R.I.P. BERT SCHNEIDER

Bert Schneider, (c) Los Angeles Times

Bert Schneider died last night. He was an enormously important figure in Hollywood in the 1960s and 70s, contributing to what has variously been called the "New Hollywood" and the American New Wave, producing landmark pictures like Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and The Last Picture Show. Due to the circumstances under which he found himself in the middle-late 60s, Schneider had to bet pretty much everything he had in the world on every picture he produced. That kind of thing is unsustainable because it's so draining, but it takes balls. And whatever else you can say about the cat, he had massive ones. So raise a glass, and salute one of the singular figures in the American cinema.