Lewis John Carlino

Lewis John Carlino
Born(1932-01-01)January 1, 1932
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 2020(2020-06-17) (aged 88)
Whidbey Island, Washington, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Southern California (B.A., 1958)
Occupations
  • Playwright
  • screenwriter
  • film director
Writing career
Period1957–2011
Military career
Allegiance United States
Branch
 United States Air Force
Service years
1951-1955
Conflicts
Korean War

Lewis John Carlino (January 1, 1932 – June 17, 2020[1]) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. His best known works included the screenplays for Seconds (1966), The Fox (1967), The Brotherhood (1968), The Mechanic (1972), I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), and Resurrection (1980). He wrote and directed the literary adaptations The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976), based on a novel by Yukio Mishima; and The Great Santini (1979), based on a novel by Pat Conroy.

Carlino was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay for The Fox. He was also a three-time Writers Guild of America Award nominee and a Drama Desk Award winner.

Early life and education

Carlino was born in New York City, the son of an Italian immigrant from Sicily. He attended El Camino College before he was drafted into the United States Air Force in 1951. He served for four years during the Korean War, an experience that later inspired him to make the film The Great Santini. After his discharge, he used the G.I. Bill to enroll at the University of Southern California, where he studied drama. He graduated in 1958.

Career

Theatrical work

One of Carlino's earliest works was a play, The Brick and the Rose; a collage for voices. It was published on December 12, 1957,[2] and the first production took place that year in the Ivar Theatre, now part of the LA Film School, in Hollywood, California.[3]

The script for The Brick and the Rose was distributed by the Dramatists Play Service beginning in 1959[3] and the play was presented on television as part of the CBS Repertoire Workshop on January 24, 1960.[4]

Carlino continued to write for theater with some success with scripts regularly published by Dramatists Play Service and numerous performances in several venues including the American National Theatre and Academy[3] and the John Golden Theatre.[5] He won a Vernon Rice Award in 1964.

Filmmaking

Carlino's first screenwriting credit was And Make Thunder His Tribute, Episode 99 of the television series Route 66, which aired on November 1, 1963. That same month, Carlino was hired by Kirk Douglas' film production company, Joel Productions, to write the screenplay for Seconds, based on the novel by science fiction writer David Ely.[6] The lead in the film was initially written for Douglas but the role was eventually played by Rock Hudson, with Joel Productions (co-headed by producer Edward Lewis) co-producing the film with John Frankenheimer Productions, director John Frankenheimer's film production company, and Gibraltar Productions, Hudson's film production company.[6] This conspiracy thriller gained considerable attention as the final part of a loosely connected paranoia trilogy from the director.[7] The film was submitted in competition at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and was one of the nominees for the Palme D'Or.[8]

In October 1963, it was reported that Carlino would adapt Jackson Donahue's novel The Confessor for producer Edward Lewis and director Frankenheimer as part of a one-off picture deal for The Mirisch Corporation.[9] The film was to star Anthony Perkins (later replaced by Tony Curtis) and Henry Fonda, but the project never made it to film.[9]

In November 1964, after months of development, Douglas and Lewis Productions (Kirk Douglas and Edward Lewis) announced that it would be co-producing Grand Prix with John Frankenheimer Productions.[10] Grand Prix, a drama about the turbulent lives of racecar drivers, was to be directed by Frankenheimer using the new Cinerama single-lens process, and based on an original screenplay by Carlino.[10] By September 1965, when the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract for Grand Prix was finally concluded, Robert Alan Aurthur had replaced Carlino as screenwriter for the $9,000,000-budgeted film.[11][12]

In October 1965, Douglas and Lewis Productions announced that it had secured a one-picture financing and distribution deal with Warner Brothers Pictures for The Hoods.[13] The Hoods (later released as The Brotherhood), was an original screenplay by Carlino about the mafia and was to star Douglas.[14] Edward Lewis was to produce the film while Martin Ritt would direct and co-produce through his film production company, Martin Ritt Productions.[14] The filming of The Brotherhood was delayed considerably due to Douglas' other commitments, and Warner Brothers Pictures' option eventually expired, leading the producers to eventually secure a $3,500,000 financing and distributing deal through Paramount Pictures in May 1967.[15][16][17][18] The movie was filmed on location in Sicily on September 14, 1967, followed by New York City locations in October 1967.[19][20][21] The Brotherhood opened in December 1968 and was generally well-received during previews.[22] Carlino was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Original Screenplay.

