[Blind Gossip] In the movie The Natural, Robert Redford plays a middle-aged man who begins a career as a professional baseball player and eventually becomes a legend thanks to his natural talent.
The Natural, which was released in 1984, was nominated for four Oscars, including a nomination for Glenn Close for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Much of the movie was filmed in Buffalo, NY.
A reporter from The Buffalo News interviewed Robert Redford after the film wrapped in 1983. One of the topics they discussed was the firing of a director from one of Redford’s films.
After The Natural wrapped Buffalo filming, I spent an entire afternoon in Robert Redford’s trailer interviewing him about every one of his films up to that time.
That’s a long list!
Prior to 1984, Redford had already acted in dozens of films.
Some of the classics you may know include Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (with Paul Newman), The Way We Were (with Barbra Streisand), The Sting (with Paul Newman), and All The President’s Men (with Dustin Hoffman).
I came away hugely impressed by both his intelligence and his conspicuous decency.
What moved me about the latter was that I’d asked him about the well-known firing of a director from one of his films. He told me the story behind it only if it remained off the record.
It still is; I’m offering no names or details. Redford didn’t want to damage the fellow’s reputation any more than it had already been.
It turned out the guy’s career wasn’t over.
He made a couple of pretty good movies after that which he’d never have been able to do if the world at large knew the details of what happened on the film that Redford wound up making with another director.
His career would likely have been sunk right then and there. Redford did the decent and merciful thing. He was being a mensch. I was moved by it.
So The Director was fired over something so serious that it should have ended his career.
Similar: The Skirt Chaser
Fired Director/Movie:
[Optional] Why do you think The Director was fired?
lila8245 says
Bob Rafelson, Brubaker. He later sued the studio.
LetsGoOverland says
Sort of undoes all that class being admired to bring it up. If it was good enough for Robert Redford to let it be….
whiskers says
Roman Polanski, DOWNHILL RACER.
Kellikopter says
Idk about Director, but I’ve always thought RR is a class act and this confirms it. I just hope justice was FULLY served if Director’s behavior harmed anyone besides himself.
melrose71 says
Not sure who this is, but this just shows why Redford is so respected in the Hollywood community. He’s a total class act.
caela94 says
James Cameron
wfreshie says
yes something about the work “sunk” made me think of titanic (cameron directed) and the other he went on to make a “couple of films like hinting the opposite which is true for cameron…….not sure what film it would have been
delray74 says
I think it’s Brubaker and Bob Rafekson the fired director but no idea why
queenpin says
Rafelson, fired from Brubaker
omgimbackagain says
Maybe Bob Evans? He’s done some shady stuff but not like, say, Roman or Harvey…more like RDJ.
AHHAof3 says
I’m gonna go with Roman Polanski and the movie “Downhill Skier”. I’m going to guess it had to do with Roman assaulting a young girl
gossiperson says
Fired Director/Movie:
Bob Rafelson/Brubaker
[Optional] Why do you think The Director was fired?
He assaulted a studio executive.
JipJip says
John G Avildsen
lknation says
It was for the movie Brubaker and the director that was replaced was Bob Rafelson.
roxy4128 says
Roman Polanski fired from Downhill Racer
wenchie70x says
James Cameron
Weird Harold Monster says
Bob Rafelson/Brubaker
I grew up in the ’80’s, and had been sexually harassed all of high school, applying for jobs, at work, etc. I felt alone until my college roommate educated me and helped me start standing up for myself. I am proud to say my daughter has never had to go through the same. Some people in power think they can do whatever they want with no consequences. Good for RR for not allowing that to happen. Hopefully Director learned his lesson.
bmanning says
George Roy Hill
” The Sting”
probably assault of some sort – something unfavorable towards women/man. #metoo