Alfred Sole

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(1943-07-02)July 2, 1943
Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2022(2022-02-14) (aged 78)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Florence
Occupations
  • Director
  • production designer
  • screenwriter
RelativesDante Tomaselli (cousin)

Biography

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. Even though the film 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]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Director Writer Production
designer		 Notes Ref.
1972 Deep Sleep Yes No No Pornographic film [8]
1976 Alice, Sweet Alice Yes Yes No Alternate titles: Communion; Holy Terror [9]
1980 Tanya's Island Yes No No [6]
1982 Pandemonium Yes No No [6]
1984 Cheeseball Presents Yes Yes No Television film
1986 Under Siege No Yes No Television film
1988 Secret Witness No Yes No Television film
1994 Natural Selection No No Yes Television film
1994 Shattered Image No No Yes Television film [10]
1995 Night of the Running Man No No Yes
1995 Bodily Harm No No Yes [10]
1996 Glory Daze No No Yes [10]
1996 Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story No No Yes Television film [11]
1996 Widow's Kiss No No Yes Television film [10]
1996 In the Blink of An Eye No No Yes Television film [11]
1996 Face of Evil No No Yes Television film [11]
1996 Unforgivable No No Yes Television film [11]
1996 Every Woman's Dream No No Yes Television film [11]
1997 When the Cradle Falls No No Yes Television film [11]
1997 L.A. Johns No No Yes Television film
1997 Divided by Hate No No Yes Television film [10]
1998 The Con No No Yes Television film [10]
1998 Halloweentown No No Yes Television film [10]
1999 Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies No No Yes Television film [10]
1999 Replacing Dad No No Yes Television film [11]
1999 Clubland No No Yes
1999 Johnny Tsunami No No Yes Television film [10]
1999 Horse Sense No No Yes Television film
2000 Miracle in Lane 2 No No Yes Television film [10]
2000 An American Daughter No No Yes Television film
2001 These Old Broads No No Yes Television film [10]
2001 Semper Fi No No Yes Television film
2001 Hounded No No Yes Television film [11]
2001 The Poof Point No No Yes Television film
2002 Gotta Kick It Up! No No Yes Television film
2003 Right on Track No No Yes Television film [11]
2004 Halloweentown High No No Yes Television film [10]
2004 Slammed No No Yes [11]
2009 Hatching Pete No No Yes Television film [11]
2009 S. Darko No No Yes [11]

Television
Year Title Director Writer Production
designer		 Notes Ref.
1988 Hotel No Yes No 2 episodes [6]
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series No Yes No 2 episodes
1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents No Yes No Episode: "In the Driver's Seat"
2003 One Minute Soap Opera No No Yes
2004–2007 Veronica Mars No No Yes 64 episodes
2006–2008 Moonlight No No Yes 14 episodes
2009 Melrose Place No No Yes Episode: "Pilot"
2009–2016 Castle No No Yes 152 episodes
2016–2019 MacGyver No No Yes 40 episodes

References
  1. Barnes, Mike (February 17, 2022). "Alfred Sole, Writer and Director of Cult Horror Classic 'Alice, Sweet Alice', Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. "Alfred Sole". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  3. Singer, Michael (1993). Film Directors: A Complete Guide. Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 281. ISBN 978-0-943-72860-5.
  4. Sole, Alfred (1999). Alice, Sweet Alice (DVD). Anchor Bay Entertainment. (commentary)
  5. Barone, Matt (October 23, 2017). "The Best Slasher Films of All Time". Complex. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. Edwards 2017, p. 37.
  7. 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.
  8. Edwards 2017, pp. 29–30.
  9. Edwards 2017, p. 29.
  10. "Alfred Sole Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  11. "Alfred Sole Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved August 5, 2019.

Sources
  • Edwards, Matthew (2017). Twisted Visions: Interviews with Cult Horror Filmmakers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-66376-0.
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