Robert Altman: Career, Style, and Legacy in American Cinema

Introduction: Altman and the American Cinema Renaissance

In the 1970s — an era acknowledged far and wide as the renaissance of American filmmaking — hardly any filmmaker enjoyed the degree of prominence that Robert Altman did. Altman was an iconoclast, and his art severely altered, if not undermined, established moviemaking conventions. He revived and parodied musical, Western, and crime drama genres, openly challenging the sterile pretense of mainstream cinema by developing a world of film that was strikingly expansive and intentionally messy — bursting with characters, plot lines, images, and sounds.

Famous for his innovative brand of improvisational and overlapping dialogue, and recognized as a master of contemporary camera technique, Robert Altman's career was, at best, a bumpy one. Nevertheless, he remains a key figure of modern cinema: a true individualist responsible for several defining motion pictures of his era (Robert Altman, n.d.). This essay describes Altman's background, the beginnings of his career, the recurring qualities in his films, his distinctive shooting style, and the major awards he received during his lifetime.

Early Life and Background

Robert Altman was born to Helen and B.C. Altman — an insurance salesperson — on February 20, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri. He enrolled at St. Peter's Catholic School at the age of six and later attended a Catholic high school before transferring to Rockhurst High School. It was during this period that he began exploring sound through inexpensive tape recorders available at the time. He subsequently attended Wentworth Military Academy Junior College, and in 1945 joined the United States Air Force, where he copiloted a B-24.

After leaving the military, Altman became captivated by movies. He and his first wife, LaVonne Elmer, moved to Hollywood, where he tried his hand at acting — making an appearance in the 1947 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty — as well as screenwriting. He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1948 film Bodyguard and, though uncredited, wrote the story for the 1947 film Christmas Eve. He also pursued songwriting, composing a musical called "The Rumors Are Flying," intended for Broadway. Despite these varied efforts, Altman was unable to establish himself in Hollywood. After a brief stint as a publicity director for a dog-tattooing firm, he quit and returned to his hometown of Kansas City, where he ultimately committed to a serious career in filmmaking.