Movies

David Lynch, Director of ‘Blue Velvet,’ Dies at 78

BBG News

David Lynch has died.

News about the demise of the renowned filmmaker, who is famous for masterpieces like ‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Eraserhead’ and ‘Twin Peaks’, was shared by his family through his personal Facebook account.

With profound sadness, we, his family, are sharing the news of David Lynch’s passing – both the man and the artist. At present, we kindly ask for some privacy. The world feels a little emptier now that he’s gone, but as he once said, ‘Always look at the donut, not the hole.’

They included “It’s a stunning day with radiant sunlight and clear blue skies stretching out,” as a tribute to Lynch’s beloved weather broadcasts, which he presented on local Los Angeles radio and later online for numerous years. Regrettably, Lynch passed away at the age of 78.

With a heavy heart, we, his loved ones, share the sad news of the demise of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate your understanding and respect for our privacy during this difficult time.

With profound sorrow, we, his family members, inform you about the passing of David Lynch – a remarkable man and an exceptional artist. We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate through this challenging period in our lives.

Posted by David Lynch on Thursday, January 16, 2025

Born in Montana in 1946, this groundbreaking artist, director, and musician honed his skills at various art schools including the Corcoran School in Washington D.C., the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Afterward, he shifted to Los Angeles to learn filmmaking at the American Film Institute. It was here that David Lynch started creating his first significant work, Eraserhead, a haunting, black-and-white horror film portraying a man navigating a nightmarish industrial landscape while caring for an unusual-looking baby (the secrets behind the film’s eerie baby remain undisclosed by Lynch even up until his passing).

Eraserhead was one of the earliest American films to achieve cult status, screening at urban cinemas as a late-night feature. The iconic image of its protagonist (performed by Jack Nance) graces the cover of the seminal book on this topic, “Midnight Movies” by J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum. David Lynch’s daring work in Eraserhead caught the eye of Mel Brooks, who later enlisted Lynch to direct his first Hollywood project, The Elephant Man.

The achievement of “The Elephant Man,” which led to Lynch’s initial Oscar nomination for Best Director, paved the way for him securing the position to direct the long-awaited first film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune. (He also declined the offer to helm Return of the Jedi earlier on.) However, Lynch’s Dune was initially met with criticism and underperformed at the box office; yet, in recent times, it has grown increasingly popular among cult film enthusiasts.

After the release of “Dune”, Lynch bounced back with one of his distinctive works – “Blue Velvet”. This neo-noir story unfolds in a quaint town, starring Kyle MacLachlan, who had collaborated with Lynch on “Dune” earlier. In this film, the young and innocent Kyle stumbles upon a mystery that leads him further into the town’s dark underbelly. There he crosses paths with the disturbed character of Frank Booth, portrayed by Dennis Hopper.

In equal measure provocative and impactful, “Blue Velvet” is now widely recognized as one of the most outstanding films from the 1980s. Following this masterpiece, David Lynch achieved what might be his largest mainstream success yet: The television series “Twin Peaks”, which skillfully translated many of “Blue Velvet’s” themes about the hidden darkness in small-town America into the structure of a high school TV drama.

Initially, the debut season of Twin Peaks was a huge success, but as it progressed into its second season, mainstream viewers gradually started to wane in their interest for the series. This occurred after ABC shifted the show to Saturday evenings and compelled David Lynch and the creative team to disclose the answer to the show’s most intriguing mystery: who murdered Laura Palmer.

Despite wrapping up after its second season, David Lynch continually revisited the Twin Peaks universe. His first return was through a prequel film titled “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” released in 1992. Later on, he came back with a revival series called “Twin Peaks: The Return” which premiered on Showtime in 2017, consisting of 18 captivating and bizarre episodes that significantly broadened the show’s mythology.

