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John Byrum is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter and Producer American born on 14 march 1947
John Byrum (March 14, 1947 – ) is an American film director and writer known for The Razor's Edge, Heart Beat, Duets and Inserts.
Raised in Winnetka, Illinois, on the North Shore of Chicago, Byrum attended New Trier High School, and later studied at New York University in the late 1960s. His instructors included Haig P. Manoogian and graduate student Martin Scorsese, and classmates Oliver Stone and Eric Jenkins. At NYU he co-wrote "Item 72-D, The Adventures of Spa and Fon" with director Edward Summer.
As a student, Byrum interned with Jim Henson on early appearances of The Muppets and was later hired by Henson as one of the original writers of Sesame Street. Henson took a special interest in Byrum's talent, and hired him to write freelance projects. Byrum left New York for Hollywood after Byrum's original script Inserts received positive reaction and he was tapped to write the script Harry and Walter Go to New York by producers and mentors Don Devlin, Tony Bill, and Harry Gittes.
After that script was sold for a then-record-breaking amount, Byrum was hired to write the Diana Ross vehicle Mahogany. He passed on the chance to write the script for "Jaws" in order to work on "Mahogany" with one of his idols, director Tony Richardson, only to have Richardson leave the film mid-production after clashing with producer Berry Gordy of Motown fame. Berry took over directing chores and it is said that the true drama of Mahogany was the behind-the-camera relationship between Berry Gordy and Diana Ross.
Byrum directed his first feature film Inserts with stars Richard Dreyfuss, Jessica Harper, Veronica Cartwright, Stephen Davies, and Bob Hoskins. Byrum followed soon after as writer/director of Heart Beat starring Nick Nolte, John Heard, and Sissy Spacek, as Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, and Carolyn Cassady. It was on this film that Byrum started his long collaborative relationship and friendship with composer Jack Nitzsche. Byrum teamed with "Mahogany" producer Rob Cohen which resulted "Scandalous" and "The Razor's Edge", the 1984 film directed by Byrum based on the W. Somerset Maugham novel starring Bill Murray in his first dramatic role as "Larry Darrell", co-starring Catherine Hicks, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliot, and James Keach. Byrum and Murray co-wrote the screenplay. The film faltered with critics and audiences, as most were not ready to accept Murray in a non-comedic role. In later years the film achieved cult status and many fans have traveled to its international locations, to replicate Larry's spiritual journey.
Following the box office failure of The Razor's Edge, a financially strapped Byrum directed the goofy comedy The Whoopee Boys starring Michael O'Keefe and Paul Rodriguez, as well as a cameo part by Byrum's former wife Linda Fiorentino.
Byrum created, wrote and produced several television series including Middle Ages starring Peter Riegert, Michael O'Keefe, Amy Brenneman, and William Russ, about a group of friends attempting to deal with the onset of their 40's on the North Shore of Chicago; South of Sunset starring Glenn Frey of The Eagles fame, as an unconventional Los Angeles detective; and Winnetka Road starring Josh Brolin, Meg Tilly, Paige Turco and Ed Begley, Jr., again, dealing with life on Chicago's North Shore. Byrum's television movie Murder in High Places starred Ted Levine as a Hunter Thompson-like character who is elected mayor of a Colorado ski resort, which showcased a young Lisa Kudrow in one of her first acting roles.
Byrum was scheduled to direct his original script of karaoke road trip dramedy "Duets" when he was felled by a serious case of Lyme Disease that had gone long undiagnosed. Byrum's friend Bruce Paltrow wanted to direct "Duets" with his daughter Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the six ensemble characters. Brad Pitt was attached to co-star with Paltrow, his fiancee at the time, but when their engagement ended, the film's financing faltered once again. "Duets" was filmed several years later with Scott Speedman in the role originally chosen by Pitt, along with Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, and Huey Lewis.
John Byrum resides in Santa Monica, California and Redding, Connecticut with his wife Karin Reznack.
(1975)
(Scriptwriter)
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John Byrum
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Raised in Winnetka, Illinois, on the North Shore of Chicago, Byrum attended New Trier High School, and later studied at New York University in the late 1960s. His instructors included Haig P. Manoogian and graduate student Martin Scorsese, and classmates Oliver Stone and Eric Jenkins. At NYU he co-wrote "Item 72-D, The Adventures of Spa and Fon" with director Edward Summer.
As a student, Byrum interned with Jim Henson on early appearances of The Muppets and was later hired by Henson as one of the original writers of Sesame Street. Henson took a special interest in Byrum's talent, and hired him to write freelance projects. Byrum left New York for Hollywood after Byrum's original script Inserts received positive reaction and he was tapped to write the script Harry and Walter Go to New York by producers and mentors Don Devlin, Tony Bill, and Harry Gittes.
After that script was sold for a then-record-breaking amount, Byrum was hired to write the Diana Ross vehicle Mahogany. He passed on the chance to write the script for "Jaws" in order to work on "Mahogany" with one of his idols, director Tony Richardson, only to have Richardson leave the film mid-production after clashing with producer Berry Gordy of Motown fame. Berry took over directing chores and it is said that the true drama of Mahogany was the behind-the-camera relationship between Berry Gordy and Diana Ross.
