By Walker Joyce
The Arts World is usually a realm of specialists. There are singers and dancers. Painters and sculptors. Authors and Actors. Some might dabble in things related to or beyond the occupation listed on their tax returns, but few—very few—can claim several fields of expertise, or achieve major success in more than one.
Historically, Da Vinci and Michelangelo come to mind—or a few of our Founders like Franklin and Jefferson. If you want to keep things strictly artistic, Ben invented the glass harmonica, Tom played the violin, and, of course, both were accomplished men of letters.
Looking locally, Frank Sinatra is an example. He’d surely be on the Mt. Rushmore of vocalists, but as we’ve proven on these pages, he was no slouch as a hoofer and a thespian, too.
But when I think of versatile talents, the first name that comes to mind is Orson Welles. He created what many still consider the greatest movie ever made, CITIZEN KANE. This was after he’d conquered the mediums of stage and radio. At the tender age of 26, he set his sights on Hollywood and took the cinema by storm, writing, producing, directing, and starring in the aforementioned roman a clef.
Others have aspired to follow his footsteps, from achievers like Sidney Pollack to losers like Ed Wood. But among those still working today, I’d pick a guy whose name wouldn’t immediately reach the tip of most tongues, and may still be relatively obscure, despite his trophy case.
The man I’d say has come closest to Welles’ mantle is John Sayles.
Primarily a wordsmith, he’s won plaudits as a film producer, screenwriter, director and actor. If you don’t know his name, it’s because he eschews Show Biz glitter. He avoids the red carpets, the parties, even (for the most part) social media. He lives modestly with his college girlfriend, and his closest friends remain those he made at Williams.
You probably DO know several of his flicks: historical pictures like MATEWAN and EIGHT MEN OUT, horror and sci-fi spoofs like PIRANA, THE HOWLING, THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, and BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, dramas like PASSION FISH and AMIGO, and three Jersey-centric pictures, the romance BABY IT’S YOU, the crime melodrama CITY OF HOPE, and his directorial debut, THE RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS 7.
While not set in our state, its title refers to a key plot point for this ensemble movie, which many have called a precursor to THE BIG CHILL. It struck enough of a chord to be picked for the National Film Registry.
Sayles has written novels and journalistic pieces, created a critically acclaimed TV show, SHANNON’S DEAL, that regrettably didn’t last, and made many indelible cameo appearances in others’ movies, and, like Hitchcock, in most of his own.
Another way to compare him to Welles is how he’s often had to hustle to finance his projects, frequently raising the money himself. He’s well-known in the industry as a script doctor, improving the scripts of others’ hits, most notably APOLLO 13.
While he’s now in his mid-70’s, John isn’t done yet. Keep an eye out for his future projects, and in the meantime, check out his oeuvre the next time you want to watch something at home.