Another property acquired around this time by Douglas and Lewis Productions was Yukio Mishima's The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea, with Carlino assigned to write the screenplay.[23] Ten years later, Carlino would direct the film, with no ties to Douglas and Lewis Productions.

Carlino next worked with screenwriter Howard Koch on the adaptation of the 1923 novella The Fox by D. H. Lawrence. The 1967 film (starring Sandy Dennis, Anne Heywood, and Keir Dullea), won a Best Foreign Film Golden Globe Award, and Heywood earned the Best Actress award. The screenplay by Carlino and Koch was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay of 1967.

In 1970 he wrote an adaptation of the classic Robert Heinlein novel Stranger in a Strange Land, picked up by Warner Bros and listed for production in early 1971.[24] The movie was never made.

Carlino wrote the original story and the screenplay for the 1972 film The Mechanic, which stars Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent. The film is noted for opening with no dialog for the first 16 minutes and for its surprise ending.

In 1976, Carlino finally directed Yukio Mishima's 1963 novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea for the screen and directed the film of the same title which starred Kris Kristofferson and Sarah Miles.[25]

Carlino and Gavin Lambert received an Oscar nomination and the Writers Guild of America Award nomination for the Best Adapted Screenplay of 1977 for I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.

Carlino wrote and directed The Great Santini, based on the 1976 novel by Pat Conroy.[26] The film tells the story of a United States Marine Corps Officer whose success as a military aviator contrasts with his shortcomings as a husband and father. The film stars Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Lisa Jane Persky, Julie Anne Haddock, Brian Andrews, Stan Shaw, and David Keith. Carlino was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award of 1979 for the Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium. The Great Santini received two Academy Award nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Duvall) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (O'Keefe).

In 1980, Carlino did the original writing and screenplay for Resurrection and was nominated by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films for the Saturn Award for Best Writing of 1980.

In 1988, he wrote the screenplay for the film Haunted Summer, fictionalized retelling of the Shelleys' visit to Lord Byron in Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, which led to the writing of Frankenstein.

The Mechanic was remade in 2011 by director Simon West, starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster. Carlino retained a "Screenplay by" and "Story by" credit for his original 1972 script.

Personal life

Carlino was married twice, first to Natelle Lamkin and then to Jilly Chadwick.[27] He had three children from his first marriage, two of his children predeceased him.[27]

Beginning in 1996, Carlino and his wife Jill (d. 2015) resided on Whidbey Island, Washington, where he co-founded the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and directed stage productions.[1][28]

Death

Carlino died of myelodysplastic syndrome on June 17, 2020, aged 88.[1]

Stage plays

  • The Brick and the Rose
  • Snowangel
  • Epiphany
  • The Dirty Old Man
  • The Exercise
  • High Sign
  • Junk Yard
  • Mr. Flannery's Ocean
  • Objective Case
  • Sarah and the Sax
  • The School for Scandal (adaptation)
  • Telemachus Clay
  • Used Car for Sale

Ref:[29]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Writer Director
1976 The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea Yes Yes
1979 The Great Santini Yes Yes
1983 Class No Yes

Writer only

Year Title Director Notes
1966 Seconds John Frankenheimer
Grand Prix Uncredited[10][12]
1967 The Fox Mark Rydell Co-writer with Howard Koch
1969 The Brotherhood Martin Ritt
1972 A Reflection of Fear William A. Fraker
The Mechanic Michael Winner
1974 Crazy Joe Carlo Lizzani
1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Anthony Page
1980 Resurrection Daniel Petrie
1988 Haunted Summer Ivan Passer
2011 The Mechanic Simon West Remake of 1972 film
2016 Mechanic: Resurrection Dennis Gansel Characters created by

