into mainstream American cinema and permanently altered the portrayal of violence in American pop-culture, and 1978’s “Superman,” which created the big-budget superhero flick and convinced the world Christopher Reeve could fly. But as the writer and director of a little movie without violence, groundbreaking special effects, or even a whole lot of controversy, Robert Benton actually helped change real life with 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer,” about a careerist father (Dustin Hoffman) raising his son alone after being left suddenly by his wife.
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Great piece. I haven’t seen KRAMER in years, but it used to run on HBO all the time when I was a kid. God, what a sad and terrifying and terrific movie it is. And thanks for the reminder of Benton’s range– I sometimes forget all the projects he’s worked on. Seems like a nice guy.
By Brian on 03.11.09 3:16 pm
Thanks, Brian. I think you maybe like the movie a bit more than me, but it’s definitely a solid, well-crafted piece of thoughtful entertainment with some very powerful moments.
Benton does seem like a very nice man, indeed and he’s obviously extremely intelligent and charming in a low key, Southern sort of a way. However, I’m not sure he loves talking to the press or posing for pictures. I was seconds late to the one photo-op we had, and when I took my digital picture, it came out, somehow, with Benton being all but invisible.
I said, sarcastically, “Great!” which, before I could clarify that I needed another chance, he took to mean…well, “great!”…and scooted about as far away from me as he could get about as fast as anyone, of any age group, could. Impressive press avoidance skills.
By Bob on 03.11.09 3:55 pm
Nice job, Bob. I’ve never heard of that angle of the film being part of that tectonic shift of fathers expecting to be more involved in parenting, but in retrospect you can certainly see it, which probably does explain part of the film’s success in terms of being the right film at the right time.
For all the rumors that have gone on over the years of a sequel to “The Graduate,” I always have kind of considered “Kramer vs. Kramer” to be that film.
By Randy R. on 03.12.09 2:53 pm
Leave it to the Forward to Yesterday staff to write about Kramer vs. Kramer when the rest of the world’s covering Cramer vs. Stewart! Good job!
By John on 03.13.09 7:05 pm
There we have it…three out of three blog and/or real-world friends of the writer enjoyed this piece. Success!
Thanks, bros.
By bob on 03.13.09 7:22 pm
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