Jerry Schatzberg

Jerry Schatzberg
Schatzberg at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
Born
Jerrold Schatzberg

(1927-06-26) June 26, 1927
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film director
  • photographer
Websitehttp://www.jerryschatzberg.com/

Jerrold Schatzberg (born June 26, 1927) is an American photographer and film director. After establishing himself as a successful celebrity and fashion photographer, he transitioned to making feature films, as a part of the New Hollywood movement.[1]

He is best known for his films The Panic in Needle Park (1971), for which he was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival (and lead actress Kitty Winn won Best Actress); and Scarecrow (1973), which won the shared Palme d'Or at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.[2]

Early life and education

Schatzberg was born to a Jewish family of furriers and grew up in the Bronx.[3] His parents were not artistic, and he remarks that his only exposure to arts during his childhood was going to the movies with his father on weekends. When he was 13, his family moved to Rego Park, Queens, where he attended Forest Hills High School. He enlisted in the US Navy at the end of World War II, then continued after the war ended as a hospital corpsman for two years. After the Navy, he attended the University of Miami for a year before returning to New York City to work for his family's fur business.[4]

His father expected him to take over his part of the family business, but Schatzberg had no interest. Instead, he started working for his uncle's diaper rental business. A promotion offered customers free pictures of their baby, and Schatzberg found himself in his first role as photographer, taking pictures of client's babies for two dollars a sitting.[5] His first camera was a Rolleicord medium-format, twin-lens reflex camera.[4]

Photography career

Schatzberg began his photography career as an assistant to photographer William "Bill" Helburn.[6] While working for Helburn, he enrolled in a photography course taught by designer and photographer Alexey Brodovich, whose other students included other prominent photographers Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Garry Winogrand, and others.[5][4] At age 28 he left Helburn to start his own photography studio,[7] moving into a space in a small, broken-down building kitty corner from Helburn's studio on 25th Street and Park Avenue South in Manhattan.[8] Within a year, he was working for Vogue on assignments for editor-in-chief Alexander Liberman.[8]

Throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s, Schatzberg photographed for magazines such as Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, Town and Country, and McCalls.[9][8] He photographed many of the top models of the time, including Anne St. Marie, Peggy Moffitt, Sara Thom, and Nico.[8] Schatzberg developed and built his own signature lighting setup, which he used for many of his fashion photography sittings. He used fluorescent bulbs in large 4x8' banks, positioning two behind and two in front of the model, producing a pure white background with highlights wrapping around the subject.[8]

In early 1959, Schatzberg was commissioned by a travel magazine to travel to Havana, Cuba to photograph Fidel Castro, just after the Cuban Revolution.[8]

In 1962, Schatzberg was commissioned by Esquire to shoot "behind-the-scenes" at Yves Saint Laurent's debut show in Paris after leaving Dior. His photographs were a significant departure from his previous, more controlled sittings; here he took candid photographs of other photographers like Helmut Newton, Hiro, and Norman Parkinson during their sittings with various models, as well as editors Diana Vreeland and Jessica Daves mingling in the runway crowds.[10]

Among Schatzberg's most famous photographs are the cover photo of the Bob Dylan album Blonde on Blonde, released in 1966,[11] and the cover of The Rolling Stones single "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" where the group is dressed in drag.[4] Schatzberg also photographed many other musicians and celebrities throughout the 1960s, including The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Diana Ross, Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Tate, and Faye Dunaway.

Film career

One of Schatzberg's first film shoots was a short screen test of Edie Sedgwick in 1966, taken in his own studio.[4]

He made his debut as a feature film director with 1970's Puzzle of a Downfall Child starring Faye Dunaway.[12] Schatzberg worked with writer Carol Eastman, who based the script on recordings Schatzberg made during his friendship with model Anne St. Marie. Eastman also based the character of Aaron, a fashion photographer, on Schatzberg.[13] Schatzberg and Dunaway were romantically involved before the film's production, but had split up by the time filming started.[4]

He went on to direct The Panic in Needle Park starring Al Pacino in 1971. Schatzberg had seen Pacino on stage in a production of Israel Horovitz's The Indian Wants The Bronx and wanted him in the lead role, despite Fox Studios pushing for a younger actor. They ended up casting Pacino in his first lead role in a film.[4]

