DIRTY HARRY Co-Writer Dean Riesner Dead...
August 26th, 2002
According to the Associated Press, one of the writers behind some of Clint Eastwoods most popular films passed away early last week. Dean Riesner (83) died of natural causes at his Encino home. Best known for helping to pen (he was a co-writer) Eastwoods most famous lines in movies such as DIRTY HARRY and THE ENFORCER. He also co-wrote for the actor the cop-action film COOGANS BUFF. Riesners first motion picture credit was for CODE OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1939), before which he was an actor. Riesner, born in New York, was the son of silent film director Charles Riesner. His film career started at age 5 when he played roles in his father's films. Interestingly enough, he appeared in the Charlie Chaplin film THE PILGRIM (1923), under the name Dinky Riesner.
"He was able to bring an economy of language and make scenes come alive," said director and longtime friend Sean Cunningham told the AP. "He left room for the actors and the director to function, but he always drove the story forward."
In the 1970s, Riesner wrote for television while continuing his feature film writing, including an adaptation of Irwin Shaw's popular novel RICH MAN, POOR MAN. By the 1980s he was a script doctor doing unaccredited rewrites on such movies as DAS BOOT, BLUE THUNDER, THE STING, and STAR MAN. His last feature film credit was for FATAL BEAUTY in 1987, which starred Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott.
(Source: Associated Press)
"He was able to bring an economy of language and make scenes come alive," said director and longtime friend Sean Cunningham told the AP. "He left room for the actors and the director to function, but he always drove the story forward."
In the 1970s, Riesner wrote for television while continuing his feature film writing, including an adaptation of Irwin Shaw's popular novel RICH MAN, POOR MAN. By the 1980s he was a script doctor doing unaccredited rewrites on such movies as DAS BOOT, BLUE THUNDER, THE STING, and STAR MAN. His last feature film credit was for FATAL BEAUTY in 1987, which starred Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott.
(Source: Associated Press)
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