Richard Corliss

Richard Corliss – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life and legacy of Richard Corliss (1944–2015), the influential American film critic and magazine editor. Dive into his perspectives on cinema, his role at Time magazine, and his sharp yet celebratory voice in film criticism. Include “Richard Corliss quotes,” “life and career of Richard Corliss,” and his lasting influence.

Introduction

Richard Nelson Corliss (March 6, 1944 – April 23, 2015) was a prominent American film critic, magazine editor, and writer, best known for his decades-long work at Time magazine. Over a career spanning nearly half a century, Corliss brought erudition, curiosity, and a wide-ranging taste to film criticism. He championed both popular and auteur cinema, insisted on the importance of the screenwriter, and became a respected voice in shaping how generations of readers thought about movies.

Early Life and Education

Richard Corliss was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth (née McCluskey) and Paul William Corliss. St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, earning his bachelor’s degree, before continuing at Columbia University in New York, where he completed a master’s degree in film studies.

Corliss’s grounding in both academic film study and journalistic environments gave him a hybrid sensibility: analytical yet accessible, reflective but attuned to popular culture.

Career and Achievements

Early Journalism & orial Work

Corliss began writing in the mid-1960s, contributing to magazines such as National Review, New Times, Maclean’s, and SoHo Weekly News. Film Comment, a respected film journal produced by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and he held that position through the 1970s and into the 1980s.

During his time at Film Comment, he infused the magazine with a broader critical ambition—bringing attention to screenwriters (not merely directors), championing global cinema, and encouraging a more democratic critical stance.

Time Magazine & Film Criticism

In 1980, Corliss joined Time magazine as a film critic and writer. Over the course of 35 years, he became one of its signature voices on cinema.

Corliss sometimes challenged standard critical orthodoxies. He pushed against the idea that the director alone is the “author” of a film, instead drawing attention to the role of screenwriters and other collaborators. Time lists such as All-TIME 100 Movies and top tens.

He also penned a nostalgic column titled “That Old Feeling”, where he revisited older films, stars, and aspects of cinema culture that might otherwise fade from memory.

Corliss’s tone was often welcoming—he believed in encouraging readers, not alienating them with excessively arcane jargon. As Time itself later noted, he “conveyed nothing so much as the sheer joy of watching movies — and writing about them.”

Published Books

In addition to his journalism, Corliss authored several books:

• Talking Pictures: Screenwriters in American Cinema, 1927–1973 (1974) — a pioneering study emphasizing screenwriters’ importance.

• Greta Garbo (1974) — a biography of the legendary actress.

• Lolita (1994) — an exploration of Vladimir Nabokov’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation.

• Mom in the Movies: The Iconic Screen Mothers You Love (and a Few You Love to Hate) (2014) — examining maternal figures on screen.

These works show his range: from historical/critical scholarship to cultural commentary.

Influence and Critical Style

Corliss was known for several stylistic and critical qualities:

• Eclectic taste: He was willing to champion Pixar, Hong Kong action cinema, animation, and mainstream fare side by side with art film.

• Balanced criticism: He recognized flaws in even beloved works but aimed to situate films in larger cultural and emotional contexts, rather than merely dismissing or praising them.

• Cultural breadth: He often drew on history, literature, genre knowledge, and cross-cultural cinema to enrich his reviews.

• Nostalgic memory: Through “That Old Feeling” and his personal essays, Corliss championed rediscovery and remembrance in cinema culture—keeping the past alive.

Peers and filmmakers often praised his generosity and fairness. Upon his death, figures like Steven Spielberg, Baz Luhrmann, and others expressed admiration for how he saw and understood both the “fun and the groundbreaking aspects of films.”

Legacy and Influence

Richard Corliss’s legacy in film criticism, journalism, and popular culture is multifaceted:

1. Broadening criticism’s audience
   He demonstrated that intelligent film criticism could be accessible—encouraging readers rather than alienating them. His approach influenced a generation of critics who see criticism as both rigorous and welcoming.

2. Valuing Screenwriters & Collaboration
   By foregrounding the role of screenwriters and supporting the idea of cinema as a collaborative art, he shifted some critical focus away from the sole auteur model. His book Talking Pictures remains a reference point.

3. Canon Building & Film Memory
   Through lists, retrospectives, and nostalgic columns, Corliss helped sustain public interest in cinema history, classic films, stars, and forgotten gems.

4. Cultural Bridge
   His openness to global, genre, and popular cinema helped bridge divides between critics and film lovers. He treated mainstream and arthouse with equal seriousness.

5. Enduring Writing Voice
   Even after his passing, his reviews, essays, and books continue to be read, quoted, and taught in film studies. His style—erudite but warm—remains a standard for many in the field.

Personality and Talents

Richard Corliss was often described as urbane, curious, generous, and mild-mannered. He carried deep respect for the art of cinema yet never seemed aloof—rather, he seemed thrilled to engage.

Among his strengths:

• Fluent writing: His prose was precise, elegant, and readable without sacrificing depth.

• Wide knowledge base: He knew film history, genres, international cinemas, even animation and pop culture, enabling him to draw connections others might miss.

• Cultural sensitivity: He was attuned to how films reflect and shape society—race, genre, industry trends, nostalgia.

• Mentorship in criticism: Through his editorial roles and collaborations (e.g. bringing Jonathan Rosenbaum into Film Comment), he nurtured other critical voices.

• Consistency and longevity: Over nearly five decades, he maintained critical integrity, evolving tastes, and a continuing presence in cultural journalism.

Famous Quotes of Richard Corliss

Here are a few reflections and lines attributed to or written by Richard Corliss that hint at his sensibility (some paraphrased from his writing):

“Hollywood was born schizophrenic. For 75 years it has been both a town and a state of mind, an industry and an art form.” “He conveyed nothing so much as the sheer joy of watching movies — and writing about them.” (on Corliss, Time’s appraisal)

Because Corliss was more of a critic and columnist than a quotable aphorist, many of his most memorable lines are embedded in his essays or reviews, rather than standard “quote collections.”

Lessons from Richard Corliss

From his life and work, we can glean several lessons:

• Critical empathy matters: He believed in writing criticism that engages the reader respectfully, rather than alienating them with jargon or gatekeeping.

• Never limit your palate: His willingness to write seriously about everything from blockbuster to art film encourages openness in taste.

• Honor collaboration: By highlighting screenwriters and collaborators, Corliss reminded us that creativity is rarely solitary.

• Balance memory with innovation: He straddled the past and the present—valuing classic cinema but also embracing new modes, directors, and trends.

• Be consistent, but keep evolving: Over decades, he remained relevant by staying curious, adapting to new cinema forms and platforms.

• Write with joy: His passion for cinema undergirded his criticism; the love for the medium shows when one relaxes into it.

Conclusion

Richard Corliss’s story is that of a thinker and writer whose commitment to cinema spanned both breadth and depth. He shaped how many understand films—valuing screenwriters, celebrating popular and art forms alike, and keeping alive the memory of the past while engaging the present. His voice, generous and incisive, remains instructive for critics, students, and movie lovers alike.