Editing Jonathan Demme (section)

===Early films===
Demme broke into feature film working for [[exploitation film]] producer [[Roger Corman]] early in his career, co-writing and producing ''[[Angels Hard as They Come]]'' (1971), a motorcycle movie very loosely based on ''[[Rashomon]]'',<ref name="Rolling Stone interview 1994-03-24" /> and ''[[The Hot Box]]'' (1972). He then moved on to directing three films for Corman's studio [[New World Pictures]]: ''[[Caged Heat]]'' (1974), ''[[Crazy Mama]]'' (1975), and ''[[Fighting Mad (1976 film)|Fighting Mad]]'' (1976). After ''Fighting Mad'', Demme directed the comedy film ''[[Handle with Care (1977 film)|Handle with Care]]'' (originally titled ''Citizens Band'', 1977) for [[Paramount Pictures]]. The film was well received by critics,<ref>{{citation |last=Sragow |first=Michael |year=1984 |title=Jonathan Demme on the Line |periodical=American Film |issue=January/February |url=http://www.storefrontdemme.com/ontheline.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040707204643/http://www.storefrontdemme.com/ontheline.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2004 |access-date=March 18, 2009 |quote=Although his best two movies to date, ''Citizens Band'' (AKA ''Handle With Care'', 1977) and ''Melvin and Howard'' (1980), were hailed for bringing the heartiness and sensitivity of a homegrown Jean Renoir into latter-day American film comedy, they failed to score at the box office. |df=mdy-all }}</ref> but received little promotion,<ref name="CB NYT">{{citation |last=Kaplan |first=James |date=March 27, 1988 |title=Jonathan Demme's Offbeat America |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=6.48 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/magazine/jonathan-demme-s-offbeat-america.html |access-date=March 18, 2009 |quote=Paramount figured it might just have a sleeper hit in the small movie, but it took a wait-and-see attitude, spending little on advertising and promotion, and hoping the movie would hook onto the C.B. craze and catch. |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110133450/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/magazine/jonathan-demme-s-offbeat-america.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and performed poorly at the box office.<ref>{{citation |last=Williams |first=Phillip |date=October 11, 2002 |title=The Truth About Jonathan Demme |work=[[MovieMaker]] |url=http://www.moviemaker.com/directing/article/the_truth_about_jonathan_demme_3301 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301235525/http://www.moviemaker.com/directing/article/the_truth_about_jonathan_demme_3301/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 1, 2009 |quote=We had a great time doing it and we were invited to the New York Film Festival, despite the fact that the film tanked horrendously—and famously—at the box office. |df=mdy-all |access-date=March 18, 2009 }}</ref> He also directed a 1978 episode of ''Columbo''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Piepenbring |first1=Dan |title=Watch Jonathan Demme's Pitch Black Eighties Sitcom Episode |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/watch-jonathan-demmes-pitch-black-eighties-sitcom-episode |magazine=The New Yorker |date=May 2017 |access-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724100610/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/watch-jonathan-demmes-pitch-black-eighties-sitcom-episode |url-status=live }}</ref>

Demme's next film, ''[[Melvin and Howard]]'' (1980), did not get a [[wide release]], but received a groundswell of critical acclaim and film award recognition, including Academy Award nominations, winning two of its three nominations ([[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]] – [[Mary Steenburgen]], and [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]] – [[Bo Goldman]]). This acclaim led to the signing of Demme to direct the [[Goldie Hawn]] and [[Kurt Russell]] [[star vehicle]] ''[[Swing Shift (film)|Swing Shift]]'' (1984). Intended as a prestige picture for [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="Vineberg">{{citation |last=Vineberg |first=Steve |title=Swing Shift: A Tale of Hollywood |work=[[Sight & Sound]] |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |url=http://www.storefrontdemme.com/sightandsound.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030518044408/http://www.storefrontdemme.com/sightandsound.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 18, 2003 |access-date=March 19, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> as well as a major commercial vehicle for Demme,<ref name="Uhlich">{{citation |last=Uhlich |first=Keith |date=August 2004 |title=Jonathan Demme |work=Sense of Cinema |url=http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/great-directors/demme/ |issn=1443-4059 |access-date=March 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225033058/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/great-directors/demme/ |archive-date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref> it instead became a troubled production due to the conflicting visions of Demme and star Hawn. Demme ended up renouncing the finished product, and when the film was released in May 1984, it was generally panned by critics and neglected by moviegoers.<ref name="Vineberg" /> After ''Swing Shift'', Demme stepped back from Hollywood to make the [[Talking Heads]] [[concert film]] ''[[Stop Making Sense]]'' (also 1984) which won the [[National Society of Film Critics]] Award for best documentary;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-04-ca-6700-story.html|title=1984 Film Critics Awards: 'Everybody' Proves A Winner|first=Sheila|last=Benson|date=January 4, 1985|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=April 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000248/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-01-04/entertainment/ca-6700_1_top-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> the eclectic screwball action-romantic comedy ''[[Something Wild (1986 film)|Something Wild]]'' (1986); a film-version of the stage production ''[[Swimming to Cambodia]]'' (1987), by monologist [[Spalding Gray]]; and the New York Mafia-by-way-of Downtown comedy ''[[Married to the Mob]]'' (1988).{{cref|a}}

Demme formed his production company, Clinica Estetico, with producers [[Edward Saxon]] and [[Peter Saraf]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b962c58f2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427103827/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b962c58f2|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 27, 2017|title=Clinica Estetico|publisher=bfi.org.uk|access-date=April 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theflyroom.com/production/|title=Production|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427192613/http://www.theflyroom.com/production/|archive-date=April 27, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> They were based out of New York City for fifteen years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n89-104470/ |title=Clinica Estetico, Ltd |publisher=worldcat.org/ |date=2010 |access-date=April 27, 2017 |archive-date=April 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427102120/http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n89-104470/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/demme-saxon-to-say-adios-1117784149/|title=Demme, Saxon to say adios|first=Michael|last=Fleming|date=July 25, 2000|publisher=variety.com|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411060241/https://variety.com/2000/film/news/demme-saxon-to-say-adios-1117784149/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Further|topic=the 1981 film presentation|Made in Texas}}