Judith Crist Dies, 'Most Hated' Famed Film Critic Mourned

Judith Crist, a painfully honest and popular critic for numerous media outlets, died Tuesday at age 90. Her son, Steven Crist, said his mother died at her Manhattan home after a long illness.

The influential writer was one of the full-time female critics for a major American daily paper, and was published in the New York Herald Tribune. Crist also went on to work as a founding film critic for New York magazine, wrote for People, Ladies Home Journal, and served as an on-air critic on NBC's "Today" show.

Crist also taught critical writing at Columbia University up until earlier this year.

Billy Wilder once famously joked about Crist, saying that "inviting her to review a movie was like inviting the Boston Strangler to give you a neck massage."

Her writings accumulated a national following and Crist wrote about and discussed thousands of movies, plays, and books for her millions of readers and viewers.

While she helped heighten film critics' notoriety, Crist became well known for being a harsh critic. She was occasionally banned from advance screenings as studios and theaters would threaten to pull advertising.

Despite her reputation, Crist had many friends in the film industry and ran a film festival set in Tarrytown, N.Y. for several years. Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Steven Spielberg were known to attend the gatherings, and it is believed Woody Allen also partook.

Crist, who attended Hunter College and received a master's degree from Columbia University's journalism school, stayed with the Tribune until its close in 1966.

Following the news of her death, many Twitter users posted tributes to Crist on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Zinging and influential film critic, sad loss for Columbia J School," posted Emily.

Moreover, New York Times readers posted comments on Crist's obituary, including her former students from Columbia University.

"I too had Judith Crist back in the spring of 1962- 50 years ago," wrote RConn. "She had a sharp mind and was a great teacher."

Michelle wrote, "I am really grateful to have had her as a teacher. It was truly a highlight of my graduate school experience. She was tough, fair, and amazingly kind. She leaves a wonderful legacy of student who learned from her."

Crist is survived by her son, editor and publisher emeritus of The Daily Racing Form. Her husband, William B. Crist, died in 1993.