Besides Blue Velvet, Lynch’s other films encompass Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, The Straight Story, and arguably his most celebrated work, Mulholland Drive. Originally conceived as a television pilot for ABC, the series idea was dismissed. Subsequently, Lynch revised the storyline, filmed additional scenes, and transformed it into a movie centered around an actress (Naomi Watts) who relocates to Los Angeles, encountering an individual suffering from amnesia (Laura Harring).

As a devout cinephile, I’ve noticed that David Lynch’s cinematic pace took a bit of a breather in the 21st century. After gracing us with the enigmatic masterpieces like Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006), he also gifted us with Twin Peaks: The Return, an extraordinary return to one of my favorite worlds. However, it’s important to note that despite this slower cinematic output, the creative genius behind these works didn’t slow down a bit.

Beyond those iconic film projects, Lynch has been a prolific creator in various forms. He dabbled in music, directing music videos, penned books, and became a staunch advocate for Transcendental Meditation, which he’s practiced diligently for many years.

Over the past summer, Lynch disclosed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with emphysema following years of smoking. This condition largely confined him to his home, and due to limited mobility caused by running out of oxygen after walking a short distance, it also brought a sudden halt to his career as a director.

At that point in time, he expressed his intention to potentially oversee a suitable project from afar. Regrettably, this never came to pass. However, the films and series directed by Lynch will continue to captivate audiences for many years to come.

10 Wild Passion Projects from Famous Directors That Were Almost Never Made

1. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Filming your movie in the jungle might lead to various challenges, as demonstrated by the production of Francis Ford Coppola’s film, “Apocalypse Now.” This Vietnam War epic was so complex, challenging, and potentially dangerous that it warranted its own documentary. Initially meant to be produced by George Lucas, Coppola took over directing duties when Lucas became unavailable, and then spent an extended period of a year in the Philippines instead of the planned five months.

Marlon Brando, who played Colonel Kurtz, arrived ill-prepared and overweight. Martin Sheen, portraying veteran assassin Captain Willard, experienced a mental breakdown and a near-fatal heart attack. The severe weather destroyed numerous sets. After production was finally completed, the release was delayed for two years while Coppola sorted through more than a million feet of film. Despite being premiered at Cannes Film Festival in an unfinished state, it managed to win the Palme d’Or, suggesting that all the hardships were worth it.

2. Fitzcarraldo (1982)

In this tale, the iron-clad rule of the jungle prevails in “Fitzcarraldo,” a captivating adventure drama directed by Werner Herzog. The film, based on the true account of an Irishman named Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, recounts his audacious endeavor to transport a massive steamship over the towering Andes mountains, a feat aimed at exploiting the abundant rubber trees in the Amazon basin.

To achieve authenticity, Herzog’s team physically moved a whopping 320-ton steamship (10 times heavier than the actual vessel used by Fitzcarraldo) up a steep incline. After successfully completing this herculean task, albeit with some casualties, Herzog proclaimed himself “Conquistador of the Useless.” Filming also resulted in injuries from plane crashes and during the challenging rapids sequence; one crew member even had to amputate his own foot after a venomous snake bite.

Tensions between Herzog and the local Aguaruna people escalated, culminating in the burning of a set by some indigenous crew members.

During production, the original lead actor Jason Robards fell ill, prompting Herzog to bring on Klaus Kinski, his former collaborator who proved to be volatile and unpredictable. According to Herzog, a local chief once offered to eliminate Kinski for him due to his erratic behavior.

3. The Black Cauldron (1985)

According to the initial two books of Lloyd Alexander’s fantasy series, “The Black Cauldron” is considered one of Disney’s most eerie animated films ever. Directors Ted Berman and Richard Rich, who were also behind “The Fox and the Hound”, aimed to preserve many of the books’ more mature aspects. The film’s gloomy tone led to disagreements during test screenings as it was deemed too frightening for children, particularly the intense “cauldron-born” scene filled with zombies. Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg demanded these scarier elements be removed, even taking over the editing process himself when producer Joe Hale protested. However, Disney CEO Michael Eisner intervened and halted Katzenberg’s plans. As a result, the movie was delayed by a year, from its original Christmas 1984 release to Christmas 1985, to ensure that the frightening and violent content was reduced and additional scenes could be added to maintain continuity. (It’s noticeable, particularly during the “cauldron-born” scene, that some footage has been edited and reassembled.)

