Monte Hellman (born Monte Jay Himmelbaum; July 12, 1929 – April 20, 2021) was an American film director, producer, writer, and editor. Hellman began his career as an editor's apprentice at ABC TV, and made his directorial debut with the horror film
Beast from Haunted Cave (1959), produced by Gene Corman, Roger Corman's brother. He would later gain critical recognition for the Westerns
The Shooting and
Ride in the Whirlwind (both 1966) starring Jack Nicholson, and the independent road movie
Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) starring James Taylor and Dennis Wilson. His later directorial work included the 1989 slasher film
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! and the independent thriller
Road to Nowhere (2010).
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