Rob Reiner unlocked Stephen King’s humanity — and his own career — in Stand By Me

Stand by Me is, however, the film that announced Reiner as a studio craftsman of the highest order. It’s a showcase for his deceptively plain shooting style, his brilliant way with actors, and his intuitive but firm grasp of story structure. It equally revealed him as a heartful, compassionate humanist who could forge powerful, empathetic bonds between his characters and the audience.