He directed Scarecrow in 1973, starring Al Pacino and Gene Hackman. The film shared the grand prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.[14]

Schatzberg in 2023

Schatzberg went on to direct The Seduction of Joe Tynan with Alan Alda and Meryl Streep in 1979,[15][16] Honeysuckle Rose with Willie Nelson and Dyan Cannon in 1980, Misunderstood (based on a novel by Florence Montgomery) starring Gene Hackman in 1984, No Small Affair starring Demi Moore in 1984, and Street Smart in 1987, which earned Morgan Freeman his first Oscar nomination.[17][18][19]

In 1989, he directed Reunion, a drama based on a novel by Fred Uhlman with a screenplay by Harold Pinter. Though it was well received in France and was nominated for a Palme D'Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, it received only a weekend-long release in the United States in 1991. With no home video or streaming release, it was virtually unseen until a restored version was given a two-week theatrical release by Rialto Pictures at the Film Forum in New York City in April 2026.[20]

He was a member of the jury at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.[21]

In 2013, he was developing a Scarecrow sequel with writer Seth Cohen that was not made.[22]

In 2021, Schatzberg revealed his intentions to make one last film, admitting that he "[doesn't] know what it is yet." He sought out and was considering adapting Atticus Lish's novel The War for Gloria.[23]

Personal life

Schatzberg married Corrine Loeb, his high-school sweetheart, at age 22. The couple had two children together.[4] They divorced in 1968 following eleven years of separation.[24]

At the time of the divorce, Schatzberg was engaged to Faye Dunaway.[24][25] Dunaway left Schatzberg later that year for actor Marcello Mastroianni.[26]

Schatzberg married French American actress Maureen Kerwin in 1983; they were divorced in 1998.

In the 1960's he co-owned the famous nightclub Ondine in New York City, named after his racing yacht. Opened in the mid-1960s and located on East 59th Street in Manhattan near the East River, the club hosted legendary early performances by rock bands like The Doors and Buffalo Springfield. The club was frequently visited by celebrities like Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Jackie Kennedy. Later he opened another club, the Salvation.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Notes
1970 Puzzle of a Downfall Child Story co-written with screenwriter Adrian Joyce
1971 The Panic in Needle Park
1973 Scarecrow
1976 Sweet Revenge Also producer
1979 The Seduction of Joe Tynan
1980 Honeysuckle Rose
1984 Misunderstood
No Small Affair
1987 Street Smart
1989 Reunion
1995 Lumière and Company Documentary
2000 The Day the Ponies Come Back Co-written with Bob Cea

Television

Year(s) Title Episode Notes
1988 Clinton and Nadine TV film
1993 L'encyclopédie audio-visuelle[27] "Ben Gurion"

Awards and nominations

Institution Year Category Work Result
Bodil Awards 1974 Best English Language Film Scarecrow Won
Cannes Film Festival 1971 Palme d'Or The Panic in Needle Park Nominated
1973 Scarecrow Won
OCIC Award Won
1976 Palme d'Or Sweet Revenge Nominated
1989 Reunion Nominated
David di Donatello 1990 Best International Film Nominated
International Istanbul Film Festival 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award N/a Won
Montreal World Film Festival 2000 Grand Prix des Amériques The Day the Ponies Come Back Nominated
Kinema Junpo Awards 1974 Best Foreign Language Film Scarecrow Won

Books

  • Schatzberg, de la photo au cinema. Michel Ciment & Jerry Schatzberg. Chêne/Hachette, 1982. ISBN 2851083120
  • Thin Wild Mercury: Touching Dylan's Edge. Jerry Schatzberg. Genesis Publications, 2006. ISBN 0904351998
  • Paris, 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, the Early Collections. Jerry Schatzberg & Julia Morton. Rizzoli, 2008. ISBN 0847831280
  • Women Then: 1954-1969. Jerry Schatzberg & Julia Morton. Rizzoli, 2010.
  • Dylan By Schatzberg. Jerry Schatzberg & Jonathan Lethem. ACC Art Books, 2018. ISBN 9781851498932

