John Guillermin

Director

About

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Birth Place

London, England, GB

Born

November 11, 1925

Died

September 27, 2015

Biography

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A journeyman British director, John Guillermin received his film training in France following WWII. He worked on several documentaries and spent some time in Hollywood before returning to England where he wrote and directed his first feature, "Torment/Paper Gallows" (1949), an entertaining but unoriginal thriller. Guillermin went on to have a modest career helming films in several genres...

Filmography

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Dead or Alive (1988)

King Kong Lives (1986)

Mr. Patman (1980)

Death on the Nile (1978)

King Kong (1976)

Photos & Videos

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Death on the Nile - (Original Trailer)

Skyjacked (1972) -- (Movie Clip) That Man Doesn't Fool Around

Biography

A journeyman British director, John Guillermin received his film training in France following WWII. He worked on several documentaries and spent some time in Hollywood before returning to England where he wrote and directed his first feature, "Torment/Paper Gallows" (1949), an entertaining but unoriginal thriller. Guillermin went on to have a modest career helming films in several genres, including the modestly charming children's flick "Adventure in the Hopfields" (1954), the murder mystery "The Whole Truth" (1958), the caper "The Day They Robbed the Bank of England" (1960) and the highly-regarded farce "Waltz of the Toreadors" (1964). "The Blue Max" (1966) was praised for its stunning aerial shots and the playful relationship of stars Ursula Andress and George Peppard. In the 1970s, he oversaw several all-star features that were more impersonal gaudy spectacles than thrilling blockbusters. Among these were the "Airport"-inspired "Skyjacked" (1972), "The Towering Inferno" (1974), which owed much to its cinematography and special effects, and "Death on the Nile" (1978), adapted from an Agatha Christie mystery. Critics were divided over his remake of "King Kong" (1976), some found it clever and amusing, others banal.

Filmography

Director (Feature Film)

Dead or Alive (1988)

King Kong Lives (1986)

Mr. Patman (1980)

Death on the Nile (1978)

King Kong (1976)

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Shaft In Africa (1973)

Skyjacked (1972)

El Condor (1970)

House of Cards (1969)

The Bridge at Remagen (1969)

The Blue Max (1966)

Guns at Batasi (1964)

Waltz of the Toreadors (1962)

Tarzan Goes to India (1962)

Never Let Go (1962)

The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960)

Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)

The Whole Truth (1958)

Hell, Heaven or Hoboken (1958)

Town on Trial (1957)

Thunderstorm (1956)

The Crowded Day (1954)

Adventure In The Hopfields (1954)

Operation Diplomat (1953)

Miss Robin Hood (1952)

Four Days (1951)

Writer (Feature Film)

Never Let Go (1962)

Tarzan Goes to India (1962)

Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)

Operation Diplomat (1953)

Life Events

1946

Worked as assistant director on documentary films, many shot in France

1949

Directed first feature "Torment/Paper Gallows"; also scripted and co-produced

1959

Directed first Tarzan feature, "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure"; featured in cast was Sean Connery

1962

Helmed the adaptation of "The Waltz of the Torreadors", starring Peter Sellers

1966

First film with George Peppard, "The Blue Max"

1968

Reteamed with Peppard on "P.J."

1974

Directed the all-star "disaster" film "The Towering Inferno"

1976

Helmed the remake of "King Kong" which introduced Jessica Lange

1978

Directed the all-star Agatha Christie mystery "Death on the Nile"

1986

Last feature to date, the sequel "King Kong Lives"

Videos

Skyjacked (1972) -- (Movie Clip) That Man Doesn't Fool Around The leading man (Charlton Heston) taking charge, with Ken Swofford on the tarmac, Yvette Mimieux and Mike Henry in the lounge, singer Leslie Uggams among the flight attendants, and a ruling for passengers Roosevelt Grier and James Brolin, opening the early disaster-thriller Skyjacked,1972.

Day They Robbed The Bank Of England, The -- (Movie Clip) The Bank Picket Opening narration establishing Irish-American Norgate (Aldo Ray), in 1901 London, in The Day They Robbed The Bank Of England, 1960, also starring Hugh Griffith and Peter O'Toole.

Day They Robbed The Bank Of England, The -- (Movie Clip) The Mood Of The Fish Peter O'Toole (as Lt. Fitch) in his first appearance in his first important role, meeting Irish-American plotter Norgate (Aldo Ray) in a London pub, in The Day They Robbed The Bank Of England, 1960.

I Was Monty's Double -- (Movie Clip) Very Special Visitor Tracking ex-flame Peggy (Maureen Connell) to a dance hall, intelligence officer Harvey (John Mills) sees an impersonator and gets an idea, in I Was Monty's Double, (a.k.a. Heaven, Hell Or Hoboken, 1958.

I Was Monty's Double -- (Movie Clip) By Way Of Tibet Intelligence officer Harvey (John Mills) reports to Colonel Logan (Cecil Parker), for a briefing on a D-Day deception scheme, early in I Was Monty's Double, (a.k.a Heaven, Hell or Hoboken), 1958.

Death on the Nile - (Original Trailer) Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) investigates the murder of an heiress during an Egyptian tour in Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (1978).

Whole Truth, The - (Original Trailer) Stewart Granger is accused of murdering his mistress and it is up to wife Donna Reed to prove him innocent in The Whole Truth (1958).

Shaft in Africa - (Original Trailer) Shaft is recruited to go undercover to break up a modern slavery ring in Shaft in Africa (1973).

Bibliography

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