Television

Year Title Writer Creator Notes
1960,
1967		 Johnny Midnight Yes No Episode: "The Switchback Murder", "Sarah and the Sax"
1960 CBS Repertoire Workshop Yes No Episode: "The Brick and the Rose"
1966 Route 66 Yes No Episode: "And Make Thunder His Tribute"
1971 In Search of America Yes No Television film
1973 Honor Thy Father Yes No
1973-74 Doc Elliot Yes Yes Writer; 1 episode
1974 Where Have All the People Gone? Yes No Television film
1999 Resurrection Yes No Television film
Remake of 1980 film

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work(s) Result Ref.
Academy Award 1978 Best Adapted Screenplay I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Nominated [30]
Golden Globe Award 1968 Best Screenplay The Fox Nominated [31]
Saturn Award 1981 Best Writing Resurrection Nominated
Writers Guild of America Award 1969 Best Original Screenplay The Brotherhood Nominated
1978 Best Adapted Screenplay I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Nominated
1981 The Great Santini Nominated
Drama Desk Award 1964 Vernon Rice Award Cages, Telemachus Clay, Double Talk Won [32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lewis John Carlino, Writer and Director of 'The Great Santini,' Dies at 88". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 June 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ "WebVoyage Record View 1". cocatalog.loc.gov.
  3. 1 2 3 The Playwrights Database, doollee.com; accessed September 3, 2017.
  4. ↑ ""CBS Repertoire Workshop" The Brick and the Rose (TV Episode 1960)". imdb.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "Lewis John Carlino Theatre Credits". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Boxoffice; Boxoffice (1963). Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963). Media History Digital Library. New York, Boxoffice.
  7. ↑ Twenty Four Frames Archived 2010-07-02 at the Wayback Machine, twentyfourframes.wordpress.com; accessed September 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Seconds". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Motion Picture Exhibitor (Oct 1963-Feb 1964). Media History Digital Library. Philadelphia, Jay Emanuel Publications. 1963.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. 1 2 3 "Los Angeles Evening Citizen News from Hollywood, California on December 2, 1964 · 37". Newspapers.com. 2 December 1964. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on September 27, 1965 · 67". Newspapers.com. 27 September 1965. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  12. 1 2 "Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on October 29, 1966 · 39". Newspapers.com. 29 October 1966. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  13. ↑ "Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on October 30, 1965 · 19". Newspapers.com. 30 October 1965. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  14. 1 2 "The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California on November 21, 1965 · Page 31". Newspapers.com. 21 November 1965. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  15. ↑ Variety 1966-12-21: Vol 245 Iss 5. 1966-12-21.
  16. ↑ Variety 1967-12-20: Vol 249 Iss 5. 1967-12-20.
  17. ↑ "Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada on May 10, 1967 · 44". Newspapers.com. 10 May 1967. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  18. ↑ "Boxoffice-May.15.1967". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  19. ↑ Variety 1967-10-18: Vol 248 Iss 22. 1967-10-18.
  20. ↑ "The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 29, 1967 · Page 30". Newspapers.com. 29 September 1967. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  21. ↑ "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on October 2, 1967 · Page 43". Newspapers.com. 2 October 1967. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  22. ↑ "Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California on November 27, 1968 · 45". Newspapers.com. 27 November 1968. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  23. ↑ "Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  24. ↑ Karaszewski, Larry. "Warner Bros 1971 production slate". Twitter (Press release).
  25. ↑ Eder, Richard (12 April 1976). "'Sailor Who Fell,' a Film After Mishima". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ Rowe, James L. "Strong 'Great Santini'". The Washington Post.
  27. 1 2 Baxter, Brian (2020-07-14). "Lewis John Carlino obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  28. ↑ "Tideline: Lew Carlino". www.cortesisland.com. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  29. ↑ "Lewis John Carlino". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  30. ↑ "The 50th Academy Awards | 1978". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-05. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  31. ↑ "Lewis John Carlino". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  32. ↑ "Lewis John Carlino – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.