Director best known for his Bond films, The Colditz Story and An Inspector Calls
With four James Bond movies – Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man With the Golden Gun (1974) – among his credits, the director Guy Hamilton, who has died aged 93, was one of Britain’s most bankable film-makers. But his latter-day fame, for these and other commercial blockbusters, detracted in the eyes of many critics from his earlier achievements.
Hamilton’s long career began as an assistant director, a job that most usually led to work in production. He, however, was determined to direct and decided that “the trick was not to be an assistant director, but to become the director’s assistant”, thus gaining valuable experience by tackling those tasks that preoccupied bosses chose to delegate. During a six-year period he became recognised as the best in the business, working for Alberto Cavalcanti, Sidney Gilliat,...
With four James Bond movies – Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man With the Golden Gun (1974) – among his credits, the director Guy Hamilton, who has died aged 93, was one of Britain’s most bankable film-makers. But his latter-day fame, for these and other commercial blockbusters, detracted in the eyes of many critics from his earlier achievements.
Hamilton’s long career began as an assistant director, a job that most usually led to work in production. He, however, was determined to direct and decided that “the trick was not to be an assistant director, but to become the director’s assistant”, thus gaining valuable experience by tackling those tasks that preoccupied bosses chose to delegate. During a six-year period he became recognised as the best in the business, working for Alberto Cavalcanti, Sidney Gilliat,...
- 4/21/2016
- by Brian Baxter
- The Guardian - Film News
Producer Sam Goldwyn thought Anthony Kimmins's tale of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion was about a lovable Scots terrier. Frankly, it might as well have been
• Reel history: Frost/Nixon
• Reel history: Lovelace
Director: Anthony Kimmins
Entertainment grade: D–
History grade: C
In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie, grandson and heir of the deposed King James II of England and VII of Scotland, arrived in Scotland to attempt to reclaim the throne.
Production
"Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of those huge florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start," star David Niven admitted. Halfway through the nine-month shoot, Niven cabled producer Sam Goldwyn: "I have now worked every day for five months on this picture and nobody can tell me how the story ends stop advise." Goldwyn couldn't help: according to Niven's biographer, Sheridan Morley, he thought the movie was called "Charlie Bonnie", and was "apparently under the mistaken impression that...
• Reel history: Frost/Nixon
• Reel history: Lovelace
Director: Anthony Kimmins
Entertainment grade: D–
History grade: C
In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie, grandson and heir of the deposed King James II of England and VII of Scotland, arrived in Scotland to attempt to reclaim the throne.
Production
"Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of those huge florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start," star David Niven admitted. Halfway through the nine-month shoot, Niven cabled producer Sam Goldwyn: "I have now worked every day for five months on this picture and nobody can tell me how the story ends stop advise." Goldwyn couldn't help: according to Niven's biographer, Sheridan Morley, he thought the movie was called "Charlie Bonnie", and was "apparently under the mistaken impression that...
- 9/12/2013
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
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