Mary Lambert | |
---|---|
Born | Helena, Arkansas, U.S. | October 13, 1951
Occupation | Film director |
Spouse | Jerome Gary |
Children | Jordan Gary |
Relatives | Blanche Lincoln (sister) |
Mary Lambert Gary (born October 13, 1951) is an American director. She has directed music videos, television episodes and feature films, mainly in the horror genre. [1]
Lambert was born in Helena, Arkansas, the daughter of Martha Kelly and Jordan Bennett Lambert III, a rice and cotton farmer. [2] Her younger sister is former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Lambert graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a B.F.A.
Lambert directed Chris Isaak‘s first music video, “Dancin’,” which earned two nominations at the 1985 MTV Music Video Awards for Most Experimental Video and Best Direction. That same year, she received a third nomination for directing Lone Justice‘s “Ways to Be Wicked,” also in the Most Experimental Video category. Lambert was the only woman nominated at the ceremony and accounted for half of the nominations in that category.
Mary Lambert directed several of Madonna's most iconic music videos during the 1980s, contributing significantly to the singer's visual identity and artistic evolution.
Lambert's collaboration with Madonna began by directing the video for "Borderline" (1984), which depicted Madonna torn between love and ambition in Los Angeles. "Borderline," filmed on location in Los Angeles, California, from January 30 to February 2, 1984. [3] The video, which juxtaposed colorful scenes in the barrio with black-and-white shots in a photography studio, tells the story of a young woman torn between her Hispanic boyfriend and a British photographer. [4]
Lambert described the process as highly improvisational, stating there was "no formula" and that they were "inventing it as we went along”. In describing the video's narrative, Lambert told Rolling Stone : "[A] boy and [a] girl enjoy simple pleasures of barrio love; girl is tempted by fame, boy gets huffy, girl gets famous, but her new beau's out-of-line reaction to a behavioral trifle (all she did was spray-paint his expensive sports car) drives her back to her true love". [5]
"Borderline" premiered on MTV in March 1984 and became one of the videos that helped establish Madonna's early image. Years later, it was included in Madonna's video compilations The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration: The Video Collection (2009). [6] [7]
Lambert went on to direct "Like a Virgin" (1984), filmed in Venice, Italy, and New York. The video, featuring Madonna in a gondola and wearing a wedding dress, incorporated symbolic imagery such as a lion, reflecting Lambert's vision of combining fantasy and reality.
In 1985, Lambert directed the "Material Girl" video, paying homage to Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes*. The video blended commentary on fame and materialism, becoming one of Madonna's most recognizable works.
Lambert's direction of "La Isla Bonita" (1987) featured Madonna portraying both a devout Catholic woman and a vibrant Flamenco dancer, exploring Latin influences and religious symbolism.
In 1989, Lambert directed "Like a Prayer," which became one of Madonna's most controversial videos due to its use of religious imagery, including burning crosses and references to stigmata. Lambert aimed to explore themes of sexual and religious ecstasy, sparking widespread debate and cementing Madonna's reputation as a provocative artist.
Through these videos, Lambert played a key role in shaping the visual narratives during a time that Madonna was being propelled to global stardom.
Mary Lambert directed Janet Jackson‘s iconic music videos for “Nasty” and “Control.” The “Control” video, known for its storyline of Jackson asserting independence from her parents, was filmed at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles – but behind the scenes, the production was fraught with challenges. [8]
Both Lambert and producer Sharon Oreck recall it as a difficult and trying experience; Oreck said in 2011 that it was her "worst nightmare" of the many videos she had produced. The crowd, which had been told that they would see Janet Jackson perform, had expected a free concert. The audience, expecting a free Janet Jackson concert, instead endured 50 takes of Jackson lip-syncing “Control.” [8]
At the time, Jackson was in the process of firing her father, Joe Jackson, as her manager. His presence loomed over the set, with Lambert and Oreck recalling how he angrily demanded $1 million in liability insurance before allowing Janet to sit on a trapeze used in the video. When Lambert and Oreck threatened to walk off the project unless the issue was addressed, the record label reluctantly stepped in, telling them, “We don't say no to Joe Jackson.” [8]
Tensions escalated further when the label requested more white audience members to be visible on camera. Lambert quietly rearranged the crowd, but when they realized what was happening, the crowd grew angry. Lambert told the record company representative that she absolutely could not go on due to the potential for violence, and he went out and explained things to the crowd, which calmed down enough to complete the video. [8]
Despite the difficulties, Lambert successfully directed the video to completion. In 1988, the song won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video, beating out her brother Michael, Whitney Houston, and Jody Watley.
