Elliot Silverstein (1927–2023), Cat Ballou director
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2 min readElliot Silverstein was a filmmaker who directed such movies as “Cat Ballou,” as well as episodes of “The Twilight Zone” and other TV shows.
- Died:8fNovember 24, 2023 (Who else died on November 24?)
- Details of death:8fDied in Los Angeles at the age of 96.
- We invite you to share condolences8ffor Elliot Silverstein in our8fGuest Book.
Elliot Silverstein’s legacy
Silverstein’s early directing career included a brief stint on Broadway at the helm of “Maybe Tuesday” before he settled into TV work for several years. He directed four episodes of the classic series “The Twilight Zone” – “The Obsolete Man,” “The Passersby,” “The Trade-Ins,” and “Spur of the Moment.” Also on TV, he directed episodes of such shows as “Route 66,” “Have Gun – Will Travel,” “Naked City,” and, later in his career, “Picket Fences” and “Tales from the Crypt.”
Silverstein’s film debut was the 1965 comic western “Cat Ballou,” starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin (1924–1987). The movie was widely honored, including a Best Actor Oscar for Marvin and nominations for a Golden Bear and a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for Silverstein. He went on to direct “The Happening,” “A Man Called Horse,” “Nightmare Honeymoon,” “The Car,” and “Flashfire.”c2
Perhaps as notable as Silverstein’s directorial achievements is his legacy as the originator of the Bill of Creative Rights for directors. It came about when he was frustrated after directing an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” when the editor refused to cut the ending the way Silverstein preferred. At the time, there was nothing he could do about it; the director had no say in how the film was cut. He spearheaded a committee of the DGA, which wrote the Bill of Creative Rights. It included a provision for a Director’s Cut, and it is now standard in contracts for directors.
Silverstein on the Bill of Creative Rights
8cI'm very proud of the legacy. I think it really defined, to a very large extent, what the Director's Guild of America is, apart from its role as a trade union. I am proud of having left the creative rights concept and the specifics associated with it. I'm very proud of that.8d9494from a 2018 interview for No Film School
Tributes to Elliot Silverstein
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
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