Andrew Sarris was born on October 31st, 1928

Written by: Liam O'Sullivan

Andrew Sarris: The Auteur Theorist

The Father of American Film Criticism

Andrew Sarris is widely regarded as one of the most influential film critics of the 20th century, and his auteur theory has had a profound impact on the way we understand filmmaking. As a leading proponent of this theory, Sarris posited that a director's body of work is a reflection of their personal style and creative vision, rather than just a collection of individual films.

Early Life and Influences

Born on October 31, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, to Greek immigrant parents, Sarris grew up in Ozone Park, Queens. After attending John Adams High School, he graduated from Columbia University in 1951 and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. His experiences in Paris, where he became friends with Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, had a profound influence on his approach to film criticism.

A Career in Film Criticism

Sarris began his writing career at Film Culture, before moving to The Village Voice, where his first piece, a laudatory review of Psycho, was published in 1960. This marked the beginning of his prolific career as a film critic, during which he wrote regularly for The New York Observer until 2009. As a professor of film at Columbia University, Sarris taught courses in international film history, American cinema, and Alfred Hitchcock, sharing his passion for film with a new generation of cinephiles.

The Auteur Theory

Sarris's auteur theory, as outlined in his seminal work The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968, posits that a director's body of work is a reflection of their personal style and creative vision. This approach revolutionized film criticism, shifting the focus from individual films to the director's oeuvre as a whole. Sarris's work not only influenced a generation of film critics but also filmmakers themselves, including Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.

Influence on Modern Society

Sarris's work has had a profound impact on modern society, from shaping the way we appreciate film to influencing the development of film studies as an academic discipline. His writing has inspired countless filmmakers, critics, and scholars, and his legacy continues to be felt in the world of cinema.

Major Works

• The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968 (1968)
• Confessions of a Film Critic (1970)
• The John Ford Movie Mystery (1975)
• You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet: The American Talking Film – History & Memory 1927-1969 (1998)

Awards and Honors

Sarris received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film Criticism in 2005, and was awarded an honorary degree from Columbia University in 2009.

Legacy

Andrew Sarris's legacy extends far beyond his own writing and teaching. His auteur theory has become a foundational concept in film studies, and his influence can be seen in the work of countless filmmakers, critics, and scholars. As a pioneer in the field of film criticism, Sarris will continue to inspire generations to come.