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The Birth of a Legend
On this day, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Steven Spielberg was born. -
Television
Spielberg starting working at Universal Studios, as one of their youngest directors. Instead of working on films, however, he directed television episodes. These included episodes from shows such as Columbo, Marcus Welby, M.D., and Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law. -
Beginnings
After directing several low budget films (Escape to Nowhere [1962] Firelight [1964] Amblin' [1968]) an executive at Universal Studios offered Spielberg a contract after viewing his short film from 1968. -
Duel
In 1971, Steven Spielberg directed a dark action television film called "Duel". This film, which brought him popularity, also brought him the opportunity to direct films for the cinema. YouTube -
Remember my Name: Spielberg's First Taste of Fame
Spielberg's "Duel" was well-regarded, especially for its action sequences. Spielberg was now given the opportunity to craft theatrically released films. First, he created the now forgotten crime film "The Sugarland Express" starring Goldie Hawn. -
Spielberg Invasion
In mid-1975, Steven Spielberg directed "Jaws". This would go on to become one of the highest-grossing and most famous films in history. Spielberg's first masterwork earned an Academy Award nomination for best picture and a nomination for best soundtrack, thanks to John Williams. -
The Rest of the 1970s
In 1977, Steven Spielberg created his second hit of the decade. While not as successful as Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind made Spielberg become the second director in history to have back-to-back films that grossed over $100 million. Close Encounters is a classic science fiction film, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Francois Truffaut, which was an early sign of Spielberg's signature blockbuster style. -
An Auteur Solidifies his Place
Spielberg was looking to solidify his place as one of cinema's top dogs in the 1980s. In 1981, Spielberg did that by directing the legendary "Raiders of the Lost Ark", his first Indiana Jones film. With this film, Harrison Ford boosted his Hollywood status. With its memorable score, colourful cinematography, and brilliant special effects, Spielberg earned a nomination for best director and the film earned a nomination for best picture.
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Could it Get Any Better? Yes.
After directing the largely successful Indiana Jones film, Spielberg (miraculously) topped himself by directing the even more successful "E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial". This was a heartwarming tale about a boy who befriended a lost alien. The special effects, cinematography, and music were outstanding. This film, released in 1982, remained the highest grossing film of all time until 1993, when Spielberg did the unthinkable. -
Masterful, yet Overshadowed: The Rest of Spielberg's Decade
For the rest of the 1980s, Spielberg released more classic films, but none of them reached the heights of the aforementioned two. In 1984, he released "Temple of Doom", his second Indiana Jones film. In 1985, Spielberg went from entertainment to soul and made "The Colour Purple". In 1987, he directed "Empire of the Sun". Spielberg concluded the decade with his third Indiana Jones film, "The Last Crusade" and "Always", both from 1989.
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1990s: The Next Gen
In the mid-1980s, Spielberg began to be criticized. Many believed that his blockbusters did not permit him to craft complex and deep storylines, only shallow and moneymaking films. His first film of the 90s, you could say, continued that trend. He directed "Hook" in 1991. This was a retelling of Peter Pan and it was quite unsuccessful. Spielberg was struggling to get hold of innovative ideas, as he did in the early 1980s. -
1993: Never Count me Out
1993 was a year of both creative and financial redemption for Mr. Spielberg. First, in the summer of 1993, he released "Jurassic Park". This became the highest grossing film of all time. Its combination of special effects and raw suspense made it a joy to watch for people of all ages. On Christmas, 1993, Spielberg released "Schindler's List". This was groundbreaking as it was complex and emotional. Spielberg won his first best director award and the film won best picture. He was back. -
A Director at Heart, A Great Producer Nonetheless
In the 1980s, Spielberg had dabbled in producing, having produced films such as "The Goonies" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". In 1994, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, Spielberg founded the studio "DreamWorks". This company would go on to become famous for producing animated projects such as "Antz", "Shrek", and "Puss in Boots".