Biografia

Known for using slow moving dolly shots, and is especially fond of scenes with either actors speaking back-and-forth or providing a monologue without any cuts, or as few cuts as possible. His mentor, Orson Welles, said that less cuts were what separated "the men from the boys.".

Something of a film historian, he set out to interview a good many of the important directors and stars from the "Golden Age of Hollywood", interviews later compiled in a series of books he released. While his "relationships" with some of his subjects were mere brief encounters, others turned into long-lasting friendships. Among the legends he befriended were Orson Welles, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Jean Renoir, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich and Jerry Lewis.

He was offered the chance to direct O Poderoso Chefão (1972), but turned down producer Robert Evans, as did several other directors. It was only then that Evans hired Francis Ford Coppola.

Believes that his falling out with legendary director John Ford was related to his guiding long-time Ford repertory member Ben Johnson to the Academy Award. His ex-wife, Polly Platt, says that Ford didn't like Bogdanovich's treatment of her that led to a divorce. Platt stayed close to Ford until he died.

Turned down an offer to direct Chinatown (1974).

They're all so jealous in Hollywood. It's not enough to have a hit. Your best friend should also have a failure.

I've always been a self-confessed opportunist.

I always thought that the goal in movies was to extinguish disbelief.

The end of the studio system signaled the end of the great screen stars. They were the sort of actors who brought their own charismatic personas to each role they played. Audiences felt as if they knew them immediately every time they watched one of their movies.

Marlon Brando changed everything for actors. After him, everyone wanted to be Marlon. No one wanted to be a type: they all wanted to display versatility in every role. But the brilliance that Marlon had was that he had star personality that shone through in every role.