Guy Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guy Hamilton
|
|
|---|---|
Hamilton in 1967
|
|
| Born | 16 September 1922 Paris, France
|
| Died | 20 April 2016 (aged 93) Mallorca, Spain
|
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1938–1989 |
| Spouse(s) | Naomi Chance |
Mervyn Ian Guy Hamilton (September 16, 1922 – April 20, 2016) was a famous English film director. He directed 22 movies from the 1950s to the 1980s. This included four exciting James Bond films!
Contents
Guy Hamilton: A Film Director's Story
Early Life and War Service
Guy Hamilton was born in Paris, France, on September 16, 1922. His English parents were living there at the time. He went to school in England.
His first experience with movies was in 1938. He worked as a clapperboard boy at the Victorine Studios in Nice, France. When World War II started in 1939, Hamilton had to escape from France. He traveled on a ship called the MV Saltersgate.
After reaching London, he worked in a film library. Later, he joined the Royal Navy. He served in a special unit that helped secret agents get into France. They also brought British pilots who had been shot down back to England. During this time, he was left behind in occupied Brittany for a month. He was later given the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery.
Starting in Movies
After the war, Guy Hamilton wanted to make movies. He got a job as an assistant director. He learned a lot by watching other directors. He said that working with less experienced directors was helpful. He saw their mistakes and learned what not to do.
He worked on many films as an assistant director. These included They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) and Anna Karenina (1948). He also worked on The Fallen Idol (1949), directed by Carol Reed. Hamilton said Reed was a big influence on him.
He continued to assist on films like The Third Man (1949). He even stood in for actor Orson Welles in a few scenes! He also worked on The African Queen (1951) for director John Huston.
Directing His First Films
Carol Reed encouraged Hamilton to become a director. Hamilton got his first chance to direct a movie called The Ringer (1952).
His second film was The Intruder (1953). It was about soldiers returning home after the war. He then directed An Inspector Calls (1954).
Hamilton's fourth film was The Colditz Story (1955). This movie was about prisoners of war. It was his most successful film of that time. He also directed a musical, Charley Moon (1956), and an adventure film, Manuela (1957).
Towards the end of the 1950s, he started working on bigger movies. He took over directing The Devil's Disciple (1959). This film starred famous actors Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster.
He also directed The Best of Enemies (1961). This movie showed his skill in creating exciting action scenes. He was offered the chance to direct Dr. No (1962), the very first James Bond film, but he turned it down.
The James Bond Years
Guy Hamilton later directed his first James Bond movie, Goldfinger (1964). This film became very popular.
In the late 1960s, he directed two more films: Funeral in Berlin (1966) and the war movie Battle of Britain (1969).
He returned to the James Bond series with three more films:
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
He told actor Roger Moore not to copy Sean Connery's style as James Bond. Hamilton later said that The Man with the Golden Gun was the only Bond film he regretted making. He was asked to direct another Bond film, For Your Eyes Only (1981), but he said no because the film company couldn't pay him enough.
Later Career and Retirement
Guy Hamilton was first chosen to direct Superman: The Movie (1978). However, he had to leave the project. This was because he could only be in England for a short time due to tax rules. The movie's production had moved to England at the last minute. Richard Donner then took over as director.
In the late 1970s, Hamilton directed Force 10 from Navarone (1978). He also directed The Mirror Crack'd (1980), based on an Agatha Christie mystery.
Another Agatha Christie movie followed in 1982, called Evil Under the Sun. This film was liked more than The Mirror Crack'd.
Hamilton directed only two more films in the 1980s: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) and Try This One for Size (1989). After these, he retired from directing.
In the late 1980s, he was asked to direct Batman (1989), but he declined. In a 2003 interview, he said that newer Bond films used too many special effects. He felt they didn't focus enough on the amazing and risky stunts that his Bond films had.
He once said, "I know that I’ve made some bad pictures, but when I was making a film, I knew I had to do the best I could."
Personal Life
Guy Hamilton was married twice. His first wife was Naomi Chance, whom he married in 1953. He then married actress Kerima in 1964. They had met many years earlier while filming Outcast of the Islands. From the mid-1970s until his death, they lived in a villa in Andratx on the island of Mallorca, Spain.
Death
Guy Hamilton passed away on April 20, 2016, at the age of 93.
Films Directed by Guy Hamilton
James Bond Films
- Goldfinger (1964)
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Other Movies
- The Ringer (1952)
- The Intruder (1953)
- An Inspector Calls (1954)
- The Colditz Story (1955) (also co-writer)
- Charley Moon (1956)
- Manuela (1957)
- A Touch of Larceny (1959)
- The Devil's Disciple (1959)
- The Best of Enemies (1961)
- Man in the Middle (1964)
- The Party's Over (1965)
- Funeral in Berlin (1966)
- Battle of Britain (1969)
- Force 10 from Navarone (1978)
- The Mirror Crack'd (1980)
- Evil Under the Sun (1982)
- Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
- Try This One for Size (1989)
See also
In Spanish: Guy Hamilton para niños
