John Frankenheimer, a native New Yorker, grew up in the vibrant borough of Queens, where he nurtured a childhood dream of becoming a professional tennis player. However, his fascination with the silver screen soon took precedence, and he became enamored with the charismatic Robert Mitchum, one of his favorite actors. As he delved deeper into the world of cinema, Frankenheimer's aspirations shifted from acting to behind-the-scenes work.
In a surprising turn of events, he joined the Motion Picture Squadron of the Air Force, where he discovered his natural aptitude for handling a camera. Upon his military discharge, Frankenheimer began his television career in 1953, impressing CBS with his skills as an assistant director. Initially, his primary responsibility consisted of working as a cameraman, but he eventually transitioned to directing the shows he was working on.
Despite his success in television, Frankenheimer's true passion lay in directing live television. However, the advent of tape recordings and the decline of live television forced him to reassess his career path. He made the bold decision to transition to feature films, making his debut with The Young Stranger in 1957. Unfortunately, this experience left him disillusioned, as he felt out of his element working with a single camera.
Undeterred, Frankenheimer returned to his successful television career, directing a total of 152 live television shows between 1954 and 1960. He eventually mustered the courage to take another stab at feature filmmaking, collaborating with Burt Lancaster on The Young Savages in 1961. This marked the beginning of his journey as a successful filmmaker, renowned for exploring critical social and philosophical themes in his films.
