Birthday: 22 December 1917, Islington, London, England, UK
Birth Name: Frederick William Francis
During his last years at school he spent most of his time writing a thesis on 'the future of film' On leaving school he joined Gaumont British Studios at Lime Grove as an apprentice to a stills photographer for a year. He claimed this taught him more about the art of photography than any other form of training could. He then became a clap...
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During his last years at school he spent most of his time writing a thesis on 'the future of film' On leaving school he joined Gaumont British Studios at Lime Grove as an apprentice to a stills photographer for a year. He claimed this taught him more about the art of photography than any other form of training could. He then became a clapper boy at B.I.P. Studios at Elstree then moved to British Dominion where he became a a camera assistant. Next was a move to Pinewood and his call up for war duty much of which was spent as a one man film unit based at Aldershot where he learnt more about his craft than about soldering.. After the war he returned to Shepperton Studios to work for Alexander Korda and Powell and Pressburger. He also worked for John Huston on 'Moby Dick' for which he was responsible for all the second unit photography and special effects. Show less «
[on Peter Cushing]: I think Peter is absolutely wonderful - there is not an actor in the world who c...Show more »
[on Peter Cushing]: I think Peter is absolutely wonderful - there is not an actor in the world who can speak rubbish like Peter and make it sound real. Show less «
[on Michael Powell]: I adored Michael. I know all his faults...Michael loved bullying people, becaus...Show more »
[on Michael Powell]: I adored Michael. I know all his faults...Michael loved bullying people, because he wanted them to bully him back; I've seen him have artistes in tears - but if you kicked back, it was all right. We used to have the most fantastic rows, but I always got the last word. Show less «