Richard Donner Did not Need To Strategy The Omen As A Horror Movie

In an interview with TheLipTV, Donner explains that he went to Peck’s home to debate the script for “The Omen,” written by screenwriter David Seltzer. Donner revealed that he informed Peck, “the one factor I can say is that it isn’t a horror movie. This can be a thriller suspense thriller that’s this actual or have we pushed your character so insane by means of these incidents of the spouse … falls out of a hospital … It is coincidence till there’s so many questions it is driving you loopy.” Donner added that Peck appreciated that pitch and added that they’d by no means name the film “a horror movie.” Donner agreed. 

A long time later, it is virtually comical to know that “The Omen” was pitched as a “thriller suspense thriller.” Maybe that description helped persuade Peck due to his earlier work with Alfred Hitchcock in his 1945 movie “Spellbound.” Donner additionally saved Peck’s private expertise in thoughts as he tried to safe the actor’s involvement within the movie. Peck suffered a devastating loss with the demise of his son in 1975, not lengthy earlier than manufacturing began on “The Omen.” Peck additionally recognized as a Roman Catholic and is laid to relaxation on the Cathedral of Our Woman of the Angels, a Roman Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles. He had the prospect to painting a priest on display in “The Keys of the Kingdom”, a efficiency that earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Greatest Actor in 1944. Nevertheless, it was “The Omen” that supplied Peck with the most important field workplace hit of his profession, grossing over $60 million in america.