Introduction: Autumnal Altman—Rethinking his Last Quarter Century

This introduction reviews and challenges the dominant narrative regarding the periodization of Robert Altman’s film career, makes a case for focusing on the last quarter century of his work, and highlights the three primary themes that emerge from the anthology’s scholarly essays and collaborator interviews. The chapter counters critic Robin Wood’s claim that Altman’s authorship remains static, as the contributions in the anthology highlight dynamism. The narrative and stylistic experimentation that mark Altman’s canonical early 1970s films have been justly celebrated, yet his legacy is even more rich and robust. The shift in Altman’s career from studio to independent filmmaking following Popeye (1980) initiated a distinctly new period that prompted change and growth, sparking new forms of experimentation in the projects he made as well as in how he made them. Some films contain elements that clearly point back to his canonical works; others form clean breaks. Yet Altman’s development during this period as a collaborator, businessperson, and artist is undeniable. By exploring Altman’s creative process, industrial framework, and key films during his last quarter century, a more complete picture emerges of the significance of his legacy as one of American cinema’s most distinguished innovators.