Post by teleadm on Mar 6, 2020 11:10:02 GMT
This year we celebrate 100 years since his birth, it was not that long ago we morned his passing, since he became very old, 98, and passed away only two years ago.
Chances are big that you have seen a Lewis Gilbert directed movie, if you like Bond movies, movies based on successful plays and/or World War II movies based on real events.
Gilbert were more or less born in a trunk, as his parents were second generation of Music Hall performers and his early years were spent on the road travelling with his parents.
He first performed on stage at the age of five, when asked to drive a trick car around the stage. This pleased the audience, so this became the finale of his parents' act.
When travelling on trains, his parents frequently hid him in the luggage rack, to avoid paying a fare for him.
His father contracted tuberculosis when he was a young man. He died aged 34, when Gilbert was seven.
As a child actor in films in the 1920s and 1930s, he was the breadwinner for his family, his mother was a film extra, and he had an erratic formal education.
In 1933, at the age of 13, he had a role in Victor Hanbury and John Stafford's Dick Turpin, and at age 17 a small uncredited role in The Divorce of Lady X 1938 opposite Laurence Olivier.
Producer Alexander Korda offered to send him to RADA, but Gilbert chose to study direction instead, assisting Alfred Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn 1939.
When the Second World War started, he joined the Royal Air Force's film unit, where he worked on various documentary films. He was eventually seconded to the First Motion Picture Unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces, where his commanding officer was American film director William Keighley, who allowed Gilbert to take on much of his film-making work.
After the war, he continued to write and direct documentary shorts for Gaumont British, before entering low budget feature film productions.
Gilbert made his name as a director in the 1950s with a series of successful films, these films were often based on true stories from the Second World War.
Gilbert directed 37 feature length movies between 1948 and 2002, here a some of them:
The Little Ballerina 1948 was Gilbert's feature length directorial debut. A largely forgotten drama film that was distributed in USA by Universal. Most notable for featuring ballet superstar Margot Fonteyn as herself, and future entertainer Anthony Newley in it's cast.
There is Another Sun aka Wall of Death 1951, a drama about a prizefighter and a motorcycle daredevil who are both in love with the same girl. It starred Susan Shaw, Maxwell Reed and Laurence Harvey.
Cosh Boy aka The Slasher 1953, a drama noir based on an original play by Bruce Walker, the film tells of the exploits of a 16-year-old delinquent youth and his gang in post-World War II London.
It was among the first British films to receive the new X certificate, meant as a warning because of it's content, but instead making it more interesting.
It starred James Kenney and Joan Collins.
Albert R.N. aka Break to Freedom 1953, WWII POW drama about Albert, who was a dummy that fooled the German guards, as prisoners escaped. Based on real events.
It starred Anthony Steel, Jack Warner and Robert Beatty.
The Good Die Young 1954, a crime thriller about four men who are about to commit a serious crime, but each for totally different reasons.
It starred Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, Richard Basehart, Joan Collins, John Ireland, Stanley Baker, Margarret Leighton and Robert Morley.
The Sea Shall Not Have Them 1954 war drama. In the North Sea in 1944, passengers of a downed Royal Air Force transport aircraft talk about their lives while awaiting rescue in their dinghy.
It starred Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel, Nigel Patrick and Bonar Colleano.
The film title is the motto of the Royal Air Force's Air Sea Rescue Service.
Cast a Dark Shadow 1955, a thriller noir based on a play by Janet Green. About a fortune hunter with a penchant for murder.
It starred Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lookwood (last movie until 1976), Kay Walsh and Kathleen Harrison.
Reach for the Sky 1956. Biopic of RAF Group Captain Douglas Bader who, after having lost both legs, against all odds, became a flying ace during WWII.
It starred Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook and Alexander Knox.
It became the most popular British film at the British box-office in 1956, and catapulted Kenneth More to stardom, even if he himself admitted that he was too old for the role.
The Admirable Crichton aka Paradise Lagoon 1957, a comedy based on a play by J.M. Barrie. About an upper class household that get's shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, and the servants proves to be the fittest for their survival.
