It isn’t a good time to be a great film director…

We’ve recently parted ways with Ingmar Bergman, Michelangelo Antonioni, Kon Ichikawa, and Antony Minghella (who may not be great, but is definitely worth mentioning). I’m sad to say that you can now add Jules Dassin to that list. Dassin was probably best known for his heist films and love of the Hollywood crime genre. Films of note include Rififi, Brute Force, The Naked City, Thieves’ Highway, and Night and the City:

His promising career hit a snag when he was named as a Communist in 1952, blacklisted, and forced to continue his career outside the U.S. Fleeing to France, he directed Rififi, which has influenced countless filmmakers with its 30-minute dialogue-free heist sequence, as well as Dassin’s eye for the Parisian underworld. Other post-blacklist Dassin films included The Law and He Who Must Die.

Even after the lifting of the blacklist, Dassin remained in Europe, makiing such films as Never on Sunday and Topkapi, both of which starred his future wife, Melina Mercouri. Along with their cinematic collaborations, Dassin and Mercouri remained active in politics, working to help restore democracy to Greece during the rule of dictator Stylianos Pattakos.

Dassin, who in a strange irony was arguably more productive and influential after his blacklisting, was 96 years old. Take a moment of silence to remember this master of the medium. Better yet, take half an hour. [Screengrab]

to learn more about his film Rififi.

to learn more about his film Brute Force.

to learn more about his film The Naked City.

to learn more about his film Night and the City.

to learn more about his film Thieves Highway