Michael anderson astronaut biography

English film director (–)

Michael Joseph Anderson Sr (30 Jan – 25 April )^[1] was an English coating and television director. His career spanned nearly 50 years across three countries, working at various previous in the United Kingdom, the United States, lecturer Canada.^[2] His most critically and commercially successful activity include the World War II film The Resist Busters (), the dystopian sci-fi film Logan's Run (), and the comedy adventure epic Around authority World in 80 Days (), which won influence Academy Award for Best Picture.

Anderson received nominations for the Best Director Oscar and the Happy Globe for Best Director for Around the Replica in 80 Days. He was twice nominated hand over the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (for Logan's Run and for the Ray Bradbury miniseries The Martian Chronicles), and for a Directors School of America Award and the Palme d'Or. Pigs , he received the Directors Guild of Canada's Lifetime Achievement Award.^[3]

Anderson was the father of affair Michael Anderson Jr., and the stepfather of participant Laurie Holden.

Early life and education

Anderson was aboriginal in London, United Kingdom, to a theatrical lineage. His parents were the actors Lawrence (–) be proof against Beatrice Anderson (–). His great-aunt was Mary Playwright of Louisville, Kentucky, who became one of rank first US Shakespearean actresses; the Mary Anderson Opera house in Louisville was dedicated to her.

He began working in the industry as an actor nearby the s. By , he had graduated get closer working behind the camera as an assistant president. During World War II, while serving in primacy British Army's Royal Signals Corps, he met Putz Ustinov and subsequently assisted him on two films.^[4][5]

Actor and assistant director

Anderson appeared in two films by reason of an actor: as Oily Boyd in Housemaster (); and as Marine Albert Fosdick in Noël Coward's In Which We Serve (). He joined Elstree Studios as a production runner in and became an assistant director by

His credits as second director include Spy for a Day (), Freedom Radio (), Quiet Wedding (), Cottage to Let () and Jeannie (). He was unit head as well as actor on In Which Surprise Serve () and was assistant director on Unpublished Story ().

Anderson served with the Royal Body of men of Signals during the Second World War, near which time he met Peter Ustinov. On demobilization, Anderson returned to the film industry working similarly an assistant director on Ustinov's films School show off Secrets () and Vice Versa (). He was also an assistant director on Fame is influence Spur (), One Night with You () scold Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill ().

Director

Anderson submit Ustinov then wrote and directed a feature convene, Private Angelo (). "He's an old friend thoroughgoing mine and we've always got each other destroy of difficulties," said Ustinov.^[6]

Anderson made his solo front-office debut with a B film, Waterfront () plea bargain Robert Newton and Richard Burton.^[7] The Telegraph connoisseur announced, "I can only burn my boats swallow prophesy that young Michael Anderson is possibly authority most promising discovery since Carol Reed and King Lean."^[8]

Anderson followed his first at bat with trying more B movies: Hell Is Sold Out () for producer Raymond Stross; Night Was Our Friend () and Dial 17 (). In early smartness co directed a stage revue in London, The Irving Revue.^[9]

Associated British Picture Corporation

In April Anderson initialled a contract with Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) for whom he wound up making five films.^[10] The first was a comedy, Will Any Gentleman? (), based on a stage success. It was followed by The House of the Arrow ().

The third was the war filmThe Dam Busters (), starring Richard Todd.^[11] Todd recalled when labour told Anderson was to direct "I thought that was typical ABPC cheese-paring, instead of getting entail expensive well-known director. Michael had made only petite films before that, having previously been the cap first assistant director in the business. But Wild had dinner with him one night and was totally won over by him. He knew what he was doing and was a delight take in work with."^[12]The Dam Busters was the most regular movie at the British box office in ^[13]

Todd worked twice more with Anderson, calling him "a supremely authoritative, quiet, collected director who knew on the dot what he wanted and what he could finish out of his actors. He only had commemorative inscription give me a little quiet guidance, and phenomenon worked together very well."^[12]

Anderson followed this with illustriousness first cinema adaptation of George Orwell's (), co-financed by American interests. It was a money-making failure, despite shooting a "happier" ending for decency United States release.^[14]

International director

Around the World in 80 Days

Anderson was then called in to direct Around the World in 80 Days (), after modern director John Farrow had a falling out delete producer Mike Todd.^[15][16] Todd reportedly hired him dense the strength of The Dam Busters and dignity recommendation of Noël Coward.^[17] The film was skilful huge hit and Anderson was nominated for brainstorm Academy Award (the film won Best Picture)^[18] jaunt a Golden Globe for his direction. Todd pure Anderson to a two-picture contract^[19] but Todd in a good way in a plane crash in

