John Kruse R. I. P. (died in 2004!) - Britmovie

JamesM · 05-01-2007, 01:27 PM

I had believed screenwriter John Kruse, of Hell Drivers Sea Fury for Cy Endfiled and scripts / novelizations for The Saint , was still around but I havce just learnt from Ian Dickerson that he passed away in 2004. He also wrote scripts for Sidney Hayers for Echo of Barbara (1962), Assault (1971) & Revenge(1971) and directed October Moth (1959). I belive he began his film career as a camera assistant in the 1940s.

Ian Dickerson · 12-01-2007, 06:51 PM

You do get around, don't you James?!!!

This is from an e-mail his son sent me and might be of interest:

***
Only child of a Fleet Street magnate, John was born with the proverbial ‘golden spoon’ in his mouth. Harrow education, continental holidays and his father’s penchant for collecting Rolls-Royce cars should have foretold a trouble-free life at the top. But the war changed everything. After serving as liaison officer in India and the Middle East, John returned to find his home bombed, his father dead in France and no family business. So he did what he knew best. He used his hands and his imagination. And he started at the bottom.

Driving a tar lorry for the local council during the day and writing short stories at night, John managed both to support his new wife and young son as well as set the basis for a popular literary career which was to span the next four decades. After quitting his driving job for a clapperboard at Pinewood film studios, he quickly rose the ranks to cameraman. The whaling scenes in Moby Dick were shot through his lens. Meanwhile his short stories developed naturally into scripts, and his first feature film ‘Hell Drivers’ in 1957 featured a young Sean Connery among the all-star cast. But television beckoned and soon John was scripting some of the most popular TV series of the 60’s and 70’s, including the Avengers, Shoestring, Colditz, the Persuaders and a long etcetera, culminating in the classic Saint series, starring Roger Moore, for which he was the principal writer.

After leaving England with his family in 1981 to live in Almuñécar, John wrote three novels, including the best seller Red Omega., and a number of poems and short stories. But painting was back in his blood and the Mediterranean light stimulated his talents towards canvas. Over the years, John’s prolific artistic output has been seen by thousands of people in bars, restaurants and exhibitions along the coast. From landscape painting to surrealism, his cameraman’s eye and storyteller’s imagination are always present in his pictures – along with his wry sense of good humour.

Always a health fanatic, John would never miss a day’s exercise and he was a popular figure around the hills of Cotobro walking with his faithful companion, Flash. Never one to back out of an after-dinner discussion, John also strongly decried the excesses of modern consumerism, the barbarities committed in the name of democracy and all cruelty towards animals. And yet, in spite of the harsh realities, he never lost his sense of humour or wonder at the beauties of nature.
***

Ian

JamesM · 14-01-2007, 03:06 PM

"Driving a tar lorry for the local council", that would explain the source material for Hell Drivers.

The email is much appreciated.

05-01-2007, 01:27 PM	#1
JamesM has no status. Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,413 Country: iTrader: (0)	John Kruse R. I. P. (died in 2004!) I had believed screenwriter John Kruse, of Hell Drivers Sea Fury for Cy Endfiled and scripts / novelizations for The Saint , was still around but I havce just learnt from Ian Dickerson that he passed away in 2004. He also wrote scripts for Sidney Hayers for Echo of Barbara (1962), Assault (1971) & Revenge(1971) and directed October Moth (1959). I belive he began his film career as a camera assistant in the 1940s.

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12-01-2007, 06:51 PM	#2
Ian Dickerson has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampshire Posts: 22 Country: iTrader: (0)	You do get around, don't you James?!!! This is from an e-mail his son sent me and might be of interest: * Only child of a Fleet Street magnate, John was born with the proverbial ‘golden spoon’ in his mouth. Harrow education, continental holidays and his father’s penchant for collecting Rolls-Royce cars should have foretold a trouble-free life at the top. But the war changed everything. After serving as liaison officer in India and the Middle East, John returned to find his home bombed, his father dead in France and no family business. So he did what he knew best. He used his hands and his imagination. And he started at the bottom. Driving a tar lorry for the local council during the day and writing short stories at night, John managed both to support his new wife and young son as well as set the basis for a popular literary career which was to span the next four decades. After quitting his driving job for a clapperboard at Pinewood film studios, he quickly rose the ranks to cameraman. The whaling scenes in Moby Dick were shot through his lens. Meanwhile his short stories developed naturally into scripts, and his first feature film ‘Hell Drivers’ in 1957 featured a young Sean Connery among the all-star cast. But television beckoned and soon John was scripting some of the most popular TV series of the 60’s and 70’s, including the Avengers, Shoestring, Colditz, the Persuaders and a long etcetera, culminating in the classic Saint series, starring Roger Moore, for which he was the principal writer. After leaving England with his family in 1981 to live in Almuñécar, John wrote three novels, including the best seller Red Omega., and a number of poems and short stories. But painting was back in his blood and the Mediterranean light stimulated his talents towards canvas. Over the years, John’s prolific artistic output has been seen by thousands of people in bars, restaurants and exhibitions along the coast. From landscape painting to surrealism, his cameraman’s eye and storyteller’s imagination are always present in his pictures – along with his wry sense of good humour. Always a health fanatic, John would never miss a day’s exercise and he was a popular figure around the hills of Cotobro walking with his faithful companion, Flash. Never one to back out of an after-dinner discussion, John also strongly decried the excesses of modern consumerism, the barbarities committed in the name of democracy and all cruelty towards animals. And yet, in spite of the harsh realities, he never lost his sense of humour or wonder at the beauties of nature. * Ian

14-01-2007, 03:06 PM	#3
JamesM has no status. Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,413 Country: iTrader: (0)	"Driving a tar lorry for the local council", that would explain the source material for Hell Drivers. The email is much appreciated.