Director
Jack Lee
Born January 27, 1913 in Slad, Gloucestershire, EnglandDied October 15, 200212 films
Wilfred John Raymond Lee (27 January 1913 – 15 October 2002) was a British film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, who directed a number of postwar films on location in Asia and Australia for The Rank Organisation.
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Lee was born in the village of Slad near Stroud, Gloucestershire, the eldest brother of Laurie Lee, author of Cider with Rosie. In childhood, the two boys were close but fell out in later life. Natural rivals, Jack gained a place at the grammar school (Marling School in Stroud); Laurie failed to do so, attending Stroud Central School for Boys.
He directed and co-wrote the screenplay of the pioneering motorcycle speedway film Once a Jolly Swagman (1949) which starred Dirk Bogarde.
Among Jack Lee's other films are The Wooden Horse (1950), a popular Second World War POW escape film; Turn the Key Softly (1953), a realistic drama; A Town Like Alice (1956), starring Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch, based on Nevil Shute's novel; and Robbery Under Arms (1957), a Western-style adventure set in Australia, based on the 1888 bushranger novel by "Rolf Boldrewood".
During the Australian feature film renaissance ushered in with Picnic at Hanging Rock, he served as chairman (from 1976 to 1981) of the South Australian Film Corporation, which started the careers of Bruce Beresford and Peter Weir.
Filmography
12 films as director- 1960Circle of DeceptionDirector
- 1959The Captain's TableDirector
- 1957Robbery Under ArmsDirector
- 1956A Town Like AliceDirector
- 1953Turn the Key SoftlyDirector
- 1953South of AlgiersDirector
- 1950The Wooden HorseDirector
- 1949Once a Jolly SwagmanDirector
- 1947Children on TrialDirector
- 1947The Woman in the HallDirector
- 1941The Pilot Is SafeDirector
- 1941Ordinary PeopleDirector