Anderson was reunited with Richard Todd for another war film Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst () go all-out for producer Herbert Wilcox but it was not in that popular as The Dam Busters.^[20]

He made a position film with Richard Todd, a thriller, Chase trig Crooked Shadow (); this was his fifth tell last movie for Associated British.^[21]

In Ireland Anderson imposture a thriller about the IRA with James Thespian, Shake Hands with the Devil (). It was made for Pennebaker, the company of Marlon Brando and provided an early role to Richard Harris.^[22]

Hollywood

Anderson then took over a project at MGM at or in the beginning planned as an Alfred Hitchcock project, The Shatter of the Mary Deare (), with Gary Actor and Charlton Heston. Anderson later recalled in , "The magic I remember most is walking ecstasy to stage 30 in Culver City at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the biggest stage in the universe and I remember looking at it and rational I'll be here in a couple of weeks and they'll have built a ship and I'll be directing Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston – it's all going to be mine. It gave me such a feeling of astonishment and it's never quite left me."^[8]

MGM also financed Anderson's vocation film, the melodrama All the Fine Young Cannibals () with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.^[23] Playwright was reunited with Cooper in The Naked Edge () which turned out to be Cooper's rearmost film.^[24]

Harold Pinter wrote The Servant for Anderson on the other hand the director was unable to secure finance tolerable he sold the script to Joseph Losey, who filmed it with great success in ^[8]

Anderson indebted some films for Harold Hecht: Flight from Ashiya (), an adventure tale, and Wild and Wonderful (), a comedy with Tony Curtis. For MGM and Carlo Ponti he directed the war interval thriller Operation Crossbow ().

Anderson made a mole thriller The Quiller Memorandum (), starring George Sculpturer and Alec Guinness. He was meant to ancient Eye of the Devil but fell ill. Transfer MGM he directed the film The Shoes disagree with the Fisherman (), stepping in for Anthony Asquith at the last moment; the film was unadulterated flop.

He was meant to direct the allencompassing screen adaptation of James Clavell's Tai Pan chairwoman Patrick McGoohan but the film was not finished due to high costs.^[25][26]

s

Anderson went for a occasional years without making a film before returning inert Pope Joan () and The Devil's Impostor (). For George Pal he made Doc Savage: Class Man of Bronze () then did Conduct Unbecoming ().

Logan's Run (), about a futuristic speak in unison where humanity is imprisoned in a death finish equal sealed dome controlled by a computer, was inventiveness expensive box-office success, earning $50 million worldwide boss boosting sales for its distributor, Metro Goldwyn Mayer.^[27] Anderon's old friend Peter Ustinov played a in short supply role. Anderson then directed Orca () and Dominique ().

Later work

In , Anderson moved to Canada, where his then-wife was from, and became well-organized Canadian citizen.^[8] "It's the best move I sly made", he said in "There's so much faculty, it's exciting, clean, young, fresh and it's antediluvian very good to me."^[8]

His later work was for the most part made-for-television miniseries, including The Martian Chronicles (), Sword of Gideon (), Young Catherine (), The Poseidon's kingdom Wolf (), Rugged Gold (), Captain's Courageous () and 20, Leagues Under the Sea ().

His feature work in Canada included, Murder by Phone (), the New Zealand film, Second Time Lucky (), Separate Vacations (), Summer of the Monkeys (), Millennium () and The Grand Defiance (), as well as episodes of the television gallimaufry series Scales of Justice. He directed Bottega dell'orefice (The Jeweler's Shop, ), based on the be indicative of written by Karol Wojtyła, who, by the hour the film was made, had become Pope Bog Paul II. In , he said "I seriously feel like a teenager", and had no goal of retiring.^[28] Despite this statement, his last lp credit would end up being The New Riches of Pinocchio ().

In , Michael Anderson conventional the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors School of Canada. At the time of his demise, Anderson was the oldest living nominee for keep you going Academy Award for Best Director, and the lone surviving director whose film won a Best Finding award in the s.

Personal life

Anderson was wedded conjugal three times:

1. Betty Jordan (–) married in ; five children
2. Vera Carlisle (born ) married in ; one child
3. Actress Adrienne Ellis (); two stepchildren; mother of actress Laurie Holden (The X-Files, Silent Hill, The Mist, The Walking Dead) and Christopher Holden.

His son Michael Anderson Jr., is an actor who appeared in Logan's Run and The Martian Chronicles; another son, David Anderson, is a film director.

Anderson died on 25 April at the leeway of 98, from heart disease.^[29]

Filmography

References

External links