Byrum directed his first feature film Inserts with stars Richard Dreyfuss, Jessica Harper, Veronica Cartwright, Stephen Davies, and Bob Hoskins. Byrum followed soon after as writer/director of Heart Beat starring Nick Nolte, John Heard, and Sissy Spacek, as Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, and Carolyn Cassady. It was on this film that Byrum started his long collaborative relationship and friendship with composer Jack Nitzsche. Byrum teamed with "Mahogany" producer Rob Cohen which resulted "Scandalous" and "The Razor's Edge", the 1984 film directed by Byrum based on the W. Somerset Maugham novel starring Bill Murray in his first dramatic role as "Larry Darrell", co-starring Catherine Hicks, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliot, and James Keach. Byrum and Murray co-wrote the screenplay. The film faltered with critics and audiences, as most were not ready to accept Murray in a non-comedic role. In later years the film achieved cult status and many fans have traveled to its international locations, to replicate Larry's spiritual journey.
Following the box office failure of The Razor's Edge, a financially strapped Byrum directed the goofy comedy The Whoopee Boys starring Michael O'Keefe and Paul Rodriguez, as well as a cameo part by Byrum's former wife Linda Fiorentino.
Byrum created, wrote and produced several television series including Middle Ages starring Peter Riegert, Michael O'Keefe, Amy Brenneman, and William Russ, about a group of friends attempting to deal with the onset of their 40's on the North Shore of Chicago; South of Sunset starring Glenn Frey of The Eagles fame, as an unconventional Los Angeles detective; and Winnetka Road starring Josh Brolin, Meg Tilly, Paige Turco and Ed Begley, Jr., again, dealing with life on Chicago's North Shore. Byrum's television movie Murder in High Places starred Ted Levine as a Hunter Thompson-like character who is elected mayor of a Colorado ski resort, which showcased a young Lisa Kudrow in one of her first acting roles.
Byrum was scheduled to direct his original script of karaoke road trip dramedy "Duets" when he was felled by a serious case of Lyme Disease that had gone long undiagnosed. Byrum's friend Bruce Paltrow wanted to direct "Duets" with his daughter Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the six ensemble characters. Brad Pitt was attached to co-star with Paltrow, his fiancee at the time, but when their engagement ended, the film's financing faltered once again. "Duets" was filmed several years later with Scott Speedman in the role originally chosen by Pitt, along with Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, and Huey Lewis.
John Byrum resides in Santa Monica, California and Redding, Connecticut with his wife Karin Reznack.
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(1975)(Scriptwriter)
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Filmography of John Byrum (10 films)
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The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
Genres Comedy, Adventure
Themes Christmas films
Actors Art Carney, Jim Henson, Fran Brill, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz
Roles Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Rating70%
The special, narrated by Ed Sullivan, begins at the North Pole with Santa Claus and his Christmas Elves getting ready for another Christmas. However, Cosmo Scam has hatched a plan to kidnap Santa and take his place. As part of the plan, Cosmo plans to abduct Santa's Christmas Elves one by one and replace them with his evil henchmen.
Director
The Whoopee Boys (1986)
, 1h28Directed by John Byrum
Genres Comedy, Romance
Actors Michael O'Keefe, Paul Rodriguez, Denholm Elliott, Carole Shelley, Eddie Deezen, Marsha Warfield
Rating57%
Two dim-witted street peddlers, Jack and Barney, arrive in Palm Beach, Florida looking for a better and wealthy lifestyle when Jack falls for Olivia, a young heiress running a shelter for orphaned children which is threatened with foreclosure. Jack, at Barney's insistence, enrolls both of them at a finishing school to learn the ways of the upper classes in order to fit in and hope Oliva's uncle will approve of Jack wanting to marry her and help her obtain an inheritance to save the orphanage
The Razor's Edge (1984)
, 2h8Directed by John Byrum
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliott, Catherine Hicks, James Keach, Peter Vaughan
Rating63%
The film opens in 1917 Illinois at a fair planned to raise money to support Gray Maturin and Larry Darrell, who are joining World War I as ambulance drivers in the period before America joins the war. Larry looks forward to returning home to marry his longtime sweetheart Isabel. Larry shares a final night with Isabel watching the fireworks along with Gray, their close friend Sophie, and her husband Bob. At the front, commanding officer Piedmont schools his new men on the harsh reality of war. For example, he has both armed, because in spite of it being an ambulance unit and America's neutrality, the enemy can and will kill those helping the Allies. He also destroys the headlights and windows of a fellow ambulance truck because the lights will signal enemies to their unit. Larry adapts quickly, shooting the headlights and windows of his own truck.
