5 movies to watch and remember the late Ted Kotcheff

The world of cinema bids farewell to Hollywood director Ted Kotcheff, who was known for a six decade long career in the industry, having worked on projects like First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. Noted for his switch in genres and for producing Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the director was a spectacle in the 90s, having been the mastermind behind some cult classics that still enjoy relevance in the current generation.

Although he had been inactive for the last two decades, his filmmaking has been noted for it's brilliance as First Blood stands as one of the best action films ever made, and Weekend at Bernie's is an iconic comedy flick. As we celebrate Kotcheff's legacy and his contribution to cinema, here are five of his movies to watch and remember his cinematic mastery.

Weekend at Bernie's

Weekend at Bernie's is noted for being one of Ted Kotcheff's most beloved works, while also being one of the most influential comedy films of the era as it made it's way to become the inspiration behind quite a few comedy flicks.

The story revolves around two insurance employees, Larry Wilson and Richard Parker, who discover an insurance fraud and report it to their CEO Bernie Lomax, who praises their work and invites them over to spend time at his beach house. In reality, Bernie was the one who had committed the fraud, and to hide his tracks he orders that they both get killed. Changes in plans, motives and scenarios lead to Bernie becoming the victim of a murder, much to the terror of Larry and Richard.

Later on, as they spend time at Bernie's place, they pretend he's alive and even take him out for trips and errands, resulting in hilarious consequences. The black comedy film is noted for it's premise and plot, and a riotous ending that will keep you laughing till the very end.

First Blood

Syslvester Stallone's launch as Rambo is perhaps one of the most important parts of his career, and much of it's credit goes to Ted Kotcheff. The first film in the Rambo franchise, it is based on a novel by David Morrell, and long after it's release, has gone on to become one of the most iconic films in the thriller genre.

The film follows John Rambo, a retired war veteran who escapes a manhunt as he gets on the wrong side of the town's sheriff. Driven by his trauma, strength and combat skills, Rambo becomes a one-man army, using the wilderness to his advantage as he evades capture.

The success of the film made way for a multiple part franchise that Stallone starred in subsequently, while also writing the script. It remains to be one of Kotcheff's best work, and quite memorable at that one. Many have wondered why he did not continue to associate himself with the franchise, but the director opened up on how he refused to move forward with a franchise that documented the horrors of the Vietnam War. Speaking to Filmmaker Magazine in 2016, the director said:

“They offered me the first sequel, and after I read the script I said, ‘In the first film he doesn’t kill anybody. In this film he kills 75 people.’ It seemed to be celebrating the Vietnam War, which I thought was one of the stupidest wars in history. I couldn’t turn myself inside out like that and make that kind of picture. Of course, I could have been a rich man today — that sequel made $300 million.”

North Dallas Forty

This 70s classic was quite the sensation after it's release as one of the first films that explored the world of sports and the gritty, often unseen realities behind the scenes. North Dallas Forty was inspired by Peter Gent's novel of the same name, who was a Cowboys wide receiver in the late 1960. The film explored the intricacies of the football world, shedding light on it's upsides and downsides and the dark world of the athletes in question.

Ted Kotcheff requested the support of the National Football League to make the film, who denied his request, leading many to believe that the film was rooted a little too much in reality. Many critics have pointed out striking similarities between the characters on screen and real life athletes as well.

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

One of the finest Canadian films ever made, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz gave Ted Kotcheff some of the best praise of his life as his film was noted for it's coming-of-age themes and exploring the complexities of ambition, identity, and the pursuit of success. Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler, the film follows the journey of Duddy Kravitz, a young Jewish man from Montreal, who is determined to rise above his humble beginnings and make a name for himself.

The film won the Golden Bear at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival, making it a significant career moment for Kotcheff. It was also the project that brought together Kotcheff and Richard Dreyfuss- who played the titular character. As of now, Dreyfuss is all set to voice a documentary on the director's life, titled The Apprenticeship of Ted Kotcheff.

Wake In Fright

One of the finest films to have come out during 1971's Australian New Wave, Wake In Fright was way ahead of it's time as the suspense thriller continues to capture the audience even today.

The film centers around a distressed and downtrodden school teacher John Grant, who is having a moral and financial crisis as he lives in Tiboonda. As he travels to Sydney to meet his girlfriend, he has to pass through the town of Bundanyabba, where the eccentric townfolk and a series of unpleasant encounters make his situation even worse, leaving him broke, sick and psychologically unraveling.

Ted Kotcheff adapted the story from Kenneth Cook's novel of the same name, which was also a success in Australia. Four decades after it's release, Wake In Fright premiered again in 2009, at the Cannes Film Festival and also opened in theaters, Subsequently, the film was released again in 2012, earning $50,394 during the re-release.

Even after Ted Kotcheff's death, his cinematic legacy lives on as he leaves Hollywood with a series of well-made, genius films that will carry his honor and his creativity forward to the years to come.