Sydney Pollack was one of the most diversely talented filmmakers to ever work in Hollywood. After appearing in several TV shows in the late 50s as an actor, Pollack moved behind the camera where he would amass more than 40 directorial credits from 1965 to 2005. Pollack also served as a producer on nearly as many films since making The Yakuza in 1974.

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In 1986, Pollack won Oscar Awards for Best Picture and Best Director following the smash-hit romantic drama Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. He continued to direct more recognized films up until his death.

Sabrina (1995) 65%

Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond embrace in Sabrina

In a remake of Billy Wilder's 1954 movie of the same, Pollack directed Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond in the twice-Oscar-nominated rom-com, Sabrina.

After undergoing a massive physical makeover, one homely Sabrina (Ormond) pursues her longtime crush David  Larrabee (Greg Kinnear). When the fun-loving David is shipped off to Paris, Sabrina becomes involved with his older brother Linus (Ford), a serious businessman who couldn't be more different. The film scored Oscar nods for Best Original Score and Original Song.

The Scalphunters (1968) 70%

In his third feature film as director, Pollack guided Burt Lancaster, Shelly Winters, and Telly Savalas in the comedic western romp The Scalphunters. The film earned costar Ossie Davis a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The plot follows fur trapper Joe Bass (Lancaster), who has his bounty of skins stolen by a band of natives. In return, Joe is given an African American slave named Joseph (Davis). In the search to get his skins back, the natives are attacked by a group known as the scalp hunters, which also kidnaps Joseph. As a result, Joe sets out to rescue Joseph and get his property back.

The Firm (1993) 75%

Based on the runaway John Grisham bestseller, Pollack directs Tom Cruise in a tale of legal intrigue via The Firm. The film landed Academy Award nods for Best Original Score and Holly Hunter as Best Supporting Actress.

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Costarring Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Gary Busey, and Jeanne Tripplehorn, the story concerns idealistic young litigator Mitch McDeere (Cruise), who uncovers a rash of unethical behavior at his powerful new law firm. Seduced by money and influence at first, McDeere must tap into his moral compass and do what is right before it's too late.

The Slender Thread (1965) 80%

Pollack made his big-screen directorial debut with The Slender Thread, a film about a young crisis hotline volunteer who receives a call from a suicidal woman. Legendary Costume Designer Edith Head landed an Oscar nomination for her contribution to the film.

Seattle college student Alan (Sidney Poitier) volunteers at a crisis hotline, where he soon receives a call from a woman named Inga (Anne Bancroft) claiming to have ingested a load of pills. As Alan races to get Inga help without her knowledge, he begins to slowly calm her down over the phone by getting to know her life story.

Absence Of Malice (1981) 81%

Michael sits on a boat in Absence of Malice

In the 1981 film Absence of Malice, Paul Newman plays the son of a dead mobster who used to bootleg liquor. Now an alcohol salesman, Mike Gallagher (Newman) resorts to foul play when the FBI presses him for info on a recent mob-related murder of a union leader.

To get his cooperation, the FBI enlists an idealistic young journalist named Megan Carter (Sally Field) to let Gallagher know he's being investigated. The film landed three Oscar nods, including Best Original Screenplay (Kurt Luedtke), Leading Actor (Newman), and Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon).

They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) 83%

Based on the Horace McCoy novel, They Shoot Horses, Don't They stars Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin as a pair of Hollywood hopefuls who enter a physically taxing dance marathon.

As suicidal Gloria (Fonda) tries to rebound from The Great Depression, she thinks traveling to Hollywood to become a star is the answer to her problems. As a wannabe film director, she's accompanied by her pal Robert (Sarrazin). However, once they arrive in California, they enter a popular fad known as a dance marathon where they subject their bodies to intense physical demands.

Three Days Of The Condor (1975) 86%

Robert Redford sitting behind desk with gun in Three Days of the Condor

In the fourth film that Pollack made with star Robert Redford, Three Days of the Condor is a contemporary tale of political paranoia set amid a murder mystery.

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When hale C.I.A. book-reader Turner (Redford) returns from lunch one day, he finds all of his coworkers suddenly assassinated. Narrowly escaping death on the spot, Turner is driven underground where he must uncover a vast murder conspiracy. Co-starring Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, and Max Von Sydow, the film notched an Oscar nod for Best Editing.

Tootsie (1982) 90%

Michael as Dorothy

In the biggest commercial hit of his directorial career, Pollack starred in and directed the classic 80s comedy Tootsie. The film earned star Jessica Lange an Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress.

The film charts Michael Dorsey, a hot-tempered out-of-work actor who will resort to anything to remain a paid actor. As such, he convinces his agent (Pollack) to audition for a female character on a popular TV soap. Michael soon becomes Dorothy and the show becomes a runaway hit, leading to Michael's romantic feelings for costar Julie (Lange).

Jeremiah Johnson (1972) 95%

In their second collaboration together, Pollack and Robert Redford explored the great outdoors in Jeremiah Johnson, the tale of an isolated mountain man who becomes involved in a Native American revenge plot.

Braving the harsh elements of the 19th-century Colorado frontier, drifter and trapper Jeremiah Johnson (Redford) sets out to build a home away from civilization. Once he happens upon the Crow tribe of natives, he must learn which code to live by in order to peacefully coexist.

The Swimmer (1968) 100%

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the highest-rated film of Sydney Pollacks's directorial resume belongs to The Swimmer.

The plot of the film couldn't be simpler. Burt Lancaster stars Ned Merill, a man who attempts to swim in as many different suburban swimming pools as humanly possible in one summer day. Pollack is uncredited for his contributions after replacing original director Frank Perry. Lancaster maintained the film was his best work and a personal favorite of his own.

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