R. Colin Tait, a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin, has used the Ransom Center’s Robert De Niro collection as the basis for his dissertation, “Robert De Niro’s Method: Acting, Authorship and Agency in the New Hollywood (1967–1980).” Tait argues that De Niro has been a major intellectual and creative contributor to the world of film and acting and writes about his research in the De Niro archive. Tait shares how the papers reveal the actor’s commitment to his craft with examples of his “meticulous research, collaborations with directors, and extreme bodily transformations.”
In the above video, Tait discusses De Niro’s place in the film cannon.
Each Friday, the Ransom Center shares photos from throughout the week that highlight a range of activities and collection holdings. We hope you enjoy these photos that reveal some of the everyday happenings at the Center.
Academy Award nominee Robert De Niro’s costume from “Silver Linings Playbook” is on display in the Harry Ransom Center’s lobby. De Niro, whose archive resides at the Ransom Center, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Learn more about what this costume says about De Niro’s character in the film.
A Berlin exhibition on the life and work of filmmaker Martin Scorsese includes items from the Ransom Center’s Robert De Niro and Paul Schrader archives.
Each Friday, the Ransom Center shares photos from throughout the week that highlight a range of activities and collection holdings. We hope you enjoy these photos that reveal some of the everyday happenings at the Center.
Photography volunteer Michel McCabe-Hughes inventories negatives from the Arnold Newman papers and photography collection. Photo by Edgar Walters.
Student technician Nestor Cordova digitizes the Robert De Niro video collection. The film being digitized here is “Jacknife” (1989). Photo by Edgar Walters.
Digitization Supervisor Alan Van Dyke scans the first edition of “Helena,” by Evelyn Waugh. Photo by Edgar Walters.
Victoria and Albert Museum’s “Hollywood Costume” exhibition features costumes from the Ransom Center
Read the article “Victoria and Albert Museum’s Hollywood Costume exhibition features costumes from the Ransom Center” on the Harry Ransom Center’s blog Cultural Compass.
Read the full article “Exhibition services team builds custom storage hanger for ‘Men of Honor’ dive suit from Robert De Niro’s collection.”
The Robert De Niro collection, which was donated to the Ransom Center in 2006, includes the costume that was worn by Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the movie “Men of Honor” (2000). Photo by Pete Smith.
After taking measurements of the suit, the acrylic sheet panels and polyethylene foam pieces are cut to size using a pattern fashioned from blue board. Photo by Wyndell Faulk.
Polyethylene foam is archival, lightweight and flexible, which makes it the perfect product to use for this project. Adding it to the outside of the hanger protects the suit and is support padding for the shoulders. Photo by Wyndell Faulk.
The hanger measures over thirty inches in length and is designed to be unobtrusive so the viewer’s focus remains on the suit itself during exhibitions. Photo by Wyndell Faulk.
The suit is so heavy that it must be placed horizontally in order to get the hanger inside. Photo by Sonja Reid.
The construction of the hanger allows the center section to be removed and adjusted in order to fit the hanger inside the suit with ease and create a proper fit. Photo by Sonja Reid.
A special wall-mounted bracket is used to support the weight of the suit plus all its accoutrement, such as the weight belt when used in exhibitions. Photo by Wyndell Faulk.
Once hanging, the suit doesn’t touch the walls or the floor, which helps preserve the material. Photo by Wyndell Faulk.
A production still of Robert De Niro as Max Cady, the bible verse-tattoo sporting convict from Cape Fear.
Bible verse-tattoos sported by Robert De Niro’s chararcter Max Cady in Cape Fear.
A King James Bible carried by Robert De Niro’s character, Max Cady, in the film Cape Fear.
Highlighted passages from the King James Bible Robert De Niro used while preparing for his role as Max Cady in Cape Fear.
Read the full article In the Galleries: Robert De Niro’s King James Version-inspired tattoos in Cape Fear.