It starred Kenneth More, Diane Cilento, Cecil Parker, Sally Ann Howes and Martita Hunt.
It was the third most popular film at the British box office in 1957, placing itself after High Society and Doctor at Large.
Carve Her Name with Pride 1958. Based on the true story of Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo, GC, who was captured and executed while serving in Nazi-occupied France.
It starred Virginia McKenna, Paul Scofield, Jack Warner and Maurice Ronet.
The film was one of the most popular at the British box office in 1958.
A Cry from the Streets 1958. A welfare worker becomes emotionally involved with her charges, a group of adorable, homeless orphans.
It starred Max Bygraves and Barbara Murray.
Gilbert won a Director price/award at Moscow Film Festival 1959, and the movie became popular behind the iron curtain.
Ferry to Hong Kong 1959, action-adventure-drama at sea with a typoon and pirates.
It starred Curd Jurgens, Orson Welles, Sylvia Syms, Jeremy Spenser and Noel Purcell.
The film was among those movies made by Rank to appeal to the international market, involving colour and location filming. Rank had rationalised its film production arm, decreasing overall output but putting more money in a certain number of films. The gamble didn't pay off, as this movie, while the most expensive Rank had ever made at that time, bombed at the box-office.
Sink the Bismarck! 1960. The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship. Based on real events.
It starred Kenneth More, Dana Wynter and Carl Möhner.
It was well received by the public and, according to box office receipts, it was the seventh most popular film released in Great Britain in 1960. Unlike most British war films it was a surprise hit in North America.
It was also the inspiration for Johnny Horton's popular 1960 song, "Sink the Bismarck".
The Greengage Summer aka The Loss of Innocence 1961. Based on a novel by Rumer Godden, it tells the story of a British girl's awakening from childhood into life and love on vacation in France.
It starred Kenneth More, Danielle Darrieux and Susannah York.
More later named it as his favourite film, stating, "[Susannah York] was just twenty-one and an adorable creature...it was one of the happiest films on which I have ever worked".
H.M.S. Defient aka Damn the Defiant 1962. On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford (Guinness) is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget (Bogarde), whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny. Based on real events.
It starred Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Maurice Denham, Nigel Stock and Anthony Quayle.
The 7th Dawn 1964. Political and personal intrigues surround a group of characters in Malaya, after the close of the Second World War.
It starred William Holden, Susannah York, Capucine and Tetsurô Tanba.
The film generated US$2.3 million in revenue being 89th ranked in the films of 1964.
Alfie 1966, comedy drama based on a novel and play by Bill Naughton about an unrepentant ladies' man who gradually begins to understand the consequences of his lifestyle.
It starred Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Shirley Ann Field and Denholm Elliott.
The movie was made for under a million USD's and generated 18 million USD. It catapulted Michael Caine into international stardom.
Gilbert earned his career's only Oscar nomination.
You Only Live Twice 1967, a James Bond action adventure set in Japan.
It starred Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama and regular Bond actors.
You Only Live Twice was a great success, receiving positive reviews and grossing over $111 million in worldwide box office.
After the Bond movie, Gilbert had begun collaborating with Lionel Bart into transforming the hit musical Oliver! into a movie, but had to leave the project due to contractual reasons and work (or being stuck with, using Gilbert own words) with this movie:
The Adventurers 1970, based on a Harold Robbins novel, loosely based on the life of Dominican diplomat and playboy Porfirio Rubirosa.
It starred Bekim Fehmiu, Candice Bergen, Charles Aznavour, Olivia de Havilland, Fernando Rey, Ernest Borgnine, Alan Badel, and Leigh Taylor-Young.
The pre-wide release version ran 205 minutes and was negatively received by the press, Paramount re-cut the film at the last minute but several critics, including Pauline Kael and Joe Morgenstern, could not be convinced to watch it a second time.
The movie bombed at the box-office due to it's high production costs. Cost 12,5 million USD to make, box-office returns were only 7,75 million USD (not bad if it had been a low-budget movie).
