Roy Boulting


Director
Roy Boulting

About

Also Known As
Roy A C Boulting
Birth Place
Bray, England, GB
Born
November 21, 1913
Died
November 05, 2001
Cause of Death
Cancer

Biography

Director-producer-screenwriter Roy Boulting may be best known to Americans through the gossip columns thanks to his May-December marriage to actress Hayley Mills, but in the film world he is heralded, along with his identical twin brother John, as a major force in the post-war British film industry. Roy directed (and John produced) such gritty dramas as "Thunder Rock" (1942) and "Brighto...

Family & Companions

Angela Warnock
Wife
Married in 1936; divorced in 1941.
Jean Capon
Wife
Married in 1942; divorced in 1951; mother of two of Boulting's sons.
Enid Munnik
Wife
Married in 1951; divorced in 1964; mother of three of Boulting's sons.
Victoria Vaughan
Companion
Mother of one of Boulting's sons.

Biography

Director-producer-screenwriter Roy Boulting may be best known to Americans through the gossip columns thanks to his May-December marriage to actress Hayley Mills, but in the film world he is heralded, along with his identical twin brother John, as a major force in the post-war British film industry. Roy directed (and John produced) such gritty dramas as "Thunder Rock" (1942) and "Brighton Rock/Young Scarface" (1947), then, in the 1950s, John directed and Roy produced such raucous comedies as "Private's Progress" (1955) and the trade union satire "I'm All Right, Jack" (1959).

Though British, the Boultings went to college in Canada, where Roy wrote dialogue for at least one Canadian film. Returning to Britain around 1933, he first worked in film sales, then slid into production as the assistant director of "Apron Fools" (1936). In 1937, the Boultings formed Charter Films, but first concentrated on making several shorts. For most of the late 30s and through the 40s, John produced and Roy directed (and often co-edited and co-wrote). In the 1950s, John and Roy alternated directorial chores.

Roy Boulting made his directorial debut with "Consider Your Verdict" (1938), which set the standard for the indistinguishable style of the brothers--economical, well-plotted, strong on local atmosphere and well acted. "Thunder Rock," based on a stage play, was set at a lighthouse where the faith of a newspaperman is renewed when he has visions of drowning people. "The Guinea Pig" (1948), which Roy directed and co-wrote, was a critically-acclaimed study of a boy from a modest background who wins a place at a posh British school and faces class snobbery as he tries to adapt. "Singlehanded/Sailor of the King" (1953) offered Jeffrey Hunter in a well-received tale of naval action while "Run for the Sun" (1956), a remake of 1932's "The Most Dangerous Game," cast Richard Widmark as a man who stumbles onto a mysterious plantation run by Trevor Howard. Roy co-scripted and John directed "Seven Days to Noon" (1950), a successful thriller centering on a scientist threatening to blow up London that one an Academy Award for Best Motion Picture Story. Also well received in the Boultings' drama canon was "Rotten to the Core" (1965), directed by John and produced and written by Roy, and in which three hoods go on a burglary spree.

The Boulting brothers were less successful when they attempted comedy; their films tended to seem contrived and featured overacting, although Roy directed the amiable "Brothers-in-Law" (1956), about the misadventures of a young lawyer. That same year he produced "Private's Progress" in which a British dweeb joins the army and struggles to adapt. Roy also produced "I'm All Right, Jack," in which a young man causes a strike at his uncle's factory. "The Family Way" (1966), directed by Roy, was a bit nasty in its comic look at a newlywed couple struggling through bad luck. The silly Peter Sellers/Goldie Hawn vehicle "There's a Girl in My Soup" (1970) failed to ignite, although Hawn was hot at the time. The Boultings last film together was the unsuccessful "The Number" (1979), which Roy produced and John directed. Perhaps ironically, Roy's final film as director was "The Last Word" (also 1979), a satire dealing with the media's handling of a man who literally takes on city hall.

