Steven Spielberg has David Lynch Paid tribute, who died today, Thursday (January 16, 2025) at the age of 78.
“I loved David’s films,” said the director, who is a year younger. “’Blue Velvet,’ ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘The Elephant Man’ defined him as a unique, visionary dreamer who made films that felt handmade. I met David when he played John Ford in ‘The Fablemans’. Here was one of my heroes – David Lynch played one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene from one of David’s own films. The world will miss such an original and unique voice. His films have stood the test of time and always will.”
David Lynch demonstrated comedic talent
The fact that Steven Spielberg first met David Lynch on the set of “Fabelmans” seems a bit made up. Despite his complicated relationship with the Hollywood studio system, David Lynch ended up being a household name in the Los Angeles circuit of California filmmakers. David Lynch received three Oscar nominations for Best Director. 1980 for “The Elephant Man”, 1986 for “Blue Velvet” and 2001 for “Mulholland Drive”. He was never able to escape Hollywood, even though he would have liked to after the “Dune” debacle of 1984.
David Lynch was also a passable actor. Especially in his own films. While he only played a cameo-like Spice pilot in “Dune,” he demonstrated impressive comedic talent as Agent Cole in the “Twin Peaks” series and the “Fire Walk With Me” movie:
Steven Spielberg then cast David Lynch in his autobiographical film “The Fablemans” from 2021. Spielberg’s alter ego, at a young age, meets the aging director star John Ford, played by David Lynch, in the Universal Lot. And asks him for advice. John Ford was a disgusting person who liked to treat everyone like dirt. Since David Lynch looked like Ford with an eye patch and could also smoke a cigar like Ford, he was basically set. Even if no one could have guessed this connection (Spielberg is a genius).
“So you wanna be a picture maker,” says Ford to the young film Spielberg. “Why?” The Business… it will rip you apart.” John Ford then explains to the young talent where the horizon should be looked for in each picture. That is the most important advice.
David Lynch as John Ford:
And, finally: “Now remember this. When the horizon is at the bottom, it’s interesting. When the horizon is at the top, it’s interesting. When the horizon is in the middle – it’s boring as shit. Now, good luck to you. And get the fuck out of my office!”