JamesM

Eugene Frenke, who turns 101 on January 1st next year.

He directed A Woman Alone, released in 1935. He also produced Heaven Knows Mr Allison (1957) starring Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum and Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) starring Robert Shaw and Christopher Plummer.

Windthrop

Great question

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

Moor Larkin

Indeed. Now for the next one. Who is the second earliest living director of a British feature film?.....

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

JamesM

Pat Jackson, directing Western Approaches released in 1943?

Steve Crook

He's easy to beat. Just look at his cinematographer on the same film.
That noble chap is two years older than Pat and has done quite a bit of directing as well

Steve

JamesM

Jack Cardiff's first feature was not released until 1953 (The Story of William Tell).

Perhaps my question should have been worded the 'earliest director to make a British feature who still lives'. I am assuming that Moor Larkin is applying the same interpretation. otherwise 'the oldest' would have sufficed.

Steve Crook

The phrase "earliest living director" is most ambiguous and confusing.
Jack Cardiff was living on this planet earlier than Pat Jackson so in one way that makes him the earliest living director

The question as it stands is associating "earliest" more with the director than the film.

Why not turn it round and make it clearer by asking something more like "Which still-living director made the earliest British feature film?" If that was the question then I would have no problem in agreeing that Pat Jackson made an earlier film than Jack Cardiff.

Steve

JamesM

Yes, that is a better way to phrase it. I only think Pat Jackson makes second position.

If you were answering the question, 'the second oldest director of a British feature film', I can think of five more who would take a place after Eugene Frenke and before Jack Cardiff.

Moor Larkin

Don't assume I knew the answer before I posed the question.........

Is that the same Pat Jackson who did the McGoohan stuff?

Cool!

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dukdriver

It is indeed the same Pat Jackson, on the Prisoner 40th anniversary set (he directed four episodes) he gives a director's commentary which is most interesting.
Bob

"He plays with the pixies"

julian_craster

<< Jack Cardiff's first feature was not released until 1953 (The Story of William Tell).>>


This film was never completed, due to problems with Errol Flynn.....

philly

Also 101 this year is RUN RUN SHAW who started directing in Hong Kong in the 1920's they were classed as british films by the Dept of Trade.

wadsy

jules dassin , maybe?

penfold

Not the oldest or the first, but a mention in despatches should be made for Ronald Neame, cinematographer since at least '33, director since '47, and 97 next month...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

christoph404

Mind you, to be fair to Flynn he was on his best behaviour on this aborted project as he had half a million dollars of his own cash involved and was great chums with Cardiff as they had worked together on numerous films in the past. The problem was with some dishonest co-financiers in Italy who basically ripped off the film company and sunk the whole thing. Its a fascinating story and Cardiff gives a good account in his book "The Magic Hour" in which he also speaks very highly of Flynn.