1. Early Life and Background
Vincent Canby's formative years were spent in Chicago, where his early education and family life laid the foundation for his later intellectual pursuits and career in criticism. His time in military service further shaped his experience before he embarked on his professional journey.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 27, 1924, Vincent Canby was the son of Katharine Anne (née Vincent) and Lloyd Canby. During his childhood, he attended a boarding school in Christchurch, Virginia. It was there that he befriended the future novelist William Styron. The two shared a strong intellectual bond, with Canby notably introducing Styron to the works of prominent authors such as E. B. White and Ernest Hemingway. Their shared literary interests led them to hitchhike to Richmond, Virginia to purchase a copy of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Following his military service, Canby returned to his studies at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1947.
1.2. Military Service
Canby's early adult life included a period of service in the United States Navy Reserve during World War II. He was commissioned as an ensign on October 13, 1942. On July 15, 1944, he reported aboard LST 679. Demonstrating dedication during his service, he was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on January 1, 1946, while the LST 679 was sailing near Japan.
2. Career
Vincent Canby's professional journey began in journalism and evolved into a highly influential career as a critic, culminating in his long tenure at The New York Times. His critical eye spanned both film and theatre, leaving a significant imprint on both fields.
2.1. Early Journalism and Criticism
Canby embarked on his journalism career in 1948, securing his first position at the Chicago Journal of Commerce. After several years, in 1951, he relocated from Chicago to New York City. There, he joined Variety as a film critic, a role he held for six years, refining his critical voice and gaining valuable experience in the field. This period at Variety prepared him for his eventual move to The New York Times.
2.2. Chief Film Critic at The New York Times
In February 1969, Vincent Canby was appointed the chief film critic for The New York Times, succeeding Renata Adler. He held this highly influential position until the early 1990s. Throughout his tenure, Canby was exceptionally prolific, writing more than one thousand film reviews. His critical approach was distinctive, known for its strong opinions and thorough analysis, which often shaped public discourse around films.
2.3. Chief Theatre Critic at The New York Times
In December 1994, Vincent Canby shifted his focus from film to theatre, taking on the role of chief theatre critic for The New York Times' Sunday edition. This transition occurred as Janet Maslin took over his previous position as the paper's chief film critic. Canby continued to serve as the chief theatre critic, applying his characteristic critical rigor to stage productions, until his death in 2000.
3. Critical Style and Characteristics
Vincent Canby's critical style was marked by strong personal opinions and a discerning eye, often leading to both fervent praise and notable controversies. He was regarded as one of the most trusted film critics in America, yet he was known for rarely giving films full marks and for having a distinct bias in his evaluations.
3.1. Praised Works and Directors
Canby was an ardent admirer and consistent supporter of certain filmmakers and their works. He frequently praised the films of directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Spike Lee, Jane Campion, Mike Leigh, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, James Ivory, Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, and Robert Altman. Woody Allen himself credited Canby's enthusiastic review of Take the Money and Run (1969) as a pivotal moment that significantly boosted his early career.
Canby's admiration extended to specific films, some of which he notably awarded top marks. These included Gary Sinise's Of Mice and Men (1992) and Sam Peckinpah's classic Western The Wild Bunch (1969), despite his critical view of Peckinpah's Straw Dogs. He also held a high regard for Japanese cinema, giving glowing reviews to films like Yasujirō Ozu's Equinox Flower (1958) and Yoshimitsu Morita's The Family Game (1983).
3.2. Criticized Works and Controversies
Despite his high standing, Canby became equally famous for his scathing critiques of films that were otherwise commercially successful or critically acclaimed. His negative reviews often generated significant public and industry reactions due to their harshness. Among the notable films he famously panned were:
- Rocky (1976)
- The Exorcist (1973)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- The Godfather Part II (1974)
- Alien (1979)
- The Thing (1982)
- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- Deliverance (1972)
- Blazing Saddles (1974)
- A Christmas Story (1983)
- Witness (1985)
- Mask (1985)
- The Natural (1984)
- Rain Man (1988)
- After Hours (1985)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
One of his most widely discussed and intensely negative reviews was for Michael Cimino's 1980 epic Western Heaven's Gate, a film that was also a significant commercial and critical failure upon its initial release.
4. Other Literary Works
Beyond his prolific work as a journalist and critic, Vincent Canby also ventured into creative writing, publishing both novels and plays. His literary contributions showcased his versatile storytelling abilities and thematic interests.
He authored two novels: Living Quarters, published in 1975, and Unnatural Scenery, released in 1979. In addition to his prose, Canby wrote several plays, including End of the War (1978), After All (1981), and The Old Flag (1984). The latter was a historical drama set during the tumultuous period of the American Civil War.
5. Personal Life
Vincent Canby maintained a private personal life, though certain aspects were known publicly. He never married. For many years, he was the companion of the English author Penelope Gilliatt, who passed away in 1993.
6. Death
Vincent Canby died on October 15, 2000, at the age of 76, at a hospital in Manhattan, New York City. His cause of death was cancer. A unique aspect of his legacy emerged posthumously when his byline appeared on the front page of The New York Times upon the death of comedian Bob Hope in July 2003. It was revealed that Canby had written the bulk of Hope's obituary several years prior to his own passing, a testament to his foresight and the comprehensive nature of his work at the newspaper.
7. Legacy and Evaluation
Vincent Canby's contributions to film and theatre criticism are widely recognized for their lasting impact on American media. His critical methodology and strong voice continue to be subjects of discussion and evaluation within academic and popular circles. His career and influence were explored in the 2009 documentary film For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism, in which contemporary critics, such as Stuart Klawans of The Nation, discussed Canby's significant role in shaping the landscape of film criticism. He remains a pivotal figure in the history of critical thought in the United States.