Heart Beat (1980)
, 1h50Directed by John Byrum
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography
Themes Films about writers
Actors Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, John Heard, Ray Sharkey, Ann Dusenberry, Tony Bill
Rating57%
The film explores the love triangle of real-life characters Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, and Carolyn Cassady in the late 1950s and the 1960s. It chronicles Jack Kerouac writing his seminal novel On the Road, and its effect on their lives.
Inserts (1975)
, 1h57Directed by John Byrum
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Films about pornography
Actors Richard Dreyfuss, Veronica Cartwright, Jessica Harper, Bob Hoskins
Rating62%
Prior to the opening credits we see portions of the stag film that is shot in the course of the movie. Voices are overheard that make it apparent that men and women are watching this in the present day. At the end a man complains that there was no "Come shot", something that will later develop into a plot point.
Scriptwriter
Duets (2000)
, 1h52Directed by Bruce Paltrow
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Road movies
Actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman
Roles Writer
Rating60%
The story revolves around unrelated pairs of people who spend time in karaoke bars across the United States in the week leading up to a big contest in Omaha.
Scandalous (1984)
, 1h32Directed by Rob Cohen
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Actors Robert Hays, M. Emmet Walsh, John Gielgud, Pamela Stephenson, Ron Cook, Jim Dale
Roles Story
Rating44%
The Razor's Edge (1984)
, 2h8Directed by John Byrum
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliott, Catherine Hicks, James Keach, Peter Vaughan
Rating63%
The film opens in 1917 Illinois at a fair planned to raise money to support Gray Maturin and Larry Darrell, who are joining World War I as ambulance drivers in the period before America joins the war. Larry looks forward to returning home to marry his longtime sweetheart Isabel. Larry shares a final night with Isabel watching the fireworks along with Gray, their close friend Sophie, and her husband Bob. At the front, commanding officer Piedmont schools his new men on the harsh reality of war. For example, he has both armed, because in spite of it being an ambulance unit and America's neutrality, the enemy can and will kill those helping the Allies. He also destroys the headlights and windows of a fellow ambulance truck because the lights will signal enemies to their unit. Larry adapts quickly, shooting the headlights and windows of his own truck.
Sphinx (1981)
, 1h58Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Horror
Themes Films set in Africa
Actors Lesley-Anne Down, Frank Langella, Maurice Ronet, Behrouz Vossoughi, John Gielgud, John Rhys-Davies
Rating51%
Dedicated Egyptologist Erica Baron is researching a paper about the chief architect to Pharaoh Seti. Soon after her arrival in Cairo, she witnesses the brutal murder of unscrupulous art dealer Abdu-Hamdi, meets a French journalist named Yeon, and is befriended by Akmed Khazzan, who heads the antiquities division of the United Nations. When she journeys to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor to search a tomb reportedly filled with treasures, she finds herself the target of black marketeers determined to keep the riches themselves.
Heart Beat (1980)
, 1h50Directed by John Byrum
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography
Themes Films about writers
Actors Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, John Heard, Ray Sharkey, Ann Dusenberry, Tony Bill
Roles Writer
Rating57%
The film explores the love triangle of real-life characters Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, and Carolyn Cassady in the late 1950s and the 1960s. It chronicles Jack Kerouac writing his seminal novel On the Road, and its effect on their lives.
, 1h55Directed by Mark Rydell
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Crime
Themes Buddy films, Heist films
Actors James Caan, Elliott Gould, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Charles Durning, Lesley Ann Warren
Roles Story
Rating54%
Harry Dighby (Caan) and Walter Hill (Gould) are struggling vaudevillians who are sent to jail when Dighby is caught robbing audience members. They become roommates to a cultured, wealthy, and charming bank robber named Adam Worth (Caine). Worth plans to rob the Lowell Bank and Trust, both to avenge himself on the bank manager who had arranged his capture and because his ego cannot resist the temptation of robbing a bank reputed to be perfectly secure. Though in jail, he procures detailed diagrams of the bank's security systems.
Inserts (1975)
, 1h57Directed by John Byrum
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Films about pornography
Actors Richard Dreyfuss, Veronica Cartwright, Jessica Harper, Bob Hoskins
Roles Ecrivain
Rating62%
Prior to the opening credits we see portions of the stag film that is shot in the course of the movie. Voices are overheard that make it apparent that men and women are watching this in the present day. At the end a man complains that there was no "Come shot", something that will later develop into a plot point.
Mahogany (1975)
, 1h49Directed by Tony Richardson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes La mode, Films about music and musicians, Films about sexuality, LGBT-related films, Musical films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Anthony Perkins, Beah Richards, Nina Foch
Rating60%
Tracy Chambers is a sassy industrious young woman living in the projects of Chicago who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She has worked her way up from salesgirl to secretary and assistant to the head buyer at a luxury department store (modeled after, and filmed at, Marshall Field's on State Street, Chicago).
Producer
Duets (2000)
, 1h52Directed by Bruce Paltrow
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Road movies
Actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman
Roles Producer
Rating60%
The story revolves around unrelated pairs of people who spend time in karaoke bars across the United States in the week leading up to a big contest in Omaha.