Annie Lennox: Mary Lambert directed the music video for "Walking on Broken Glass," showcasing Lennox in a period setting inspired by the film Dangerous Liaisons. [9]
Mick Jagger: Lambert directed the video for "Just Another Night," featuring Jagger performing in a nightclub setting, reflecting the song's energetic rock style. [10]
The Go-Go's: She directed the video for "Turn to You," which presents a 1960s prom scenario, aligning with the band's upbeat pop-rock sound. [11]
Whitney Houston: Lambert directed the video for "So Emotional," capturing Houston's dynamic stage performance and behind-the-scenes moments, highlighting her vocal prowess. [12]
Alison Krauss: She directed the video for "When You Say Nothing at All," emphasizing Krauss's emotive performance in a simple, elegant setting. [13]
Live: Lambert directed the video for "I Alone," featuring the band's intense performance, mirroring the song's passionate lyrics. [14]
Mötley Crüe: She directed the video for "Smokin' in the Boys Room," depicting a rebellious high school scenario, aligning with the band's hard rock image. [15]
Queensrÿche: Lambert directed the video for "The Lady Wore Black," featuring the band's performance interspersed with thematic imagery, complementing the song's dark tones. [16]
Sting: She directed the video for "Russians," utilizing stark imagery to underscore the song's commentary on Cold War tensions. [17]
Debbie Harry: Lambert directed the video for "I Want That Man," showcasing Harry in a stylized, futuristic setting, reflecting the song's pop sensibilities. [18]
Tom Tom Club: She directed the video for "Genius of Love," featuring vibrant, animated sequences that match the song's eclectic style. [19]
In 1987, she released her first feature film, the stylish and controversial Siesta , starring Ellen Barkin and Jodie Foster. It was nominated for the IFP Spirit Award for Best First Feature, losing to Dirty Dancing .
She is known to horror fans for directing the 1989 adaptation of Stephen King's novel Pet Sematary and its sequel, Pet Sematary Two . [20]
More recently, Lambert directed 2005's Urban Legends: Bloody Mary and the 2011 Syfy horror film Mega Python vs. Gatoroid . [21] She also directed the 1993 Digital Pictures FMV video game Double Switch .
In 1989, Mary Lambert directed Pet Sematary , a supernatural horror film based on Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name. The project marked the first film adaptation of King's work, with King himself penning the screenplay. Starring Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby, Blaze Berdahl, Fred Gwynne, and Miko Hughes as Gage Creed, the film's title uses a sensational spelling of "pet cemetery". [3]
The film premiered on April 21, 1989, and achieved significant box office success, grossing $57.5 million on an $11.5 million budget. The popularity of the film led to a sequel, Pet Sematary Two , which was released in 1992 with Lambert returning as director. [22]
Development for the film began in 1984 when the rights were initially sold to George A. Romero for $10,000. However, Romero was unable to proceed with the project due to scheduling conflicts with Monkey Shines . [23] The project languished until the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, when Paramount Pictures faced a potential shortage of films for 1989. King's screenplay for Pet Sematary was complete, prompting Paramount to greenlight the project. [24]
When it came to selecting a director, King retained creative control and personally chose Mary Lambert. She won him over with her passion for his work and her dedication to staying true to the novel's tone and themes. [25]
Filming took place on location in Maine, honoring King's stipulation that the film be shot in the same state where the novel is set. Locations included Ellsworth, Bangor, and Mount Hope Cemetery, with King actively involved throughout production. He regularly consulted with Lambert, offering input and collaborating on key decisions to ensure the adaptation preserved the essence of his novel. [24]
During the casting process, Lambert faced resistance from studio executives. She insisted on casting two-year-old Miko Hughes as Gage Creed, despite the studio's preference for using twins, which was the standard cost-effective practice for child roles. Lambert felt Hughes had a natural talent that could not be duplicated. [26] She also fought to cast Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall, despite concerns that his previous role as Herman Munster would prevent audiences from taking him seriously. [24]
