Philip D'Antoni
Philip D'Antoni (February 19, 1929 – April 15, 2018), was an American film and television producer. He was best known for producing the Academy Award-winning 1971 film The French Connection.[2][3]
Philip D'Antoni | |
---|---|
Born | February 19, 1929 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | April 15, 2018 89) | (aged
Resting place | Gate of Heaven Cemetery[1] |
Occupation | Film producer, film director, television producer |
Spouse(s) | Ruth D'Antoni (Wiederecht) |
Early life
D'Antoni attended Fordham University and served in the United States Army during the occupation of Japan in World War II.[4]
Career
D'Antoni began his career on television with the production of the specials Sophia Loren in Rome, Elizabeth Taylor in London and Melina Mercouri in Greece.
He produced Bullitt in 1968. In 1973 he produced and directed The Seven-Ups. After The Seven-Ups, D'Antoni, who held the rights to French Connection II and Gerald Walker's novel Cruising, eschewed feature filmmaking and turned his attention to television production where he enjoyed a lucrative contract with NBC.
D'Antoni's crime dramas are characterized by a cold, gritty, "street" perspective with documentary style, often filmed during the bleak New York winter months, and offer the viewer a realistic and often dangerous sense of being an insider, as opposed to using glamorous locations or produced sets.
D'Antoni's television production credits include:
- Elizabeth Taylor in London (1963)
- Sophia Loren in Rome (1964)
- The Connection (1973)
- Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside (1974)
- In Tandem (1974; pilot film for Movin' On)
- Movin' On (1974)
- Strike Force (1975)
- Shark Kill (1976)
Awards
D'Antoni won the Academy Award in 1972 for Best Picture for The French Connection. He also won the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Drama for The French Connection.
References
- "Philip D'Antoni". Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- The New York Times
- Carras, Christi; Carras, Christi (April 23, 2018). "Philip D'Antoni, 'The French Connection' Producer, Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Philip D'Antoni, Oscar-Winning Producer on 'The French Connection,' Dies at 89. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2020.