Friends 1971, a teen romance movie, popular enough to spawn a sequel, Paul and Michelle 1974.
Sean Bury and Anicée Alvina played the youngsters.
Operation: Daybreak 1975. In 1942, Britain sends a group of British-trained Czech commandos to Prague to assassinate SS-General Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Nazi security services. Based on real events.
It starred Timothy Bottoms, Martin Shaw, Joss Ackland, Nicola Pagett and Anton Diffring as Heydrich.
The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, the 10th official Bond action adventure.
It starred Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jurgens and Richard Kiel as Jaws.
It grossed $185.4 million worldwide, with $46 million in the United States alone.
Moonraker 1979, action adventure with Bond in space.
It starred Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale and Richard Kiel returning as Jaws.
It eventually became the highest-grossing film of the series at the time with $210,300,000 worldwide, a record that stood until 1995's GoldenEye.
Educating Rita 1983, comedy drama based on a play by Willy Russell. In Liverpool, twenty-seven-year-old hairdresser Rita decides to complete her basic education before having children.
It starred Michael Caine and Julie Walters in the main roles.
Lewis Gilbert said it was difficult to raise finance for the film. "Columbia wanted me to cast Dolly Parton as Rita".
Shirley Valentine 1989, comedy drama based on a play by Willy Russell.
Shirley's a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who finds herself talking to the wall while she prepares her husband's chip'n'egg, wondering what happened to her life.
It starred Pauline Collins and Tom Conti in the main roles.
Haunted 1995, a haunted house horror movie. A skeptical professor visits a remote British estate to debunk allegations of psychic phenomena, but soon finds himself haunted by a ghost from his own past.
It starred Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews, Anna Massey and John Gielgud.
The movie is virtually unknown to many, but get a fairly high approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lewis Gilbert only directed one more movie, Before You Go 2002, an even more unknown movie to many.
Published in 2010
Thanks for watching!
Have you seen 'em, and did you like 'em?
OT: I wrote very little about the Bond movies, since I thought they didn't much explanation.
Chances are big that you have seen a Lewis Gilbert directed movie, if you like Bond movies, movies based on successful plays and/or World War II movies based on real events.
Gilbert were more or less born in a trunk, as his parents were second generation of Music Hall performers and his early years were spent on the road travelling with his parents.
He first performed on stage at the age of five, when asked to drive a trick car around the stage. This pleased the audience, so this became the finale of his parents' act.
When travelling on trains, his parents frequently hid him in the luggage rack, to avoid paying a fare for him.
His father contracted tuberculosis when he was a young man. He died aged 34, when Gilbert was seven.
As a child actor in films in the 1920s and 1930s, he was the breadwinner for his family, his mother was a film extra, and he had an erratic formal education.
In 1933, at the age of 13, he had a role in Victor Hanbury and John Stafford's Dick Turpin, and at age 17 a small uncredited role in The Divorce of Lady X 1938 opposite Laurence Olivier.
Producer Alexander Korda offered to send him to RADA, but Gilbert chose to study direction instead, assisting Alfred Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn 1939.
When the Second World War started, he joined the Royal Air Force's film unit, where he worked on various documentary films. He was eventually seconded to the First Motion Picture Unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces, where his commanding officer was American film director William Keighley, who allowed Gilbert to take on much of his film-making work.
After the war, he continued to write and direct documentary shorts for Gaumont British, before entering low budget feature film productions.
Gilbert made his name as a director in the 1950s with a series of successful films, these films were often based on true stories from the Second World War.
Gilbert directed 37 feature length movies between 1948 and 2002, here a some of them:
The Little Ballerina 1948 was Gilbert's feature length directorial debut. A largely forgotten drama film that was distributed in USA by Universal. Most notable for featuring ballet superstar Margot Fonteyn as herself, and future entertainer Anthony Newley in it's cast.
There is Another Sun aka Wall of Death 1951, a drama about a prizefighter and a motorcycle daredevil who are both in love with the same girl. It starred Susan Shaw, Maxwell Reed and Laurence Harvey.