4. The Fountain (2006)

Similar to many movies on this list, the time-traveling, expansive drama “The Fountain” by Darren Aronofsky faced challenges at the box office. Due to circumstances outside his control, Aronofsky was compelled to revise his script, cut costs, and assemble a new cast following the withdrawal of the initial actors. Originally intended to star Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, “The Fountain” suffered setbacks when Pitt dropped out and the projected budget fell far short of the film’s actual cost. Consequently, Aronofsky opted to rewrite a leaner version of the script on a shoestring budget of $35 million – half of the original estimated cost. After Pitt’s departure, Aronofsky approached Russell Crowe for the lead role, but Crowe was too exhausted after completing “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.” Warner Bros. eventually brought in Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, and agreed to fund the movie again primarily due to Aronofsky’s ability to eliminate expensive set pieces from the new script. Although it didn’t perform well in cinemas, “The Fountain” gained a cult following and we can only imagine how spectacular its big-budget version might have been.

5. John Carter (2012)

Before its eventual release, “John Carter” stood as a testament to the destructive impact of prolonged production limbo on a project. A film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ renowned Barsoom series of science fiction novels had been in development since the 1930s, but the project repeatedly stumbled, leaving many doubting if a “John Carter of Mars” movie would ever become reality.

In the late-2000s, Disney rekindled its ambition to produce the film following another failed attempt in the 1980s. Director Andrew Stanton, renowned for his work on Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E”, advocated to direct this film, marking his debut in live-action cinema. The production process wasn’t smooth sailing: during filming in the Utah desert, the cast and crew faced harsh weather conditions and sandstorms. Additionally, Stanton and his animation team encountered hurdles while animating the alien Tharks.

After an initial round of shooting, Stanton extensively reshot the movie, modifying several scenes and altering character portrayals – a decision that, to him, seemed rational, but appeared worrisome to outsiders, hinting at potential issues with the film. As the promotional campaign commenced, trouble brewed. Disney, in preliminary discussions to acquire Lucasfilm, was hesitant to launch a franchise that might rival “Star Wars”. Clashes ensued between Disney and Stanton over promotional materials and trailers. There was also disagreement on the ideal title. When it was finally released, it underperformed, yet remains one of the better adventure films from the pre-MCU era at Disney.

6. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Movie director George Miller conceived the idea for what eventually became “Mad Max: Fury Road” in the late 1980s, when his “Mad Max” series was still popular. However, it took almost three decades for his concept of a nearly non-stop chase “Mad Max” film to materialize into “Fury Road,” as many projects often do, lingering in the depths of development limbo.

For a while, it seemed the movie might never come to fruition, with production consistently delayed by external factors such as the September 11 incidents, the Iraq War, Mel Gibson’s legal troubles, controversial remarks, and advancing age, leading Miller to recast the character of Max Rockatansky with Tom Hardy. It wasn’t until much later that filming began on the project, despite a number of the customized vehicles being ready since the early 2000s. The production in the Namibian desert exceeded its budget, prompting a Warner Bros. executive to oversee the progress. On set, Hardy and co-star Charlize Theron frequently disagreed, and Hardy struggled to grasp Miller’s vision, for which he later expressed regret.

“Fury Road” went on to win numerous technical awards at the following year’s Oscars ceremony and is now widely regarded as one of the best action films ever made.

