Alfred Sole
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Alfred Sole (July 2, 1943 – February 14, 2022) was an American production designer, film director, producer, and writer best known for directing such films as Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) and Pandemonium (1982).[2] Prior to beginning his career in film, Sole worked as an architect. From the 1990s, he worked as a production designer on various television films and series, including Veronica Mars (2004–2007) and Castle (2009–2016).
Alfred Sole | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 2, 1943 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 2022 (aged 78) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Florence |
| Occupations |
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| Relatives | Dante Tomaselli (cousin) |
Early life and career
Sole was born July 2, 1943,[3][1] in Paterson, New Jersey, where he was then raised.[3] He graduated from the University of Florence in Italy with a degree in architecture and spent his young adulthood working as an architect.[1]
In 1972 Sole made his directorial debut with his erotic film Deep Sleep. Made a budget of $25,000, the movie was pulled from theaters on charges that it was obscene, and all the prints were confiscated.
Sole's second feature, Alice, Sweet Alice fared better. The film was the feature debut of Brooke Shields, who appeared in a supporting part. The film initially did poorly in theaters due to spotty distribution. It was later rereleased in 1981 as Holy Terror, marketing upon the popularity of Brooke Shields.[4]Alice, Sweet Alice eventually proved to have an enduring popularity: In 2017, it was ranked the fourth-best slasher film of all time by Complex magazine.[5]
Sole's next feature Tanya's Island, starring Vanity, also did poorly in theaters. In 1982 his slasher film Pandemonium premiered. It was the last feature film Sole directed. Thereafter Sole worked as a production designer for multiple TV movies and shows. He co-wrote two episodes of Hotel with Paul Monette.[6] From 2009 to 2016, Sole served as the production designer for the network series Castle.[6]
In the late-2010s, Sole relocated from Los Angeles to a farm in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his husband, Rodrigo.[7]
Sole died by suicide at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 14, 2022, at the age of 78.[1] He was survived by his son, Rueben, and husband, Rodrigo.[1]
- ^ a b c d e Barnes, Mike (February 17, 2022). "Alfred Sole, Writer and Director of Cult Horror Classic 'Alice, Sweet Alice', Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Alfred Sole". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Singer, Michael (1993). Film Directors: A Complete Guide. Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 281. ISBN 9780943728605.
- ^ Sole, Alfred (1999). Alice, Sweet Alice (DVD). Anchor Bay Entertainment. (commentary)
- ^ Barone, Matt (October 23, 2017). "The Best Slasher Films of All Time". Complex. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Edwards 2017, p. 37.
- ^ Tomaselli, Dante (March 28, 2022). "Filmmaker Dante Tomaselli Remembers His Cousin, ALICE, SWEET ALICE Director Alfred Sole". Fangoria. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023.
- ^ Edwards 2017, pp. 29–30.
- ^ Edwards 2017, p. 29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Alfred Sole Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Alfred Sole Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- Edwards, Matthew (2017). Twisted Visions: Interviews with Cult Horror Filmmakers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 9781476663760.
- Alfred Sole at IMDb