O.K. Jonathan Demme is out of the list of one hit wonders. Thanks for pointing out the other great flicks he made as a director.

That leaves Michael Cimino, doesn't it?

Yeah I agree. Heaven's Gate has its proponents (though I haven't seen it) but he's still pretty much the poster boy, ain't he?

Also, Jonathan Demme made Something Wild, which is an excellent movie, a weird one though, as the first half is a raunchy comedy and the second half is a full blown thriller.

How about Michael Cimino? I guess I don't need to add anything, but I add just a few notes. I absolutely love The Deer Hunter, even though it has its problems (pacing, editing, heavy-handed symbolism) I think it's an all time classic. I know I should be punished for this, but I haven't seen "Heaven's Gate" yet (will do ASAP), but of course I read a lot about it. Year of the Dragon did nothing for me and I didn't even bother to see flicks like The Sicilian. Am I buying too much into badmouthing perhaps?
As a writer: well I kind of like "Silent Running" - emphasize on "kind of".

I'll throw in another name. Jonathan Demme. He might be a two hit wonder as a director (Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia - which I find both excellent). What other significant/good movie did he direct before or after?

And of course, there's always Charles Laughton and The Night of the Hunter...the only film he ever directed.

Just read through the thread and surprised nobody mentioned what is probably the definitive one hit. if they did i apologize for missing it.

Hollowayfail.

Hi James, slightly lost on that one ?
Rob

I was just teasing you because you said no one mentioned Night of the Hunter when Sexy Chocolate, in fact, did.

I'll throw in another name. Jonathan Demme. He might be a two hit wonder as a director (Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia - which I find both excellent). What other significant/good movie did he direct before or after?

Stop Making Sense, the best concert film ever made.

Now that is a statement of pure fact. Most concert films make you just want to go see the live version, but Stop Making Sense is a true, filmic work of art. Score, Mr Demme. (Um, and Mr Byrne.)

William Peter Blatty, anyone?

While he's technically not a one-hit wonder, apart from "True Romance," Tony Scott has made a ton of not-bad but totally generic and disposable movies.

I dunno. I think T.Scott is all right. Less pretentious than his sometimes overrated and somewhat arrogant brother.

Agreed, Ridley hasn't been very impressive lately with crap like Kingdom Of Heaven and Robin Hood.

Kingdom of Heaven:Director's Cut fixed many of the story problems of the theatrical cut, but if you thought the theatrical cut was too long or you weren't buying the overall story, then you'd probably still think it was "crap". For me, the re-cut probably added an extra "star" to the rating of the movie.