Cosh Boy aka The Slasher 1953, a drama noir based on an original play by Bruce Walker, the film tells of the exploits of a 16-year-old delinquent youth and his gang in post-World War II London.
It was among the first British films to receive the new X certificate, meant as a warning because of it's content, but instead making it more interesting.
It starred James Kenney and Joan Collins.
Albert R.N. aka Break to Freedom 1953, WWII POW drama about Albert, who was a dummy that fooled the German guards, as prisoners escaped. Based on real events.
It starred Anthony Steel, Jack Warner and Robert Beatty.
The Good Die Young 1954, a crime thriller about four men who are about to commit a serious crime, but each for totally different reasons.
It starred Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, Richard Basehart, Joan Collins, John Ireland, Stanley Baker, Margarret Leighton and Robert Morley.
The Sea Shall Not Have Them 1954 war drama. In the North Sea in 1944, passengers of a downed Royal Air Force transport aircraft talk about their lives while awaiting rescue in their dinghy.
It starred Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel, Nigel Patrick and Bonar Colleano.
The film title is the motto of the Royal Air Force's Air Sea Rescue Service.
Cast a Dark Shadow 1955, a thriller noir based on a play by Janet Green. About a fortune hunter with a penchant for murder.
It starred Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lookwood (last movie until 1976), Kay Walsh and Kathleen Harrison.
Reach for the Sky 1956. Biopic of RAF Group Captain Douglas Bader who, after having lost both legs, against all odds, became a flying ace during WWII.
It starred Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook and Alexander Knox.
It became the most popular British film at the British box-office in 1956, and catapulted Kenneth More to stardom, even if he himself admitted that he was too old for the role.
The Admirable Crichton aka Paradise Lagoon 1957, a comedy based on a play by J.M. Barrie. About an upper class household that get's shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, and the servants proves to be the fittest for their survival.
It starred Kenneth More, Diane Cilento, Cecil Parker, Sally Ann Howes and Martita Hunt.
It was the third most popular film at the British box office in 1957, placing itself after High Society and Doctor at Large.
Carve Her Name with Pride 1958. Based on the true story of Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo, GC, who was captured and executed while serving in Nazi-occupied France.
It starred Virginia McKenna, Paul Scofield, Jack Warner and Maurice Ronet.
The film was one of the most popular at the British box office in 1958.
A Cry from the Streets 1958. A welfare worker becomes emotionally involved with her charges, a group of adorable, homeless orphans.
It starred Max Bygraves and Barbara Murray.
Gilbert won a Director price/award at Moscow Film Festival 1959, and the movie became popular behind the iron curtain.
Ferry to Hong Kong 1959, action-adventure-drama at sea with a typoon and pirates.
It starred Curd Jurgens, Orson Welles, Sylvia Syms, Jeremy Spenser and Noel Purcell.
The film was among those movies made by Rank to appeal to the international market, involving colour and location filming. Rank had rationalised its film production arm, decreasing overall output but putting more money in a certain number of films. The gamble didn't pay off, as this movie, while the most expensive Rank had ever made at that time, bombed at the box-office.
Sink the Bismarck! 1960. The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship. Based on real events.
It starred Kenneth More, Dana Wynter and Carl Möhner.
It was well received by the public and, according to box office receipts, it was the seventh most popular film released in Great Britain in 1960. Unlike most British war films it was a surprise hit in North America.
It was also the inspiration for Johnny Horton's popular 1960 song, "Sink the Bismarck".
The Greengage Summer aka The Loss of Innocence 1961. Based on a novel by Rumer Godden, it tells the story of a British girl's awakening from childhood into life and love on vacation in France.
It starred Kenneth More, Danielle Darrieux and Susannah York.
More later named it as his favourite film, stating, "[Susannah York] was just twenty-one and an adorable creature...it was one of the happiest films on which I have ever worked".
H.M.S. Defient aka Damn the Defiant 1962. On the H.M.S. Defiant, during the French Revolutionary War, fair Captain Crawford (Guinness) is locked in a battle of wills against his cruel second-in-command Lieutenant Scott-Padget (Bogarde), whose heavy-handed command style pushes the crew to mutiny. Based on real events.