Another creative decision by Lambert involved the character of Zelda, Rachel Creed's sister. Initially, young actresses auditioned for the role, but Lambert ultimately cast Andrew Hubatsek in order to heighten the unsettling nature of the character. [27]
The film's conclusion was changed at Paramount's request. Lambert originally filmed a more ambiguous ending, in which Rachel Creed returns as an undead figure, leaving her husband's fate uncertain. However, the studio wanted a more graphic climax, resulting in reshoots to depict Rachel attacking Louis Creed. [28]
The film's soundtrack included music by the Ramones, one of King's favorite bands. Lambert, having a personal friendship with the band through her work directing music videos, requested they write and perform the track "Pet Sematary," which plays over the closing credits. [27]
She is married to Jerome Gary and has a son named Jordan. [29]
Short film
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Rapid Eye Movements [30] | Yes | No | No |
2012 | Pearl | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1986 | Under the Cherry Moon | Uncredited, [31] listed as Creative Consultant |
1987 | Siesta | |
1989 | Pet Sematary | [32] |
1991 | Grand Isle | |
1992 | Pet Sematary Two | |
1999 | Clubland | |
2000 | The In Crowd | |
2001 | Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge | |
Strange Frequency | ||
2005 | Urban Legends: Bloody Mary | |
2007 | The Attic | |
2014 | Presumed Dead in Paradise | |
Fishing Pono: Living in Harmony with the Sea | Also writer | |
2021 | A Castle for Christmas | |
2023 | Best. Christmas. Ever! | |
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Episode | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | The Goldbergs | Yes | No | "Daddy Daughter Day 2" | |
2019 | Step Up: High Water | Yes | No | "Splits" | |
2017 | Arrow | Yes | No | "The Sin-Eater" | |
2016 | The Blacklist | Yes | No | "The Director" | |
2010 | On the Road in America | Yes | No | "Cowboys and Indians" | |
2008 | The Dark Path Chronicles | Yes | Yes | "Lost in the Dark Path" | |
"Searching for Solace" | |||||
"Entering the Dark Path" | |||||
"Trapped" | |||||
"Vampire Temptations" | |||||
"A Father's Warning" | |||||
"Friday Evening: The Awakening" | |||||
2007 | On the Road in America | Yes | Yes | "Mississippi Delta" | |
2001 | Strange Frequency | Yes | Yes | "More Than a Feeling" | |
Yes | Yes | "Disco Inferno" | |||
1994 | Rebel Highway | Yes | Yes | "Dragstrip Girl" | |
1992 | Red Shoe Diaries | Yes | Yes | "Accidents Happen" | Credited as Alan Smithee |
1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Yes | Yes | "Collection Completed" |
TV movie
TV special
Short films
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Herself |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary': The Characters | No | No | Yes |
Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary': Stephen King Territory | No | No | Yes | |
Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary': Filming the Horror | No | No | Yes | |
2011 | Miss South Pacific: Beauty and the Sea | Yes | Yes | No |
Film
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Herself |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 14 Women | Yes | Yes | No |
2014 | Sex & Music | No | No | Yes |
2017 | Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary | No | No | Yes |
TV series appearances
Year | Title | Episode |
---|---|---|
2017 | Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History | "Out, Loud & Proud" |
2016 | Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music | "Sound and Vision" |
2012 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | "Bill Bellamy/Dawn Wells/Jack Blades/Mary Lambert" |
Inside Horror | "Dead Kids Walking" | |
2004 | The 100 Scariest Movie Moments | Part I: 100-81 |
TV movies
Year | Title | Director | Herself |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Go-Go's: Wild at the Greek | Yes | No |
1998 | When You Believe: Music from "The Prince of Egypt" | Yes | No |
2004 | X-Rated: The Pop Videos They Tried to Ban | Yes | Yes |
2005 | The 100 Greatest Pop Videos | No | Yes |
2008 | Dark Path Chronicles: Making Of | No | Yes |
Dark Path Chronicles: Behind the Characters | Yes | Yes | |
2009 | Pretty Bloody: The Women of Horror | No | Yes |
2011 | Chiller 13: Horror's Creepiest Kids | No | Yes |
