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'{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = John D. Hancock | image = | caption = | birthname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|02|12}} | birth_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], US | alma_mater = [[Harvard University]] | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Director, producer, screenwriter }} '''John D. Hancock''' (born February 12, 1939) is an American stage and film director, producer and writer. He is perhaps best known for his work on ''[[Bang the Drum Slowly (film)|Bang the Drum Slowly]]''. Hancock's theatrical work includes direction of both classic and contemporary plays, from Shakespeare to [[Saul Bellow]].<ref name=filmacres.com /> ==Early life== John was born in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], US, the son of Ralph and Ella Mae Rosenthal Hancock.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} His father was a musician with the [[NBC Symphony Orchestra]] in Chicago, Illinois, and his mother a schoolteacher. Hancock spent his youth between their home in Chicago and their fruit farm in [[La Porte, Indiana]]. In high school he was the Assistant Concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Orchestra playing the violin.<ref name=filmacres.com>[http://filmacres.wordpress.com/john-hancock/ John D. Hancock] at Filmacres.com</ref> Hancock graduated from [[Harvard University]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} He continued his theatrical studies in Europe with a grant from Harvard<ref name="spy thriller drama" /> and observed [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s [[Berliner Ensemble]].<ref name=filmacres.com /> Joschvjosdhvowjdhfjkdsfdsdfrfdfd ==Career== He made his directorial debut at age 22 with the [[Off-Broadway]] hit production of [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s ''[[Man Equals Man]]''.<ref name=IOBDB>[http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&keyword=name&first=John&last=Hancock&middle= John Hancock] at the Internet Off-Broadway Database, Lortel Archives, Lucille Lortel Foundation</ref> This was followed by [[Robert Lowell]]'s ''Endicott and the Red Cross''. In 1968, Hancock directed [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', which won him the [[Obie Award]] for Distinguished Director for the 1967–68 season.<ref name=IOBDB /> ''Cue Magazine'' noted, "This brutal, vulgar, and erotic production of Shakespeare's sex fantasy is the most original and arresting I've ever witnessed. This is the best of all the Dreams and an important pioneering effort in re-interpreting the play."<ref>''Cue Magazine'', 1967.</ref> Hancock's success on the New York stage led to his appointment as Artistic Director of the famed San Francisco [[Actor's Workshop]] in 1965.<ref>Stone, Judith. "Making A Small Miracle", ''The New York Times'', January 2, 1966.</ref> He later was appointed Artistic Director of the [[Pittsburgh Playhouse]]<ref>Novick, Julius (1968). ''Beyond Broadway The Quest for Permanent Theatres'' New York: Hill and Wang, SBN 8090-0547-6, p31-35</ref> and The New Repertory Theatre in New York City. Hancock worked closely on several occasions with playwright and author [[Tennessee Williams]],<ref name=filmacres.com /> who stated in his book ''Memoirs'' that Hancock was "the only director who has ever suggested to me transpositions of material that were artistically effective..."<ref>Williams, Tennessee (1975, 2006). ''Memoirs, With An Introduction By John Waters'', New York: A New Directions Book, ISBN 978-0-8112-1669-2, p.201.</ref> In 1970, his "Sticky My Fingers... Fleet My Feet" was nominated for a [[Academy Award for Live Action Short Film|Short-Subject Live-Action]] [[Academy Award]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Hancock directed the short film with a grant from the [[American Film Institute]]. [[CBS]] purchased the film and aired it during halftime of their Thanksgiving football game. It was released nationally with the [[Woody Allen]] feature ''[[Bananas (film)|Bananas]]''. As a feature film director, he is best known for the 1973 film ''[[Bang the Drum Slowly (film)|Bang the Drum Slowly]]'', starring [[Robert De Niro]] and [[Michael Moriarty]]. Hancock's other early film credits were ''[[Let's Scare Jessica to Death]]'' (1971)<ref>{{cite news | url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C02E7DB163DEF34BC4051DFBE66838A669EDE | title=Let's Scare Jessica to Death | authorlink=Roger Greenspun |first= Roger |last= Greenspun| newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | accessdate=May 5, 2011 | date=August 28, 1971}}</ref> and ''[[Baby Blue Marine]]'' (1976). He worked on ''[[Jaws 2]]'' (1978) before being removed from the production. Hancock served on the Board of Trustees for the [[American Film Institute]] between 1973–1977.<ref name="American Film Institute">[http://www.AmericanFilmInstitute.com American Film Institute]</ref> A very difficult and controversial period that surrounded Hancock involved ''[[Jaws 2]]'' which impacted his career as a director. Hancock did not have the experience to deal with the bureaucracy and became a pawn between the powerful political Hollywood studio players.<ref name="safe companion">Jankiewicy, Patrick. (2009) ''Just When You Thought It Ws Safe: A JAWS Companion'', BearManor Media, Albany, Georgia, p.190, ISBN 1593933347</ref> He was the original director of ''Jaws 2'', and his wife Dorothy Tristan did rewrites of the original screenplay by [[Howard Sackler]], who had recommended Hancock for the job. Hancock ran into trouble with MCA executive [[Sid Sheinberg]]. Sheinberg suggested to Hancock and Tristan that his wife [[Lorraine Gary]] "should go out on a boat and help to rescue the kids." When told of the idea, producer [[Richard D. Zanuck]] replied, "Over my dead body." "Obviously, what I should have done then was to get Zanuck and Sheinberg in the same room and say, 'Okay, you guys should give me direction, because I really don't want to get between you two.' I was caught between these huge forces like a babe in the woods and paid the price for it. ''Jaws 2'' is a very bitter, painful experience that took years to recover from."<ref name="safe companion" /> In June 1977, after a meeting with the producers and Universal executives, the director was abruptly fired. Production was shut down for a few weeks. They had been involved in the film for eighteen months.