Arthur Penn: American Director

Acknowledgments

xvii Acknowledgments Although he was interviewed extensively throughout his career, Penn has never, I believe, been as forthcoming as in these pages. This book owes its existence to his openness, Peggy Penn’s resolve, and the perseverance of my agent and friend, Agnes Birnbaum. The Penns’ children, Molly and Matthew, have been unfailingly gracious. In addition to those who gave me their thoughts and quotes in interviews (on and off the record), I owe a great debt to Philip Porcella, who provided access to his early unpublished interviews with Arthur Penn, Dede Allen, and Robert Benton, which appear here for the first time. Philip got the ball rolling, and my colleagues Paul Cronin and Patrick Harrison helped it roll faster. Thanks as well to Elizabeth Adams, Shirin Amini, Liane Brandon, Claire Brandt, Donovan Brandt, Lauren Buisson , Beth Cannon, Lionel Chetwynd, Mary Cross, Christopher Darling, Dom and Carol DeLuise, Stephen Fleischman, Tenell George, Anna Maria Geraldino, Allan Glaser, William Goldman , Robert L. Goodman, Martin Gostanian, Robert Greenwald , Gary H. Grossman, Haden Guest, Barbara Hogenson, Carla Brooks Johnston, Philip Kleinbart, Alexander Kogan Jr. of Showcase Productions, Inc., Jon Krampner, Blake Lucas, J. V. Martin, Jenni Matz, Rick McKay, Myron Meisel, Callie O’Brien, Rochelle O’Gorman, James Robert Parish, Estelle Parsons, Harriet Sharp, Jorge Suárez, Allan Taylor, Marilyn Tessen, Katharine Vile, Ted Walch, Robb Weller, John Wildman, and Doris Wood. Institutions providing important access include the Margaret Herrick Library at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Center for Advanced Film Study (Linda Harris Mehr, director; Barbara Hall, special collections archivist; Howard xviii Acknowledgments Prouty, acquisitions archivist; Faye Thompson, photo archivist); the Archive of American Television at the Emmy Foundation of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, California (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio); the UCLA Arts Library Special Collections; USC/Warner Bros. Archives; and the Museum of Broadcast Communication. Writing is a lonely profession but that doesn’t mean that it’s done alone. The University Press of Kentucky is to be commended for their knowledgeable and aggressive presence in the field of published film history. Gratitude goes to Anne Dean Watkins , Melinda Wirkus, Ila McEntire, Richard Farkas (go Blue Devils!), John P. Hussey, Mack McCormick, and the people who work with them. Special thanks to Robin duBlanc for her editorial and diplomatic expertise and to Patrick McGilligan for a history of history. ...