Hasty Yordan Quote

A paragraph in Pat McGilligan’s article on Philip Yordan implies that I was grateful to Yordan as a person but had a negative opinion of him as a screenwriter (“Philip Yordan: The Ghosts and the Screenwriter,” June 26).

The criticism is based on an unconsidered judgment of the sort one makes in the heat of a taped interview, intended as background for a chapter in McGilligan’s book. Publication of this interview or any part of it has not yet been authorized by me.

The fact is that I remember Yordan, as of 35 years ago, as a craftsman who was quite capable of writing a screenplay whenever he chose to do so. I regret that my hasty comment, meant as a hyperbole, has embarrassed both of us.

BEN MADDOW

Los Angeles