It starred Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Maurice Denham, Nigel Stock and Anthony Quayle.
The 7th Dawn 1964. Political and personal intrigues surround a group of characters in Malaya, after the close of the Second World War.
It starred William Holden, Susannah York, Capucine and Tetsurô Tanba.
The film generated US$2.3 million in revenue being 89th ranked in the films of 1964.
Alfie 1966, comedy drama based on a novel and play by Bill Naughton about an unrepentant ladies' man who gradually begins to understand the consequences of his lifestyle.
It starred Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Shirley Ann Field and Denholm Elliott.
The movie was made for under a million USD's and generated 18 million USD. It catapulted Michael Caine into international stardom.
Gilbert earned his career's only Oscar nomination.
You Only Live Twice 1967, a James Bond action adventure set in Japan.
It starred Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama and regular Bond actors.
You Only Live Twice was a great success, receiving positive reviews and grossing over $111 million in worldwide box office.
After the Bond movie, Gilbert had begun collaborating with Lionel Bart into transforming the hit musical Oliver! into a movie, but had to leave the project due to contractual reasons and work (or being stuck with, using Gilbert own words) with this movie:
The Adventurers 1970, based on a Harold Robbins novel, loosely based on the life of Dominican diplomat and playboy Porfirio Rubirosa.
It starred Bekim Fehmiu, Candice Bergen, Charles Aznavour, Olivia de Havilland, Fernando Rey, Ernest Borgnine, Alan Badel, and Leigh Taylor-Young.
The pre-wide release version ran 205 minutes and was negatively received by the press, Paramount re-cut the film at the last minute but several critics, including Pauline Kael and Joe Morgenstern, could not be convinced to watch it a second time.
The movie bombed at the box-office due to it's high production costs. Cost 12,5 million USD to make, box-office returns were only 7,75 million USD (not bad if it had been a low-budget movie).
Friends 1971, a teen romance movie, popular enough to spawn a sequel, Paul and Michelle 1974.
Sean Bury and Anicée Alvina played the youngsters.
Operation: Daybreak 1975. In 1942, Britain sends a group of British-trained Czech commandos to Prague to assassinate SS-General Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Nazi security services. Based on real events.
It starred Timothy Bottoms, Martin Shaw, Joss Ackland, Nicola Pagett and Anton Diffring as Heydrich.
The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, the 10th official Bond action adventure.
It starred Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jurgens and Richard Kiel as Jaws.
It grossed $185.4 million worldwide, with $46 million in the United States alone.
Moonraker 1979, action adventure with Bond in space.
It starred Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale and Richard Kiel returning as Jaws.
It eventually became the highest-grossing film of the series at the time with $210,300,000 worldwide, a record that stood until 1995's GoldenEye.
Educating Rita 1983, comedy drama based on a play by Willy Russell. In Liverpool, twenty-seven-year-old hairdresser Rita decides to complete her basic education before having children.
It starred Michael Caine and Julie Walters in the main roles.
Lewis Gilbert said it was difficult to raise finance for the film. "Columbia wanted me to cast Dolly Parton as Rita".
Shirley Valentine 1989, comedy drama based on a play by Willy Russell.
Shirley's a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who finds herself talking to the wall while she prepares her husband's chip'n'egg, wondering what happened to her life.
It starred Pauline Collins and Tom Conti in the main roles.
Haunted 1995, a haunted house horror movie. A skeptical professor visits a remote British estate to debunk allegations of psychic phenomena, but soon finds himself haunted by a ghost from his own past.
It starred Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews, Anna Massey and John Gielgud.
The movie is virtually unknown to many, but get a fairly high approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lewis Gilbert only directed one more movie, Before You Go 2002, an even more unknown movie to many.
Published in 2010
Thanks for watching!
Have you seen 'em, and did you like 'em?
OT: I wrote very little about the Bond movies, since I thought they didn't much explanation.
