Richard Fleischer
Richard Fleischer was a talented American filmmaker who had a prolific and varied career spanning over four decades. Born in 1917, Fleischer was the son of animation pioneer Max Fleischer, the creator of the iconic Betty Boop cartoon character. It seemed that filmmaking was in Fleischer's blood, as he began his career in the 1940s directing B movies including film noirs such as Trapped! (1949) and Armored Car Robbery (1950). In the 50s and 60s, Fleischer shifted to directing big-budget films like the sci-fi adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), the religious epic Barabbas (1961), and the musical comedy Doctor Dolittle (1967). He continued to work in a variety of genres throughout the 70s and 80s, directing everything from dystopian sci-fi in Soylent Green (1973) to sword and sorcery in Conan the Destroyer (1984). Fleischer worked with many of the top Hollywood stars of his time, leaving behind an impressive body of work and a lasting impact on the film industry. Some of his films from throughout his varied career are made available for free online, and we've featured them here.
