Franklin Schaffner

The Films of Franklin Schaffner

IFFC PATTON (1970)
Franklin J. Schaffner’s epic war film brings to life and to light the highs and lows of the career of General George S. Patton. Truly a thinking man’s war film, Schaffner’s epic is simultaneously a rousing adventure and intimate personal drama. Schaffner won an Oscar for Best Director and George C. Scott won for Best Actor, with his vivid portrayal of the General as he first takes charge of demoralized American forces in North Africa and in Sicily, and then leads them to victory. Scott's rendering of Patton's famous military "pep talk" set against a huge American flag in the film’s opening, is an unforgettable highlight. The film won a total of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Scott's performance has been regarded as one of the towering performances in screen history. The script was written by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, with a score by Jerry Goldsmith.
Rating: PG
Running time: 171 minutes
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9pm
Leadville Outdoor Cinema, Leadville

IFFC PAPILLON (1973)
Franklin J. Schaffner directed a steller cast including Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Zerbe and Victor Jory in this amazing true adventure about a French thief imprisoned in South America, who manages to beat-the-odds in repeatedly breaking out of prison. He is finally sent to the French penal colony of Devil's Island, which is deemed "inescapable." Steve McQueen (nominated for a Golden Globe) portrays Henri Charriere, aka Papillon (named for the butterly tatoo he sports on his chest) who claims he was wrongly incarcerated for the murder of a pimp. While imprisoned he saves the life of fellow convict Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), who later helps him with his escape attempts. The film takes a look at gritty prison life, but is also a touching buddy picture, portraying the 20 year friendship of Papillon and Dega. A salute to the yearning of the human spirit to be free, Papillon was followed by many prison-escape films which owe a debt of gratitude to this film for setting the standard – one which has yet to be surpassed. Schaffner's direction of the solitary confinement scenes is the closest one will ever come to the loneliness experienced by McQueen's Papillon. Devil's Island was ultimately shut down as a result of its brutality towards prisoners. The film was written by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
Rating: PG
Running time: 150 Minutes
Fri., Sept. 5th, 5pm
Silver City Cinema, Leadville

IFFC PLANET OF THE APES (1969)
Franklin J. Schaffner’s classic futuristic, action-adventure film version of Pierre Boyle's sci-fi novel. Schaffner brought a near-epic scope to the film in which Charlton Heston plays George Taylor one of several astronauts on a long space mission whose spaceship crash-lands on a planet. They soon discover that the planet is in a bizarre role reversal of life on earth. Here, humans are grunting and inarticulate, and treated like animals, while the planet is dominated by a race of talking and thinking apes. When leader Dr. Zaius, played by noted Shakespearean actor Maurice Evans, discovers Taylor can speak, he insists on killing the astronaut, but two other doctors (esteemed actors Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter) endeavor to protect him. The horrific secret regarding the planet's history and why Dr. Zaius so fiercely tries to keep it a secret, is dramatically and shockingly revealed at the end. With a script by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson, the film addresses issues of class, race relations, intolerance and the clash between faith and science. A powerful, thought provoking allegory, Schaffner’s film remains one of the greatest films of all time. John Chamber's effectively convincing simian make-up won a special Academy Award. The film became a huge success, followed by four successful sequels, as well as two TV series, one live-action and one animated, becoming a cult phenomenon.
Rating: G
Running time: 112 minutes
Thur., Sept. 4th, 12 noon
Silver City Cinema, Leadville