7. Silence (2016)

Martin Scorsese had harbored a desire to bring “Silence,” a film adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s 1966 novel about the secretive Christians evading persecution in mid-1600s Japan, to the big screen for over 25 years. This project held deep personal significance for him and marked his third attempt at adapting the novel as well as his third film exploring the spiritual struggles of religious figures. He first encountered the book while preparing for Akira Kurosawa’s 1990 film, “Dreams,” and secured the rights shortly thereafter. However, it wasn’t until after two decades of delays and obstacles that Scorsese could bring his vision to fruition. Interestingly, prior to production commencing in Taiwan in 2015, a lawsuit was filed against him alleging that he had agreed to direct the movie in 1990 but delayed it to work on other projects instead. The suit was eventually resolved, and production of “Silence” moved forward, despite the challenges posed by Taiwan’s unpredictable weather. Eventually, the film was completed and made its debut in 2016.

8. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)

As a passionate admirer of Terry Gilliam’s work, I’ve always been intrigued by the enchanting tale of his long-awaited masterpiece, “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.” This creative interpretation of Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel started its journey to the big screen in 1998, following nearly a decade of relentless budget negotiations. French actor Jean Rochefort was initially cast as Don Quixote, and Johnny Depp portrayed Toby Grummett, a modern-day marketing executive mysteriously transported to medieval Spain. However, nature’s wrath destroyed sets, Rochefort had to withdraw due to health issues, and the project couldn’t secure insurance, leading to an indefinite halt.

The fascinating tale of this unfinished saga was captured in the 2002 documentary “Lost in La Mancha,” initially intended as a behind-the-scenes film. For years, Gilliam tirelessly pursued reviving the movie, even enlisting John Hurt, who sadly passed away before another attempt could materialize. In 2016, Adam Driver joined the project, helping secure funding and attracting Jonathan Pryce to play Quixote. Finally, in 2017, Gilliam announced that filming had wrapped up, marking nearly two decades since its inception.

Yet, even with the movie complete, Gilliam faced challenges in distributing it globally due to a disagreement with one of its former producers. Despite these obstacles, the tale of “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” remains an inspiring testament to the indomitable spirit of creativity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

9. The Other Side of the Wind (2018)

Orson Welles conceived the film that eventually became “The Other Side of the Wind” following the tragic death of Ernest Hemingway, a friend he held in high regard. Originally, his concept revolved around an elderly bullfighter and a promising young competitor, but this evolved into a witty critique between directors as a means to make a comeback during the transition period from Old Hollywood to New Hollywood.

Filming commenced in 1970, with intermittent shooting until 1976, and editing of the footage sporadically throughout the 1980s. However, legal disputes and financial issues prevented the completion of the movie before Welles’ passing in 1985. Posthumous efforts to reconstruct the film were unsuccessful until Royal Road Entertainment negotiated a deal to finance its completion under the supervision of Peter Bogdanovich (one of the stars) and Frank Marshall. A crowdfunding campaign and Netflix partnership were necessary to finally bring it to fruition. The completed work premiered on Netflix in 2018, nearly half a century after Welles first started filming it.

10. Megalopolis (2024)

As a movie connoisseur who recently watched the epic saga “Megalopolis,” I must say that this masterpiece by Francis Ford Coppola was a long-awaited labor of love, born from the sale of his winemaking empire. Set in an alternate universe’s New Rome on the precipice of collapse, the story follows an architect striving to guide citizens towards a radiant future.

In 1983, Coppola began envisioning this grand tale, but like many other productions, it faced years of creative limbo. Studios hesitated after Coppola’s string of late-career box office flops, and two initial attempts to kickstart production were unsuccessful. Frustrated with the traditional studio system, Coppola ventured into the world of wine, amassing a fortune far from Hollywood.

Finally, he decided to bankroll the film himself, investing a staggering $120 million of his personal wealth. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed production, and the cast improvised scenes while filming, with some even rewriting dialogue on set. The visual effects team and art department departed before filming was completed.

As if fate had it, just before release, a misconduct scandal marred its promotion, leaving many critics underwhelmed by its ambitious storytelling. Nevertheless, “Megalopolis” managed to captivate audiences with its breathtaking IMAX scenes, including the iconic “Go back to the cluUuUuUub.” Despite not being a blockbuster, it generated almost half of its initial box office revenue in IMAX showings, leaving us all spellbound.

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2025-01-16 22:24

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