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J. Lee Thompson
JLThompson.JPG
J. Lee Thompson in the 1970s
Born
John Lee Thompson

(1914-08-01)1 August 1914
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Died 30 August 2002(2002-08-30) (aged 88)
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Film director
Years active 1937–1989

John Lee Thompson (born August 1, 1914 – died August 30, 2002) was a famous British film director. He made movies in both London and Hollywood. He is well-known for award-winning films like Woman in a Dressing Gown, Ice Cold in Alex, and The Guns of Navarone. He also directed popular movies such as Cape Fear, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and The White Buffalo.

Early Life and Theatre Work

John Lee Thompson was born in Bristol, England, on August 1, 1914. His family had connections to the theatre world. He went to Dover College before starting his career in theatre.

He began as an actor and stagehand with the Nottingham Repertory Company. Later, he worked for another theatre group in Croydon, Surrey.

Thompson loved writing plays in his free time, a hobby he started when he was just nine years old. One of his plays, Murder Happens?, was performed in Croydon in 1934. His second play, Double Error, was shown for a short time in London's West End in 1935. At this point, he had already written about 40 plays!

Thompson once said he wrote a part for himself in a play. But when asked if he wanted to act in it, he said no. He later decided that if he didn't have the courage to act, he shouldn't act again. And he never did.

Becoming a Screenwriter

The rights to his play Double Error were bought for £100 by a film company. Thompson was then hired to work on scripts at British International Pictures at Elstree Studios. While there, he had his only acting role in a movie, a small part in Midshipman Easy (1935).

His first official movie credit was for The Price of Folly (1937), which was based on his own play. He also helped write Glamorous Night (1937). He even worked as a dialogue coach for Jamaica Inn (1939), directed by the famous Alfred Hitchcock.

During World War II, Thompson served in the RAF as a tailgunner and wireless operator. After the war, he returned to writing scripts for films like No Place for Jennifer (1949). He also worked on For Them That Trespass (1949), which was the first film for actor Richard Todd.

Thompson was also a dialogue director for The Hasty Heart (1949). He later stopped this job because he felt he was also spying for the film studio. He thought it was a way for them to control every word actors said.

Becoming a British Film Director

First Films as Director

Thompson's first movie as a director was Murder Without Crime (1950). He was paid £500 for the rights to his play and £500 to direct it. He said he mainly wanted the money to keep writing plays. But once he started directing, he realized he loved making movies.

He found directing easier and more enjoyable than writing. This led him to become a full-time film director.

His first successful film as a director was The Yellow Balloon (1953). He also helped write this movie. Next, he directed a comedy called For Better, For Worse (1954), starring Dirk Bogarde. This film was very popular.

Films with Social Themes

Thompson's fourth film, The Weak and the Wicked (1954), showed the lives of women in prison. It was based on the true stories of Joan Henry, who later became Thompson's second wife. The movie, starring Glynis Johns and Diana Dors, was a big hit. Its success made Thompson one of the top directors in Britain.

He directed more films, including As Long as They're Happy (1955) and An Alligator Named Daisy (1955). He returned to the theme of female prisoners with Yield to the Night (1956). This film, starring Diana Dors, was against the death penalty.

Thompson once said that for every good project, he had to direct "two pieces of tepid rubbish." But he admired his boss for giving him a chance to make the films he truly wanted to make.

He directed The Good Companions (1957), a lighter film based on a book. He used the wide CinemaScope screen well and created a lively musical.

Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957) was another important film. It starred Yvonne Mitchell and Anthony Quayle and showed the breakdown of a long marriage.

Action and Adventure Films

Thompson had a huge success with Ice Cold in Alex (1958). This film was about a British Army unit traveling across North Africa during World War II. It starred John Mills and Sylvia Syms. The movie won three BAFTA Awards, including Best British Film.

He then directed North West Frontier (1959), an adventure film set in British India. It starred Kenneth More and Lauren Bacall and was one of the most popular films in Britain that year.

Tiger Bay (1959) was a thriller that introduced audiences to John Mills' daughter, Hayley Mills. Hayley Mills won a BAFTA award for Most Promising Newcomer.

Hollywood Career Begins

The Guns of Navarone and Cape Fear

Thompson became internationally famous with The Guns of Navarone (1961). He took over as director at the last minute. His strong leadership earned him the nickname 'Mighty Mouse' from the lead actor, Gregory Peck.

The Guns of Navarone was a big World War II movie filmed in Greece. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Director for Thompson. He believed his main job was to entertain people. He said he liked the "character bits best" in Navarone, adding, "Anyone can make an explosion."

The success of Navarone opened doors for him in Hollywood. There, he directed Cape Fear (1962). This was a thrilling psychological movie starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum.

Working with Mirisch Brothers

Thompson directed Yul Brynner in the adventure film Taras Bulba (1962). In 1962, the Mirisch Brothers, a film production company, signed Thompson to direct four movies. The first was Kings of the Sun (1963), another film starring Yul Brynner.

He also directed What a Way to Go! (1964) with Shirley MacLaine. Later, he made John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965) with MacLaine again. He returned to England to direct Return from the Ashes (1965).

