Biografía

Schlesinger envisioned a cast of Al Pacino, Julie Christie and Laurence Olivier for Marathon Man (1976). Pacino has said that the only actress he had ever wanted to work with was Christie, who he claimed was "the most poetic of actresses". Producer Robert Evans, who disparaged the vertically challenged Pacino as The Midget when Francis Ford Coppola wanted him for El padrino (1972) and had thought of firing him during the early shooting of the now-classic film, vetoed Pacino for the lead. Instead, Evans insisted on the casting of the even-shorter Dustin Hoffman! On her part, Christie -- who was notoriously finicky about accepting parts, even in prestigious, sure-fire material -- turned down the female lead, which was then taken by Marthe Keller (who, ironically, became Pacino's lover after co-starring with him in Un instante, una vida (1977)). Of his dream cast, Schlesinger only got Olivier, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. "Marathon Man" was his last unqualified hit as a film director.

Directed eight different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Burgess Meredith and Laurence Olivier. Christie won an Oscar for Darling (1965).

While shooting Marathon Man (1976), Schlesinger realized he had no idea of how to stage a fight, so he watched other films to see how it was done.

Seeing the film Darling (1965) inspired Madonna to pick John Schlesinger to direct her in the film Algo casi perfecto (2000).

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Cowboy de medianoche (1969).

Making a film is like going down a mine--once you've started you bid a metaphorical goodbye to the daylight and the outside world for the duration.

What I tend to go for, and what interests me, is not the hero but the coward . . . not the success, but the failure.

[on his acting days] I wasn't a very good actor. I wouldn't have cast myself if I'd come to see myself.

A lot of claptrap is talked about The Method as though the British actor didn't have one. It's just that we tend to be quieter about it.

The days of dealing with one despot are over. Now it's clearly with a whole group of frightened committee people.