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

The Number (1979)
Director
The Last Word (1979)
Director
Undercovers Hero (1975)
Director
There's a Girl in My Soup (1970)
Director
Twisted Nerve (1969)
Director
The Family Way (1967)
Director
The Risk (1961)
Director
A French Mistress (1960)
Director
Man in a Cocked Hat (1959)
Director
Happy Is the Bride (1958)
Director
Brothers in Law (1957)
Director
Run for the Sun (1956)
Director
Josephine and Men (1955)
Director
Crest of the Wave (1954)
Director
Sailor of the King (1953)
Director
High Treason (1951)
Director
Seven Days to Noon (1950)
Director
The Guinea Pig (1948)
Director
Fame Is the Spur (1947)
Director
Burma Victory (1945)
Director
Desert Victory (1943)
Director
Thunder Rock (1942)
Director
Pastor Hall (1940)
Director
Inquest (1940)
Director
Trunk Crime (1939)
Director

Writer (Feature Film)

Undercovers Hero (1975)
Screenplay
Twisted Nerve (1969)
Screenwriter
The Family Way (1967)
Adaptation
Rotten to the Core (1965)
Screenwriter
The Risk (1961)
Addl scenes & dial
A French Mistress (1960)
Screenwriter
Man in a Cocked Hat (1959)
Screenwriter
Happy Is the Bride (1958)
Screenwriter
Brothers in Law (1957)
Screenwriter
Run for the Sun (1956)
Screenwriter
High Treason (1951)
Screenwriter
Seven Days to Noon (1950)
Screenplay
The Guinea Pig (1948)
Screenwriter
Pastor Hall (1940)
Associate wrt

Producer (Feature Film)

Rotten to the Core (1965)
Producer
Heavens Above! (1963)
Producer
The Risk (1961)
Producer
I'm All Right Jack (1960)
Producer
Man in a Cocked Hat (1959)
Producer
Lucky Jim (1957)
Producer
Private's Progress (1956)
Producer
Crest of the Wave (1954)
Producer
The Magic Box (1951)
Producer
Brighton Rock (1947)
Producer

Editing (Feature Film)

Seven Days to Noon (1950)
Editor
Pastor Hall (1940)
Film Editor

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

The Grass Is Singing (1981)
Other

Director (Special)

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, Series I (1986)
Director

Life Events

1936

Was assistant director on "Apron Fools"

1937

Co-founded Charter Films with brother John

1937

Film directorial debut with the short "The Landlady"

1938

Directed the short "Seeing Stars"; also wrote and produced

1943

Was member of Army Film Unit during World War II

1943

Co-directed "Tunisian Victory" with Frank Capra

1950

With brother John, co-directed "Seven Days to Noon"

1954

Reteamed with brother as co-director and co-producer of "Crest of the Wave/Seagulls Over Sorrento"; also wrote script

1958

Appointed director of British Lion Films

1966

Scripted and helmed "The Family Way", starring future wife Hayley Mills and her father John Mills

1968

Second film with Hayley Mills, "Twisted Nerve"

1970

Directed "There's a Girl in My Soup"

1972

Left British Lion Films

1979

Last film with brother, "The Number"

1979

Final film, "The Last Word"

1985

Helmed the British TV-movie "The Moving Finger", with Joan Hickson playing the Agatha Christie heroine Miss Marple