Thompson was asked to replace another director for the thriller Eye of the Devil (1967), starring David Niven. After a war film, Before Winter Comes (1968), Thompson worked again with the team from Navarone on the Western movie Mackenna's Gold (1969). However, this film and his next, The Chairman (1969) with Gregory Peck, did not do well at the box office.

Thompson admitted that he had made some "pretty bad stuff" because he accepted "dismal scripts." He felt he wasn't tough enough to say no.

Planet of the Apes Movies

Back in the UK, he directed Country Dance (1970). His work on this smaller film impressed producer Arthur Jacobs. Thompson had been the first director considered for The Planet of the Apes movie. He later directed the fourth and fifth films in the series: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973).

He noted that the budgets for these later Apes movies were getting smaller, which he thought was a bad idea.

Later Career and Charles Bronson Films

Television Work

Thompson started directing more for American television. He made TV movies like A Great American Tragedy (1972) and Huckleberry Finn (1974). He also directed the first episode of the TV series The Blue Knight (1975).

Working with Charles Bronson

In 1976, Thompson began working often with actor Charles Bronson. Their first film together was the crime story St. Ives. People who worked with them said Thompson and Bronson got along very well.

They teamed up again for the Western film The White Buffalo (1977). Thompson also directed two films starring Anthony Quinn: The Greek Tycoon (1978) and The Passage.

He directed the horror film Happy Birthday to Me in 1980. In 1981, Thompson and Bronson made Caboblanco. He then directed another Bronson movie, 10 to Midnight (1983).

Thompson and Bronson worked together again on The Evil That Men Do (1984). Thompson was hired to direct this film at the last minute. The producer said Thompson knew exactly what shots he needed. He added that Bronson and the crew respected Thompson because he worked efficiently.

Also released in 1984 was The Ambassador, starring Robert Mitchum.

In 1985, Thompson directed King Solomon's Mines. This film was made in the style of the popular Indiana Jones movies and starred Richard Chamberlain. It was quite successful.

In 1986, Thompson and Bronson released Murphy's Law, a thriller. Thompson also tried another adventure film like Indiana Jones with Firewalker (1986). This movie starred Chuck Norris and Louis Gossett Jr. as two adventurers searching for treasure in Central America.

Thompson continued to make thrillers with Charles Bronson. These included Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) and Messenger of Death (1988). He later said he knew these films wouldn't improve his reputation, but he had to accept that.

Thompson's last film as a director was Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989), also starring Charles Bronson.

In 1990, Thompson moved to Sooke, Canada. In 1992, he said he wished he had stuck to making films like Yield to the Night, which had more meaning. He felt he "sold out" by making some films just to keep working. He advised young directors to only make films they truly believe in.

Personal Life

Thompson was married three times. His first wife was Florence Bailey, whom he married in 1935. They had a son, Peter, who became a film editor and worked on some of his father's movies. They also had a daughter, Lesley. They divorced in 1957.

His second wife was Joan Henry, a writer he married in 1958. They worked together on films like Weak and the Wicked. They later divorced.

His third wife was Penny, who was with him until his death.

Death

J. Lee Thompson passed away on August 30, 2002, at his holiday home in Sooke, British Columbia, Canada. He was 88 years old and died from heart failure.

What People Said About His Work

Many people praised J. Lee Thompson's skills as a director. The Guardian newspaper called him a "compelling craftsman." The Washington Post said his adventure films were known for their exciting pace, rich atmosphere, and interesting characters. Variety magazine noted that he had a clear idea of how each film should look and feel.

The Independent newspaper said he brought a strong sense of atmosphere and a vivid visual style to many different types of movies. His early films about social issues were honest and bold for their time. His thrillers were exciting and full of suspense. He also made fun comedies and a lively musical. While some of his later films were not as highly praised, his work in the 1950s and early 1960s was very impressive.

Awards and Nominations

J. Lee Thompson received several awards and nominations for his films:

Selected Filmography

Screenwriter

  • The Price of Folly (1937)
  • The Middle Watch (1940)
  • Last Holiday (1950): He helped with extra dialogue for the script.

Director

1950s Films

  • Murder Without Crime (1950)
  • The Yellow Balloon (1953)
  • For Better, for Worse (1954)
  • The Weak and the Wicked (1954)
  • As Long as They're Happy (1955)
  • An Alligator Named Daisy (1955)
  • Yield to the Night (1956)
  • The Good Companions (1957)
  • Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957)
  • Ice Cold in Alex (1958)
  • North West Frontier (1959)
  • No Trees in the Street (1959)
  • Tiger Bay (1959)

1960s Films

  • I Aim at the Stars (1960)
  • The Guns of Navarone (1961)
  • Cape Fear (1962)
  • Taras Bulba (1962)
  • Kings of the Sun (1963)
  • What a Way to Go! (1964)
  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965)
  • Return from the Ashes (1965)
  • Eye of the Devil (1967)
  • Mackenna's Gold (1969)
  • Before Winter Comes (1969)
  • The Chairman (1969)

1970s Films

1980s Films

  • Caboblanco (1980)
  • Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
  • 10 to Midnight (1983)
  • The Evil That Men Do (1984)
  • The Ambassador (1984)
  • King Solomon's Mines (1985)
  • Murphy's Law (1986)
  • Firewalker (1986)
  • Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)
  • Messenger of Death (1988)
  • Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989)

See also

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