Who influenced David Mamet

Full disclosure, yes this is for a paper I am writing. No I am not asking you to do my work for me.

I am in the process on writing a paper on David Mamet. I am in the middle of writing about writers who influenced him, and while I have a pretty good sized list (some of which include the obvious and not so obvious like Pinter, Beckett, O'Neil, Miller, Odets, Lanford Wilson and, strangely, H. L. Mencken) I am looking for more. I am really looking for AMERICAN writers, they do not have to be playwrights. I feel I have a very strong paper but I really want it to go more in depth.

I do not need reasons why you've chosen who you choose, though if you would like to put your ideas please feel free,

Thank you for your help!

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Shakespeare.

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I don't know who influenced who, but I find a lot of Aaron Sorkin's style similar to Mamet's in some ways.

I'd also almost say he was influenced by people like Chekhov and Pinter, who emphasized subtext and pauses, because he went in the opposite direction. You know, like he saw what they were doing and deliberately decided not to follow their lead.

Does that make sense?

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I'm sure you've read through and culled his book "Bambi vs. Godzilla"...which I think is brilliant -- well, the second half. But I think he hints at a lot of deeper, more passionate influences here.... He particularly talks about Preston Sturges' "The Lady Eve" (in the first sections of the book) and AGAIN later talks about Sturges' work on "Hail the Conquering Hero". There is material about his feelings for "Shadow of a Doubt" (Hitchcock) and "The Killing". I guess I think that there is so much material buried between the lines of his work in this book that you might find some wonderful "filagree" to add into your paper.

Mamet for awhile was married to Lindsay Crouse whose father was Russel Crouse. While it's a stretch, because Crouse died before their marriage, I wonder if Lindsay passed on any of her father's advice to Mamet.

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I'm surprised no one mentioned Albee,
the starkness with a lot of fbombs thrown in.

Hest- Who said anything about only including speculation? For every idea mentioned here I have done research, some resulting in more information (such as Dreiser) some not (such as Crouse).

I have done a lot of research, but there is always more information out there, and not every book has all the information on a subject. I am using BWW as a resource for ideas, which I am then further researching (unlike some so-called students who come on here and expect us to answer all questions for them). I am sorry if that wasn't clear in my first post, I did try to explain it.

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While Odetts was a big influence, the common assumption is that the greats of "the Method" were as well. In an interview in the 70's Mamet made some quote about writing for method actors, but he has since gone on to deplore that kind of methodology. Look to the actors like Bill Macy who helped him develop the technique he teaches at the Atlantic. Those early actors he worked with very much helped him develop his voice.

I recently directed "Jolly" from his "Old Neighborhood" trilogy and, I have to say, as far as contemporary influences are concerned, Pinter is where it's at.

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