Year | Title | Artist | Director | Writer | Producer | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | "When You Believe" (alternate version) | Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey | Yes | No | No | |
1997 | "Turn My Head" | Live | Yes | No | No | |
1992 | "My Destiny" | Lionel Richie | Yes | No | No | |
1992 | "Empire" | Queensrÿche | Yes | No | No | |
"Another Rainy Night (Without You)" (version 2) | Yes | No | No | |||
1990 | "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" | Mötley Crüe | Yes | No | No | |
"Without You" | Yes | No | No | |||
1989 | "Rock Wit'cha" | Bobby Brown | Yes | No | No | |
"Jelly Roll" | Blue Murder | Yes | No | No | ||
"Valley of the Kings" | Yes | No | No | |||
"Like a Prayer" | Madonna | Yes | Yes | No | [33] [34] | |
1987 | "La Isla Bonita" | Yes | No | No | ||
"We'll Be Together" | Sting | Yes | No | No | ||
1986 | "Nasty" | Janet Jackson | Yes | No | No | |
"Control" | Yes | No | No | |||
"Feel the Heat" | Jean Beauvoir | Yes | No | No | ||
"Love Touch" | Rod Stewart | Yes | No | No | ||
1985 | "Dancin'" | Chris Isaak | Yes | No | No | |
"Would I Lie to You?" | Eurythmics | Yes | No | No | ||
"Ways to Be Wicked" | Lone Justice | Yes | No | No | ||
"Material Girl" | Madonna | Yes | Yes | No | [34] | |
1984 | "The Glamorous Life" | Sheila E. | Yes | No | No | |
"Like a Virgin" | Madonna | Yes | Yes | No | [34] | |
"Borderline" | Yes | No | Yes | |||
"Turn to You" | The Go-Go's | Yes | No | No | ||
"Monster" | Fred Schneider | Yes | No | No |
Director
"Control" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her third studio album of the same name (1986). The song was written by Jackson, James Harris III and Terry Lewis, and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was released as the album's fourth single on October 17, 1986, by A&M Records. Its arrangement, built upon complex rhythmic tracks, showcased state-of-the-art production. The song is about Jackson wanting to finally take control of her life.
Pet Sematary is a 1983 horror novel by American writer Stephen King. The novel was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1984, and adapted into two films: one in 1989 and another in 2019. In November 2013, PS Publishing released Pet Sematary in a limited 30th-anniversary edition.
Heather Elizabeth Langenkamp is an American actress, director, writer, producer, and disc jockey. Langenkamp played Nancy Thompson in Wes Craven's slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), which earned her recognition as a scream queen and in popular culture. She reprised the role in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and played a fictionalized version of herself in the meta film Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994). In 1995, she was inducted into the Fangoria Chainsaw Hall of Fame.
Miko John Hughes is an American actor known for his film roles as a child, such as Gage Creed in Pet Sematary (1989), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Apollo 13 (1995), Spawn (1997), Mercury Rising (1998), Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), as well as his recurring role as Aaron on Full House from 1990 to 1995.
"Borderline" is a song by American singer Madonna from her debut self-titled studio album (1983), written and produced by Reggie Lucas. In 1982, Madonna was signed on by Sire Records for the release of two 12-inch singles; after the success of first single "Everybody", the label approved the recording of an album, and the singer decided to work with Lucas. "Borderline" is a pop song with post-disco elements whose sounds recall the music of the 1970s, while the lyrics find a woman complaining of her lover's chauvinism.
Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor, best known for playing Louis Creed in the horror film Pet Sematary (1989) and Captain Darien Lambert in the TV series Time Trax.
"La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album True Blue (1986). Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch created it as an instrumental demo and offered it to singer Michael Jackson, who turned it down. When Leonard met Madonna to start working on True Blue, he played the demo for her. Madonna came up with the title, wrote the lyrics and produced the song with Leonard. It is her first song with Latin influences. Its instrumentation features flamenco guitar, Latin percussion, maracas, and includes four lines sung in Spanish. The lyrics talk of an island named San Pedro, whose location has been debated. Madonna said the song was her tribute to Latin Americans.
