John Mackenzie (film director)
John Mackenzie | |
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Born | John Leonard Duncan MacKenzie 22 May 1928 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
Died | 8 June 2011 London, England, UK | (aged 83)
Nationality | Scottish |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Occupation | Film director |
Years active | 1966–2009 |
John Leonard Duncan Mackenzie (22 May 1928 – 8 June 2011)[1] was a Scottish film director who worked in British film from the late 1960s, first as an assistant director and later as an independent director himself.[2]
Early life
Mackenzie was born in
Career
Early career
He began his career with Ken Loach, acting as the latter's assistant director on such works as Up the Junction (1965) and Cathy Come Home (1966).[4] This training allowed Mackenzie to begin a move into directing himself, as well as teaching him the skills of working on location with non-professional, local actors to a tight budget and schedule.
Directing, film and television
Initially, Mackenzie worked on television plays, following his apprenticeship with Loach.
The Long Good Friday, starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, opened up opportunities to work in the United States. The Honorary Consul was adapted from Graham Greene's novel by Christopher Hampton. Also released as Beyond the Limit, the film re-united Mackenzie with Hoskins, as well as giving him the chance to direct Michael Caine and Richard Gere. Mackenzie's other films of this period include The Innocent (1985) and The Fourth Protocol (1987).
The greatest success that Mackenzie enjoyed in his American period was
Another film of this period was The Last of the Finest, a UK-US thriller starring Brian Dennehy. Mackenzie returned to the UK in 1993.[8] He later directed films such as Deadly Voyage (1996) and When the Sky Falls (2000).[2]
Death
Mackenzie died following a stroke on 8 June 2011, some three weeks after his 83rd birthday.[1] He is survived by his three daughters (Colyn, Katherine and Rebecca) by Wendy Marshall, whom he married in 1956 and who predeceased him.[3]
Filmography
As Assistant Director
- Up the Junction, directed by Ken Loach
- Cathy Come Home, directed by Loach
As Director: Film
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As Director: Television
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References
- ^ a b Eardley, Nick (11 June 2011). "Actor and film-maker John Mackenzie dies, aged 83". The Scotsman.
- ^ All Movie Guide. 2013. Archived from the originalon 19 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Telegraph obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Mackenzie, John (1932–2011) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ a b c "John Mackenzie obituary". the Guardian. 12 June 2011.
- ^ "John Mackenzie". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016.
- ^ Canby, Vincent. "Ruby (1992) Review/Film: Ruby; Annals of an Assassin's Assassin". The New York Times.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
External links
- John Mackenzie at IMDb
- John Mackenzie at the BFI's Screenonline