J. Lee Thompson

[s20076037]

MURPHY'S LAW is a brilliant film with Bronson. Great fun. I also like Thompson's bizarre Bronson film, THE WHITE BUFFALO, with an excellent score by John Barry. Very underrated director, in my opinion. He had a great visual style for distances on screen, as seen at his best in CAPE FEAR, and expressed well in THE GUNS OF NAVARONE. His later Bronson films are not to be sniffed at, considering some of the rubbish films that were made at the time. They're entertaining; and that's all that matters.

[Boom Man]

Originally Posted by chriskathome It strikes me that there cant be many directors with such a broad church of work - from classy kitchen sink drama - through action adventure - finishing up as boom operator on Bride of Chucky or do you know better?

And's whats wrong with being a Boom Operator I ask ?

[billy bentley]

I think Steve Chibnall wrote a book on J. Lee Thompson.

[kezzy]

He did. Currently a hardback copy available through Amazon at £7.88 - bargain.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Boom Man And's whats wrong with being a Boom Operator I ask ?

Well it makes your arms get tired holding up that boom, that's one thing what's wrong with it

Steve

[ProfMarcus]

Originally Posted by Windthrop JLT last really worthwhile film IMHO is Country Dance an underrated film which was little seen on it's initial release.

I'm delighted to find I'm not the only one who liked that film. For thirty years or so it's been my "love that dare not speak its name". Susannah York gives a fine performance - especially the morning after she's let herself get laid by Brian Blessed and an entire dance band. Michael Craig has the best line: something like: "The worst sound in the world is a lying 'I love you'."

And who could forget Peter O'Toole dancing down the stairs singing:

"Auntie Mary
Had a canary
Up the leg of her drawers"?

[Lord Brett]

Nice avatar, Professor.

Is that Ronald Lacey from The Avengers episode Legacy of Death?

[ProfMarcus]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett Nice avatar, Professor. Is that Ronald Lacey from The Avengers episode Legacy of Death?

Thanks, milord! The quote certainly is, and I'm pretty sure the picture is also of Humbert Green, loyal sidekick of Stratford Johns's Sidney Street.

[batman]

It is Ronald Lacey as Humbert.

[maisonvivante]

As a guilty pleasure, I'm partial to his film "Eye of the Devil" (also called "Thirteen") starring David Niven and Deborah Kerr. It's nicely shot, atmospheric, an eerie. It feels like large chunks of the story were left on the cutting room floor, however.

Interesting to note that Kim Novak was originally to play the Deborah Kerr role. Several days into shooting (weeks even), she fell from a horse and was so badly hurt she had to leave the production. She and Thompson worked together again, however, on "The White Buffalo," where she played a supporting role.

[batman]

Where did this info about J Lee working as a boom man on Bride of Chucky come from? I can find no record of this anywhere.

[ProfMarcus]

Originally Posted by batman It is Ronald Lacey as Humbert.

Ta, Herr Chiroptera. Always glad to have my suspicions confirmed.

[s20076037]

At the age he would have been when that film was made, I doubt he had the strength to hold up a boom-mike!

[Windthrop]

The boom operator story was on IMDB at one time and was reported widely by the media (in the days before they took reality checks on internet based info) at the time of JLT's death but has since been removed.