Pet Sematary Two, is a 1992 American supernatural horror film directed by Mary Lambert and written by Richard Outten. It is the sequel to the film Pet Sematary (1989), which was based on Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name and the second film in the Pet Sematary film series. The film stars Edward Furlong, Anthony Edwards, and Clancy Brown. Pet Sematary Two was theatrically released in the United States on August 28, 1992, by Paramount Pictures and grossed $17.1 million worldwide. It received negative reviews from critics.
Tessa Lynne Thompson is an American actress. She began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College, appearing in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. Following her role in Veronica Mars (2005–2006), her breakthrough came with leading roles in Tina Mabry's independent drama film Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls (2010).
Pet Sematary is a 1989 American supernatural horror film and the first adaptation of Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert, with King writing the screenplay, it stars Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby, Blaze Berdahl, Fred Gwynne, and Miko Hughes as Gage Creed. The title is a sensational spelling of "pet cemetery".
Talk Show is the third studio album by the American rock band the Go-Go's, released on the I.R.S. label in 1984. Although some critics considered it an inspired return to form after their second album Vacation, other than the No. 11 hit single "Head over Heels", the album was a relative commercial disappointment, peaking at No. 18 and selling fewer than 500,000 copies. This would be the last all-original album by the group until 2001's God Bless The Go-Go's.
Sharon Oreck is an American film, music video and commercial producer. She has Oscar and Grammy nominations in addition to other awards. She is credited with coining the term populence. Oreck has been married to cinematographer Bill Pope since the 1980s. She was a cinema student at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles.
Mary Danielle Lambert is an American singer, songwriter and spoken word artist. She worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on a track on their album The Heist. Lambert is the featured artist of their LGBTQ rights single, "Same Love". Her contributions to "Same Love" draw upon her experiences as "a lesbian growing up in a tumultuous, Christian upbringing." Lambert took the content she created for "Same Love" and used it to develop the song "She Keeps Me Warm" which she released on July 30, 2013. A music video was released on Vevo on August 24.
Nzingha Stewart is an American filmmaker. She began her career directing music videos, later moving to the television and movie industry in 2010 with the drama For Colored Girls as an executive producer. She has directed two movies for Lifetime, With This Ring and Love by the 10th Date. In 2019, Netflix released Stewart's first feature film, Tall Girl.
Pet Sematary is a 2019 American supernatural horror film directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer from a screenplay by Jeff Buhler, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following the 1989 film. It is the third installment in the Pet Sematary film series. The film stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow, and follows a family that discovers a mysterious graveyard in the woods behind their new home, capable of resurrecting the dead.
Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary is a 2017 American documentary film written and directed by John Campopiano and Justin White. The film chronicles the making of Pet Sematary, a 1989 horror film based on Stephen King's eponymous novel.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by Lindsey Anderson Beer, and co-written by Beer and Jeff Buhler. It serves as a prequel to Pet Sematary (2019), which in turn was based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is the fourth installment of the Pet Sematary film series and stars Jackson White, Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, Natalie Alyn Lind, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Samantha Mathis, Pam Grier and David Duchovny. Set in 1969, 50 years before the events of the previous film, the plot follows a young Jud Crandall as he discovers a local Native American cemetery where the dead can live again, without realizing the horror that will affect his life.
Jackson James White is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Stephen on the Hulu series Tell Me Lies, Brendan Fletcher on the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher, Ash Baker in the 2017 film SPF-18, Officer Zach in the 2022 film Ambulance, and Jud Crandall in the 2023 Paramount+ original film Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.
Lindsey Anderson Beer is an American filmmaker. She made her feature directorial debut with Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023). She also wrote the 2018 Netflix film Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and worked on The Magic Order, as well as Chaos Walking.
Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer are American film directors and screenwriters who collaborate on their projects. They are best known for writing and directing the 2014 independent psychological horror film Starry Eyes and the 2019 supernatural horror remake Pet Sematary, adapted from the novel by Stephen King.