William Goldman passed away last week at age 87. The cause was reported to be complications from colon cancer and pneumonia.
Among the movies he wrote: “All The President’s Men." "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." "Marathon Man." "The Stepford Wives." "The Great Waldo Pepper." “The Hot Rock.” “Harper.” ”A Bridge Too Far." "Chaplin." "Misery." And, of course, "The Princess Bride.”
And yet, he may best be known for one line, from his books "Adventures in the Screen Trade," about Hollywood: "Nobody knows anything.”
Among the movies he wrote: “All The President’s Men." "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." "Marathon Man." "The Stepford Wives." "The Great Waldo Pepper." “The Hot Rock.” “Harper.” ”A Bridge Too Far." "Chaplin." "Misery." And, of course, "The Princess Bride.”
And yet, he may best be known for one line, from his books "Adventures in the Screen Trade," about Hollywood: "Nobody knows anything.”
- KC's View:
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Ends up that William Goldman knew quite a lot, especially about how to tell a story, and to think up lines of dialogue in movies that will live, perhaps, forever.
“Follow the money.” “Boy, I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals.” “Is it safe?” “As you wish.” “I’m your number one fan.” “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!”
Each of those lines reflects specificity of character and an enormous talent for crystallizing narrative … which is something we all should be able to do, in some measure, in our lives and our work. William Goldman knew how to tell a great story, and the movie business will miss his talent and insights.
