Benton pretty much tops my list of all-time favorite writer/directors. He usually tells a deceptively simple tale and is "no-frills"... he lets the characters and story do the talking. To me, he's like Elmore Leonard in that he doesn't get too "writerly" about his delivery... no showing off, no indulgences.

"Bad Company," "The Late Show," "Nadine" - - wonderful little gems that you might have missed and are definitely worth a look.

Jeff, I remember seeing Nadine when it came out in a theater with about four other people. I thought it was great fun. You might enjoy this: An interview with Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger promoting the movie back in 1988. Bridges mentions "Bob" early on, referring to Benton.

"I've met a better class of people in prison than the country club."

Robert Mitchum