Anthony Simmons (writer)
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Simmons is a British
writer
/film producer
. He was associated with, though separate from, the Free Cinema
movement; he said he was greatly influenced by Humphrey Jennings
and by Michelangelo Antonioni
’s movie Il Grido
.
His documentary Sunday by the Sea (1951) won the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival
. Four in the Morning
(1965), his first feature film as director, did not gain a circuit release despite winning awards at several international film festivals, and a BAFTA award for Judi Dench
as Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.
For several years Simmons worked in radio and making TV commercials until his second feature The Optimists of Nine Elms
(1973) starring Peter Sellers
. His 1977 feature movie Black Joy
was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival
. His TV drama On Giant's Shoulders (1979) won an Emmy Award
.
He also directed episodes for various UK TV series, including The Professionals
, Supergran
, Inspector Morse
, Van Der Valk
, A Touch of Frost and 'C.A.T.S. Eyes
– feature – producer (1957) Your Money or Your Wife
' – feature – director (1960)Four in the Morning – feature – director/writer (1965)
The Optimists of Nine Elms
– feature – director/co-writer (1973), based on his novel The Optimists of Nine Elms
Black Joy
– feature – director/co-writer (1977)
Green Ice – feature – co-writer (1981)
Little Sweetheart – feature – director/writer (1989)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
/film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. He was associated with, though separate from, the Free Cinema
Free Cinema
Free Cinema was a documentary film movement that emerged in England in the mid-1950s. The term referred to an absence of propagandised intent or deliberate box office appeal. Co-founded by Lindsay Anderson, though he later disdained the 'movement' tag, with Karel Reisz, Tony Richardson and Lorenza...
movement; he said he was greatly influenced by Humphrey Jennings
Humphrey Jennings
Frank Humphrey Sinkler Jennings was an English documentary filmmaker and one of the founders of the Mass Observation organization...
and by Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
’s movie Il Grido
Il grido
Il grido is a 1957 Italian black-and-white drama film, directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Its title means "The Outcry", but it was originally released in the English-speaking world as The Cry. The DVD release uses the Italian title. The film stars American actor Steve Cochran, Alida Valli, Betsy...
.
Career
Simmons claimed: "I wasn’t aiming to be a film director. I was a lawyer aiming to be a writer. But I felt that if I wrote films it was more immediate. It’s quicker. You haven’t got to spell out the words, you just make the image and tell the story."His documentary Sunday by the Sea (1951) won the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
. Four in the Morning
Four in the Morning (film)
Four in the Morning is a 1965 British film directed by Anthony Simmons.-External links:...
(1965), his first feature film as director, did not gain a circuit release despite winning awards at several international film festivals, and a BAFTA award for Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
as Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.
For several years Simmons worked in radio and making TV commercials until his second feature The Optimists of Nine Elms
The Optimists of Nine Elms
The Optimists, also known as The Optimists of Nine Elms, is a 1973 British drama film starring Peter Sellers and directed by Anthony Simmons, who also wrote the 1964 novel on which the book is based...
(1973) starring Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
. His 1977 feature movie Black Joy
Black Joy (1977 film)
Black Joy is a British film released in 1977, directed by Anthony Simmons. The story of an immigrant country boy in Brixton, London, it has been described as the UK's only example of a "Blaxploitation" movie, a genre more familiar in the United States. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film...
was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival
1977 Cannes Film Festival
The 30th Cannes Film Festival was held on May 13-27. A new non-competitive section, 'Le Passé composé', is held at this festival only and focuses on compilations.- Jury :*Roberto Rossellini *N'Sougan Agblemagnon...
. His TV drama On Giant's Shoulders (1979) won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
.
He also directed episodes for various UK TV series, including The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
, Supergran
Supergran
Super Gran is a 1980s children's television programme, about a grandmother with super powers. The show was adapted by Jenny McDade from books written by Forrest Wilson and was produced by Tyne Tees Television for Children's ITV, with the titular character played by Gudrun Ure, and Iain Cuthbertson...
, Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
, Van Der Valk
Van der Valk
Van der Valk is a British television series that was produced by Thames Television for the ITV network. It starred Barry Foster in the title role as Dutch detective Commissaris "Piet" van der Valk...
, A Touch of Frost and 'C.A.T.S. Eyes
C.A.T.S. Eyes
C.A.T.S. Eyes is a British television series made by TVS for ITV between 1985 and 1987.-Premise:The series was a spin-off from The Gentle Touch and saw Jill Gascoine reprise her role as Det. Insp. Maggie Forbes, having left the police force to join a private detective agency called "Eyes" that is...
Filmography
Time Without Pity
Time Without Pity is a thriller about a father trying to save his son from execution for murder.It stars Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, and Leo McKern.-Plot:David Graham has only 24 hours to save his son, Alec, from hanging...
– feature – producer (1957) Your Money or Your Wife
Your Money or Your Wife
Your Money or Your Wife is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Anthony Simmons and starring Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins and Richard Wattis.-Cast:* Donald Sinden - Pelham Butterworth* Peggy Cummins - Gay Butterworth* Richard Wattis - Hubert Fry...
' – feature – director (1960)
The Optimists of Nine Elms
The Optimists, also known as The Optimists of Nine Elms, is a 1973 British drama film starring Peter Sellers and directed by Anthony Simmons, who also wrote the 1964 novel on which the book is based...
– feature – director/co-writer (1973), based on his novel The Optimists of Nine Elms
Black Joy (1977 film)
Black Joy is a British film released in 1977, directed by Anthony Simmons. The story of an immigrant country boy in Brixton, London, it has been described as the UK's only example of a "Blaxploitation" movie, a genre more familiar in the United States. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film...
– feature – director/co-writer (1977)