History Creator / HalAshby

** LonelyRichKid: In relation to the above, several characters fit this description, like Elgar Enders in ''The Landlord'', [[Film/HaroldAndMaude Harold Chasen]], [[Creator/CarrieFisher Lorna Karpf]] in ''Film/{{Shampoo}}'', and, in an odd {{Manchild}} way, Chance in ''Film/BeingThere''.

* ConcertFilm: Directed ''Let's Spend the Night Together'' for Music/TheRollingStones and ''Solo Trans'' for Music/NeilYoung.

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recreational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard for him to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, by that time he had developed cancer and would soon pass away at the age of 59.

* CreatorCameo: Inspired by Creator/AlfredHitchcock, he often gave himself tiny, usually silent parts in his own films. In fact, he's seen in the very first shot of his debut film ''The Landlord'' (as the groom at a wedding; It was filmed at Ashby's own RealLife wedding).

* RichBoredom: Several of Ashby's protagonists are wealthy people who find the strictures of upper class life confining and rebel against them: ''The Landlord'' (wealthy young white Long Island fop tries to [[VillainousGentrification gentrify]] a black Brooklyn neighborhood, only to develop empathy for the residents), ''Film/HaroldAndMaude'' (wealthy young Californian stages fake suicides and gets into a relationship with an elderly woman), ''Film/{{Shampoo}}'' (Beverly Hills/Hollywood types engage in sexual shenanigans), ''Film/BeingThere'' (a simpleminded gardener fascinates a bunch of D.C. movers-and-shakers, and the TrophyWife of one of them becomes sexually attracted to him).

* CreatorCameo: Inspired by Creator/AlfredHitchcock, he often gave himself tiny, usually silent parts in his own films. In fact, he's in the very first shot of his debut film ''The Landlord'' (as the groom at a wedding; It was filmed at Ashby's own RealLife wedding).
* ProductionPosse: Frequently worked with Creator/JonVoight, Lee Grant, Jack Warden and David Clennon as actors, Creator/RobertTowne and Robert C. Jones as writers, and Charles Mulvehill as producer.

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recreational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard for him to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, he'd developed cancer and would pass away at the age of 59.

While his films continued to remain popular, Ashby himself had been reduced to a footnote in film history. But with the re-evaluation of New Hollywood in TheNineties, Ashby came to be appreciated as a symbol of the creative innovation and quality of that era of filmmaking, as well as a sad cautionary tale of the excesses that went along with it. His filmmaking has been VindicatedByHistory, and many modern directors (most notably Creator/WesAnderson) have been influenced by his work.

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recreational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, he'd developed cancer and would pass away at the age of 59.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c5a4cb9f_7b15_41ea_a203_c9f306be6146.jpeg]]

Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, he moved to California in 1949, fed up with the harsh winter weather and drudgery he had to deal with working on a railroad construction crew in Wyoming. Taking a job at Universal Pictures in their printing department, he slowly moved up the Hollywood ladder to become a film editor. After editing several films for director Norman Jewison, including ''Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight'' (for which he won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward) and ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair1968'', Ashby moved into directing with 1970's ''The Landlord'' (produced by Jewison). A disappointment at the box office, ''The Landlord'' still garnered some good reviews, citing Ashby as a talent to watch, and even received an Oscar nomination (Lee Grant for Best Supporting Actress).

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recreational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, [[AuthorExistenceFailure he'd developed cancer and would pass away at the age of 59]].

* RichBoredom: Several of Ashby's protagonists are wealthy people who find the strictures of upper class life confining and rebel against them: ''The Landlord'' (wealthy young white Long Island fop tries to [[VillainousGentrification gentrify]] a black Brooklyn neighborhood, only to develop empathy for the residents), ''Film/HaroldAndMaude'' (wealthy young Californian stages fake suicides and gets into a relationship with an elderly woman), ''Film/{{Shampoo}}'' (Beverly Hills/Hollywood types engage in sexual shenanigans).

Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, he moved to California in 1949, fed up with the harsh winter weather and drudgery he had to deal with working on a railroad construction crew in Wyoming. Taking a job at Universal Pictures in their printing department, he slowly moved up the Hollywood ladder to become a film editor. After editing several films for director Norman Jewison, including ''Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight'' (for which he won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward) and ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair'', Ashby moved into directing with 1970's ''The Landlord'' (produced by Jewison). A disappointment at the box office, ''The Landlord'' still garnered some good reviews, citing Ashby as a talent to watch, and even received an Oscar nomination (Lee Grant for Best Supporting Actress).

Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was one of the most acclaimed directors of the UsefulNote/NewHollywood era.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20140517203511_hal_ashby.jpg]]

Hal Ashby (1929--1988) was one of the most acclaimed directors of the UsefulNote/NewHollywood era.

Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, he moved to California in 1949, fed up with the harsh winter weather and drudgery he had to deal with working on a railroad construction crew in Wyoming. Taking a job at Universal Pictures in their printing department, he slowly moved up the Hollywood ladder to become a film editor. After editing several films for director Norman Jewison, including ''Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight'' (for which he won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward) and ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair'', Ashby moved into directing with 1970's ''The Landlord'' (produced by Jewison).

* CreatorCameo: Inspired by Creator/AlfredHitchcock, he often gave himself tiny, usually silent parts in his own films. In fact, he's in the very first shot of his debut film ''The Landlord'' (as the groom at a wedding; It was in fact filmed at Ashby's own RealLife wedding).

* ''Film/BeingThere'' (1979)

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recreational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, he'd developed cancer and would pass away at the age of 59.

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]][[note]]his biographer Nick Dawson agrees that Ashby had a fondness for recrational drugs but feels that the extent of his use was exaggerated to fit the image of an out-of-control eccentric by people who didn't like him.[[/note]] made it hard to find employment. After directing a few little-noticed big screen films and doing some television work, he decided to clean up his life and make an attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately, he'd developed cancer and would pass away at the age of 59.

Hal Ashby (1929-1988) was one of the most acclaimed directors of the UsefulNote/NewHollywood era.

His next film, ''Film/HaroldAndMaude'', recovered from a poor initial reception to become one the most famous and beloved [[CultClassic CultClassics]] of all time. After that Ashby swiftly became an A-list director, working with the likes of Creator/JackNicholson, Creator/WarrenBeatty, Creator/JaneFonda and Creator/PeterSellers. His films garnered near-universal acclaim, did well at the box office, and won multiple Oscars.

While his films continued to remain popular, Ashby himself had been reduced to a footnote in film history. But with the re-evaluation of New Hollywood in TheNineties, Ashby came to be appreciated as a symbol of the creative innovation and quality of that era of filmmaking, as well as a sad cautionary tale of the excesses that went along with it. His filmmaking has been VindicatedByHistory, and many modern directors (most notably Creator/WesAnderson) have been influenced by his work.

His next film, ''Film/HaroldAndMaude'', recovered from a poor initial reception to become one the most famous and beloved CultClassics of all time. After that Ashby swiftly became an A-list director, working with the likes of Creator/JackNicholson, Creator/WarrenBeatty, Creator/JaneFonda and Creator/PeterSellers. His films garnered near-universal acclaim, did well at the box office, and won multiple Oscars.

After this incredible run in TheSeventies, Ashby's career collapsed once TheEighties rolled around. Frequent battles over what he perceived as ExecutiveMeddling and rumors of [[ArtisticStimulation excessive drug use]] made it hard to find employment.