Bosley Crowther

Bosley Crowther was an American journalist and film critic who served as chief film reviewer for The New York Times from 1940 to 1967.

The New York Times: An American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. Crowther’s reviews appeared in the newspaper whose cultural authority amplified his judgments.
Film criticism: The analysis and evaluation of films through reviews, essays, and other forms of commentary. Crowther’s career exemplifies the influence of newspaper film criticism in mid-century America.
The Pawnbroker: A 1964 American drama directed by Sidney Lumet about a Holocaust survivor running a pawnshop in Harlem. Crowther defended the film’s artistic merits amid controversy over its brief nudity and censorship.
Andrew Sarris: An American film critic who helped popularize auteur theory in the United States. Sarris’s director-centered criticism offered a distinct framework from Crowther’s review practice.
Joseph L. Mankiewicz: An American film director and screenwriter known for films including All About Eve. Crowther publicly supported Mankiewicz during the 1952 Hollywood blacklist controversy.
The Birth of a Nation: A 1915 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith, celebrated for its cinematic innovations and condemned for racist depictions. Crowther’s defense of the film’s artistic importance drew criticism for minimizing its racist effects.
The Sound of Music: A 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise, adapted from the stage musical of the same name. Crowther’s negative review contrasted with the film’s enormous popular success.
Auteur theory: A theory of filmmaking that treats the director as a film’s primary creative author. Its rise shifted critical attention toward directorial style, a framework Crowther did not make central.
Cecil B. DeMille: An American filmmaker known for directing large-scale biblical and historical films. Crowther sharply criticized DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, illustrating their opposing views of spectacle.
Bonnie and Clyde: A 1967 American crime film directed by Arthur Penn, noted for its stylized violence and influence on Hollywood cinema. Crowther’s hostile reviews became a prominent example of his resistance to changing film styles.

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