<ref>{{cite book | last=Loynd |first=Ray |year=1978 |title=The Jaws 2 Log |location=London |publisher=W.H. Allen |isbn=0-426-18868-3 |page=70}}</ref> [[Jeannot Szwarc]] was hired to take over as director, and the script was rewritten by [[Carl Gottlieb]]. He followed this experience with ''[[California Dreaming (1979 film)|California Dreaming]]'' (1979). In the 1980s and 1990s, Hancock directed episodes of NBC's ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''<ref name="filmacres.com"/> and CBS's [[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|''The Twilight Zone'' (1985 series)]].<ref name="filmacres.com"/> He directed the prison film ''[[Weeds (film)|Weeds]]'' (1987) starring [[Nick Nolte]] and the holiday family movie ''[[Prancer (film)|Prancer]]'' (1989). In 1998, Hancock opened his production company FilmAcres in LaPorte, Indiana,<ref name="about filmacres">{{cite web| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20020407151336/http://www.filmacres.com/FILMACRE.HTML |url= http://www.filmacres.com/FILMACRE.HTML| archivedate= April 7, 2002 | title= FilmAcres |accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref> where he spent some of his childhood. In 1999, he produced and directed ''[[A Piece of Eden]]'' starring [[Tyne Daly]]. It is a semi-autobiographical story about a fruit farm and the relationship between a father and his son. The suspense thriller ''[[Suspended Animation (film)|Suspended Animation]]'' was directed by Hancock in 2001. Hancock wrote and directed the play ''The Brother'' in 2007 for a 12-week run at the Theatre Building in Chicago.<ref name=tables>{{cite news| title='Brother' turns tables on Rosenberg story |url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-09-07/entertainment/0709050228_1_brother-of-ethel-rosenberg-david-greenglass-rosenberg-case |date= September 7, 2007| first= Nina |last= Metz |newspaper= [[Chicago Tribune]] | accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref> The spy thriller is based on the book written by Sam Roberts, a noted author and ''New York Times'' reporter and editor.<ref name="spy thriller drama">{{cite web| title= Acclaimed filmmaker John Hancock returns to the theatre with production of a spy thriller drama | date= August 10, 2007 | publisher=ReelChicago.com | url=http://www.reelchicago.com/article/acclaimed-filmmaker-john-hancock-returns-theatre-production-spy-thriller-drama|accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name=tables /> The play is based mostly on the untold story of David Greenglass who turned in [[Julius and Ethel Rosenberg]] for giving atomic bomb secrets to the Russians. "It (''The Brother)'' is incredibly powerful. It is exceptional and really not to be missed."<ref>Kleinman, Kelly. "Dueling Critics, Pick of the Week", ''Eight Forty-Eight'', Chicago Public Radio [[WBEZ]], September 9, 2007.</ref> In 2007, Hancock also directed a 12-week run of the [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Pulitzer-winner]] ''[[night, Mother]]'' starring Elaine Rivkin and Dorothy Tristan at the Theatre Building in Chicago which opened to rave reviews from the ''Chicago Reader''.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/night-mother/Content?oid=925981| first= Albert | last= Williams | title= 'night, Mother | newspaper= [[Chicago Reader]] | date= September 20, 2007 | accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref> In July 2009, ''[[Noises Off]]'', under direction by Hancock, received generally positive reviews and sell out houses at the Wellfleet Harbor Arts Theatre Julie Harris Stage in [[Cape Cod]], [[Massachusetts]].<ref>Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT), August 2009</ref> "...Hancock displays his ability to make a play flow smoothly. A fast-paced romp from beginning to end. A backstage pass to hilarity."<ref>{{cite news| last= Watters |first= John |title= WHAT's ''Noises Off'' puts laughter center stage| newspaper= [[Barnstable Patriot]] | date= July 10, 2009 | url= http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18477&Itemid=34 | accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref> "Director John Hancock is working here almost more as traffic cop or circus ringmaster or knife juggler as he skillfully keeps his nine actors racing through meticulous comedic choreography."<ref>{{cite news| last= Driscoll |first= Kathi Scrizzi |title= WHAT's 'Noises Off' whips right along |newspaper= [[Cape Cod Times]] |date= July 2, 2009 | url= http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090702/LIFE/307029907 | accessdate= April 11, 2013}}</ref> ==Awards== *Brandeis University – Citation in Film – it reads in part: "His flair for warm comedy, gentle satire and strong emotional sensitivity combine to fashion motion pictures that are increasingly hailed by critics and audiences alike."<ref>Bernstein, Marvin H. Citation in Film. President Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, 1978</ref> *Creative Arts Award Commission for "Sticky My Fingers...Fleet My Feet" *Outstanding Achievement Critics Choice – "Sticky My Fingers...Fleet My Feet". American Film Institute<ref name="American Film Institute"/> *The Christopher Award<ref name=filmacres.com /> *First prize at Karlovy Vary<ref name=filmacres.com /> ==Personal life== Hancock's marriage to Ann Arensberg ended in divorce in 1974. He married actress/screenwriter [[Dorothy Tristan]] in December 1975. He has worked with Tristan on several projects. ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == *{{IMDb name|0359386}} *[http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&keyword=name&first=John&last=Hancock&middle= John Hancock] at the Internet Off-Broadway Database {{John D. Hancock}} {{Authority control|VIAF=2673140}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Hancock, John D. | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American director, producer, writer | DATE OF BIRTH = February 12, 1939 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Kansas City, Missouri, United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, John D.}} [[Category:American film directors]] [[Category:American film producers]] [[Category:American screenwriters]] [[Category:American theatre directors]] [[Category:People from Kansas City, Missouri]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1939 births]]'