Videos

Movie Clip

Crest Of The Wave (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Death Or Glory Boys At a post-WWII British naval research station after a colleague’s death in an accident, Badge (Sidney James) counsels Haggis and Sprog (David Orr, Ray Jackson), joined by Lofty (Bernard Lee), before P-O Herbert (Patric Doonan) intrudes, in John and Ray Boulting’s Crest Of The Wave, 1954.
Crest Of The Wave (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Not Sailed By Englishmen Yanks Shorty and Butch (Fred Wayne, Jeff Richards) getting kitted out for new duties at a remote British navy station when Lofty (Bernard Lee) realizes the latter is the man a colleague believes stole his fianceè years earlier, David Orr and Ray Jackson joining the fray, in Crest Of The Wave, 1954.
Crest Of The Wave (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Have A Look At This Midget American Navy scientist Bradville (Gene Kelly) setting terms with Brit Lt. Wharton (John Justin), whose previous supervisor was killed working with the new explosive compound they’re testing, joined by his tech crew (Jeff Richards, Fred Wayne), in the Boulting brothers’ Crest Of The Wave, 1954.
Brighton Rock (1947) -- (Movie Clip) So There You Are, Fred! Fine location work by cameramen Harry Waxman and Gilbert Taylor as Fred (Alan Wheatley) is chased through the streets and boardwalks of Brighton by Pinkie (Richard Attenborough) and gang in Brighton Rock, 1947.
Brighton Rock (1947) -- (Movie Clip) I Always Look At You Close Teenage chief hoodlum Pinky (Richard Attenborough), his murder victim being removed outside, looks to retrieve an incriminating flyer left by one of his gang at the cafe where Rose (Carol Marsh, her first scene) works, in Graham Greene's Brighton Rock, 1947.
Run for the Sun -- (Movie Clip) We're Lucky Mike (Richard Widmark) hides Katy (Jane Greer) then leaves a false trail for Browne (Trevor Howard) and Van Anders (Peter Van Eyck) during the jungle hunt in Run for the Sun, 1956.
Run for the Sun -- (Movie Clip) That Bullet Mike (Richard Widmark) gets his lucky bullet back and begins, with Katy (Jane Greer) to wonder what Browne (Trevor Howard) and Van Anders (Peter Van Eyck) are up to in Run for the Sun, 1956.
Run for the Sun -- (Movie Clip) Latimer Richard Widmark (as adventure-novelist Mike Latimer) in a brief musical performance and an early encounter with journalist Katy Connors (Jane Greer) in Run for the Sun, 1956.
Run for the Sun -- (Movie Clip) Connie When Katy (Jane Greer) finds Mike (Richard Widmark) struggling to write, he tells her about his wife Connie, in director Roy Boulting's Run for the Sun, 1956.
Man In A Cocked Hat -- (Movie Clip) No Lavatories The newly arrived young king (Ian Bannen) baffles the Brits (Terry-Thomas, Thorley Walters) then his own Prime Minister Amphibulos (Peter Sellers) in the Boulting brothers' Man In A Cocked Hat (a.k.a. Carlton-Browne Of The F.O.), 1959.
Man In A Cocked Hat -- (Movie Clip) Aeroporta Gaillardia Carlton-Browne (Terry-Thomas, in outrageous hat) and Bellingham (Thorley Walters) arrive in Gaillardia and meet Prime Minister Amphibulos (Peter Sellers) in Man In A Cocked Hat (a.k.a. Carlton-Browne Of The F.O.), 1959..
Man In A Cocked Hat -- (Movie Clip) Miscellaneous Territories Jaunty opening introducing the British territory of Gaillardia, and Carlton-Browne (Terry Thomas) and parents (Kynaston Reeves, Marie Lohr), in the Boulting brothers' Man In A Cocked Hat (a.k.a. Carlton-Browne Of The F.O.), 1959.

Trailer

Family

Arthur Boulting
Father
Rose Boulting
Mother
Peter Cotes
Brother
Actor, producer, director. Born on March 12, 1919; directed "The Mousetrap" in London in 1952 which went on to become the world's longest-running play; died at age 86 on November 10, 1998.
John Boulting
Brother
Filmmaker. Twin; partnered with Roy until his death in 1985.
Crispian Boulting
Son
Musician. Born in 1973; mother, Hayley Mills; founded band Kula Shaker; had been estranged for some twenty-years before reconciling in the late 1990s.

Companions

Angela Warnock
Wife
Married in 1936; divorced in 1941.
Jean Capon
Wife
Married in 1942; divorced in 1951; mother of two of Boulting's sons.
Enid Munnik
Wife
Married in 1951; divorced in 1964; mother of three of Boulting's sons.
Victoria Vaughan
Companion
Mother of one of Boulting's sons.
Hayley Mills
Wife
Actor. Married in 1971; separated in 1975; divorced in 1978; mother of Boulting's son Crispian.
Sandra Spencer
Wife
Married in 1978; divorced in 1984.

Bibliography