Ο Ρίτσαρντ Ντόνερ ξεκίνησε την καριέρα του θέλοντας να γίνει ηθοποιός, αλλά σύντομα άρχισε να σκηνοθετεί με επιτυχία διαφημίσεις και επεισόδια για τηλεοπτικές σειρές και γύρισε την πρώτη του ταινία μεγάλου μήκους το 1961: ήταν το «X-15», με πρωταγωνιστές τους Τσαρλς Μπρόνσον και Μέρι Τάιλερ Μουρ. Χρειάστηκαν αρκετά χρόνια μέχρι την «Προφητεία» (1976), ένα υπερφυσικό θρίλερ που γυρίστηκε στον απόηχο της επιτυχίας του «Εξορκιστή». Η ταινία ήταν αυτή που τον καθιέρωσε αφού γνώρισε τεράστια επιτυχία κι έγινε η πέμπτη σε εισπράξεις ταινία του 1976.
Με τον Κρίστοφερ Ριβ στα γυρίσματα του Superman
Στην πορεία των χρόνων, συνέχισε να σκηνοθετεί με εξίσου μεγάλη επιτυχία ταινίες που με εμπορικές φιλοδοξίες αλλά και με σεβασμό στην τέχνη του σινεμά. Από το «Superman» και το «The Goonies», μέχρι το «Φονικό Οπλο» και τις συνέχειές του, ή το «Maverick» και το «Scrooged», o Ντόνερ συνέχισε να παραδίδει καλοφτιαγμένες ταινίες για το μεγάλο κοινό που σέβονταν την τέχνη του σινεμά και τον κόπο και τον χρόνο των συντελεστών τους.
Δείτε πιο κάτω μερικές από τις αντιδράσεις σκηνοθετών όπως ο Στιβεν Σπίλμπεργκ και ο Εντγκαρ Ράιτ, συνεργατών και θαυμαστών στην είδηση του θανάτου του.
Steven Spielberg reflects on the passing of Richard Donner, friend, and beloved director of THE GOONIES for Amblin Entertainment, who passed away today at 91.#RichardDonner #TheGoonies pic.twitter.com/6KSmKvWqVI
— Amblin (@amblin) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner's big heart & effervescent charm shone in his movies through the remarkable performances of his cast, which is no mean feat. You remember all the characters in Superman, Lethal Weapon, The Goonies & more, because Donner knew how to capture that magic onscreen. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/7NDH9kKnQZ
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 5, 2021
Rest in peace to legendary Director, Richard Donner. Thank you for helping us all believe a man can fly. pic.twitter.com/M1uQJJLOG5
— Warner Bros. (@WBHomeEnt) July 5, 2021
To my mind this word captures the first priority and goal of a film director, regardless of genre or style. And Dick Donner achieved it time and time again, in all sorts of films. It's not easy. It takes artistry. RIP Richard Donner. https://t.co/I6SInbMKr7
— Mangold (@mang0ld) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner made the devil a child in The Omen, invented the modern day comic book movie with Superman, and reinvented the buddy cop movie with Lethal Weapon. I got to meet with him last year about a project. Guy was a natural born storyteller. Thanks for all the flicks, Dick! https://t.co/pjC9dbSkbt
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner had the biggest, boomiest voice you could imagine.
He commanded attention and he laughed like no man has ever laughed before. Dick was so much fun. What I perceived in him, as a 12 year old kid, is that he cared. I love how much he cared.– Goonies Never Say Die
— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) July 5, 2021
Incredibly sad to have just heard the news that the wonderful #RichardDonner has died. He was the best.
— Sarah Douglas (@TheSarahDouglas) July 5, 2021
Hard to imagine another director with as much tonal breadth as Richard Donner, who nailed it every time no matter the genre. Who else could’ve made both THE GOONIES and THE OMEN? LETHAL WEAPON and SCROOGED? And a SUPERMAN for the ages. He made so many of my favorite movies. RIP.
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) July 5, 2021
RIP, Richard Donner, director of the greatest superhero film of all time. pic.twitter.com/Vu5rMvLush
— Aditya Sood (@adityasood) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner directed many wonderful and iconic films, including Superman, the Goonies and Lethal Weapon 1-4.
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One of his lesser known films is a little gem of a movie.
It's called LADYHAWKE and it stars Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer pic.twitter.com/utuLf2gv7W— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) July 5, 2021
The great Richard Donner on set. RIP 💔 pic.twitter.com/KiGTYCytP4
— Museum of the Moving Image (@MovingImageNYC) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner Dead: ‘Superman’, ‘Lethal Weapon’ Director Was 91 – Deadline https://t.co/bsCFadRq3g Godspeed good man. We are fewer
— TitusWelliver (@welliver_titus) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner was one of THE great Hollywood directors – The Omen, Superman, The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, Scrooged. Every one of them perfect. Made us believe a man could fly. One of the architects of the blockbuster. Farewell sir, your legacy is immortal. #RichardDonner pic.twitter.com/XgC8wheQIv
— JONATHAN SOTHCOTT (@sothcott) July 5, 2021
RIP to a Legend. #RichardDonner https://t.co/6c46qNnb98
— Gabriel Luna (@IamGabrielLuna) July 5, 2021
Underrated beyond imagination. Richard Donner’s LADYHAWKE. Give it a look if you have never… pic.twitter.com/gxU4Qqo5Uf
— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) July 5, 2021
#richarddonner wasn't just the architect of the modern superhero movie – his career is a straight line from the first golden age of tv to the creation of the modern blockbuster. his passing truly marks the end of many eras. https://t.co/UAXVMUgBpq
— javier grillo-marxuach (@OKBJGM) July 5, 2021
Richard Donner was the best. THE OMEN, SUPERMAN, GOONIES, the LETHAL WEAPONs, SCROOGED. There's nobody else like him. A genius, and by all accounts, a joy to work with. Maybe he Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/gAVI0Hs84T
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) July 5, 2021
We hosted Richard Donner for a screening of THE OMEN at the first Beyond Fest in 2013. He was as generous, kind, thoughtful, and brilliant as you would have wanted him to be. We have lost a good one. pic.twitter.com/KbV0td4BvT
— Beyond Fest (@BeyondFest) July 5, 2021