References

  1. ↑ "Jerry Schatzberg: my time in the New Hollywood driving seat". BFI. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  2. ↑ "Jerry SCHATZBERG". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  3. ↑ Alex Kasriel: Interview Jerry Schatzberg with "THE JEWISH CHRONICLE ONLINE", November 27, 2008
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Schatzberg, Jerry (2006). Thin Wild Mercury. Genesis Publications. pp. 275–285. ISBN 0-904351-99-8.
  5. 1 2 "Jerry Schatzberg Looks You in the Eyes". MUBI. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  6. ↑ "JERRY SCHATZBERG (born 1927)". www.staleywise.com. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  7. ↑ "JERRY SCHATZBERG (born 1927)". www.staleywise.com. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schatzberg, Jerry (2006). Thin Wild Mercury. Genesis Publications. pp. 207–245. ISBN 0-904351-99-8.
  9. ↑ "In pictures: Dylan on show". BBC News. 2006-07-03.
  10. ↑ "Paris 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior: The Early Collections by JERRY SCHATZBERG - Book: 9780847831289 | Rizzoli Bookstore". www.rizzolibookstore.com. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  11. ↑ "Unimpeachable Film". The New York Sun. 2007-07-27.
  12. ↑ Cocks, Jay (1971-02-15). "Predictable Embarrassment". TIME. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Jerry Schatzberg's Enduring Puzzle". Interview Magazine. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Film Shares Cannes Prize". Los Angeles Times. 1973-05-26. p. B9. The Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix Friday was awarded jointly to the American film "Scarecrow" by Jerry Schatzberg and the British entry "The Hireling" bv Alan Bridges.
  15. ↑ Rich, Frank (1979-08-20). "Split Ticket". TIME. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009.
  16. ↑ Maslin, Janet (1979-08-17). "Screen: Alan Alda Writes and Stars in 'Joe Tynan'; Coping With Fame". The New York Times. p. C6.
  17. ↑ Cocks, Jay (1971-08-02). "Straight Shooters". TIME. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008.
  18. ↑ Greenspun, Roger (1971-07-14). "Screen: Schatzberg's 'The Panic in Needle Park'; Drug Addicts Trapped on Upper West Side Kitty Winn and Pacino Are Ill-Fated Lovers". The New York Times.
  19. ↑ Ciment, Michel. "Biography". Jerry Schatzberg's Official Website. Archived from the original on 2007-03-16.
  20. ↑ Hemphill, Jim (2026-03-23). "The Jerry Schatzberg and Harold Pinter Movie You've Never Seen Returns to Theaters — Watch the 'Reunion' Trailer". IndieWire. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  21. ↑ Michael, David (2004-05-13). "Cannes Opens with a Bang". Film Stew. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  22. ↑ "Karlovy Vary: Jerry Schatzberg at Work on 'Scarecrow' Sequel". The Hollywood Reporter. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  23. ↑ John, Eric (October 11, 2021). "Jerry Schatzberg Recalls Al Pacino's 'Ego Trip' After 'The Panic in Needle Park'". IndieWire. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  24. 1 2 "Milestones". TIME. 1968-05-17. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Divorced. Jerry Schatzberg, 40, fashion photographer, novice film director and Faye Dunaway's fiancé; by Corinne Schatzberg; on grounds of incompatibility; after 18 years of marriage, two children: in Juárez, Mexico.
  25. ↑ Wilson, Jane (1968-03-10). "Faye's Way". Los Angeles Times. p. N18. The door of Faye Dunaway's suite at the Hotel George V in Paris opened slowly and cautiously. I was confronted by a dark-haired man wearing a world-weary expression, a black sweater and a droopy Bolivian bandit's moustache. I guessed that this must be Jerry Schatzberg, 40-year-old fashion photographer and Miss Dunaway's true love of two years' standing. He looks about 30, and was once the hero of an article in the late New York Herald Tribune entitled, The Sweet Life of Jerry Schatzberg.
  26. ↑ Dunaway, Faye; Sharkey, Betsy (1997). Looking for Gatsby. Simon and Schuster. pp. 186–187. ISBN 9780671675264.
  27. ↑ ""L'encyclopédie audio-visuelle" Ben Gurion (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb". IMDb.
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