Richard Brooks, the gruff, hard-boiled director of the dramas "The Blackboard Jungle" and "In Cold Blood" and Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Elmer Gantry," has died. He was 79.

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Brooks died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at his home, said publicist Warren Cowan.His credits included "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Brothers Karamazov," "Sweet Bird of Youth," "Lord Jim," "Bite the Bullet" and "Looking for Mr. Goodbar."

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