Jimmy Sangster
Encyclopedia
James Henry Kinmel Sangster (2 December 1927 – 19 August 2011) was an English
screenwriter
and director
, known for his work for horror film
producers Hammer Film Productions
, including scripts for The Curse of Frankenstein (the first British horror movie to be shot in colour) and Dracula
(US: Horror of Dracula).
Sangster originally worked as a production assistant at the studio, as well as assistant director
, second unit director and production manager. After Hammer Films Productions' success with The Quatermass Xperiment
, Sangster was approached to write The Curse of Frankenstein, to which he said, "I'm not a writer. I'm a production manager." According to Sangster, Hammer Films' response was, "Well, you've come up with a couple of ideas and if we like it, we'll pay you. If we don't like it, we won't pay you. You're being paid as a production manager, so you can't complain." He later turned to direction with The Horror of Frankenstein
and Lust for a Vampire
(both 1970) for the studio, but with far less success. His third (and last) film as director was 1972's Fear in the Night
, which resurrected the psychological woman-in-peril thriller Sangster had begun with his script for Taste of Fear
in 1961. All three of these films featured actor Ralph Bates
, one of Hammer's best-known actors of the latter period of the company.
Sangster scripted and produced two films for Bette Davis
, The Nanny (1965) and The Anniversary
(1968).
Other scriptwriting credits included The Siege of Sidney Street
(1960) which starred Donald Sinden
and in which Sangster appeared as Winston Churchill
.
He is survived by his third wife, the actress Mary Peach
and by a son from an earlier marriage, Mark James Sangster and two grandchildren, Claire and Ian Sangster.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, known for his work for horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
producers Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and comedies and in later...
, including scripts for The Curse of Frankenstein (the first British horror movie to be shot in colour) and Dracula
Dracula (1958 film)
Dracula, also known as Horror of Dracula in the United States, is a 1958 British horror film. It is the first in the series of Hammer Horror films inspired by the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Carol Marsh, Melissa Stribling and...
(US: Horror of Dracula).
Sangster originally worked as a production assistant at the studio, as well as assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
, second unit director and production manager. After Hammer Films Productions' success with The Quatermass Xperiment
The Quatermass Xperiment
The Quatermass Xperiment is a 1955 British science fiction horror film. Made by Hammer Film Productions, it was based on the 1953 BBC Television serial The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale. It was directed by Val Guest and stars Brian Donlevy as the eponymous Professor Bernard...
, Sangster was approached to write The Curse of Frankenstein, to which he said, "I'm not a writer. I'm a production manager." According to Sangster, Hammer Films' response was, "Well, you've come up with a couple of ideas and if we like it, we'll pay you. If we don't like it, we won't pay you. You're being paid as a production manager, so you can't complain." He later turned to direction with The Horror of Frankenstein
The Horror of Frankenstein
The Horror of Frankenstein is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and remake of the 1957 film The Curse of Frankenstein. It was produced and directed by Jimmy Sangster, starring Ralph Bates, Kate O'Mara, Veronica Carlson and David Prowse as the monster...
and Lust for a Vampire
Lust for a Vampire
Lust For a Vampire is a 1971 British Hammer Horror film directed by Jimmy Sangster, starring Yutte Stensgaard, Michael Johnston and Barbara Jefford. It is the second film in the so-called Karnstein Trilogy loosely based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla...
(both 1970) for the studio, but with far less success. His third (and last) film as director was 1972's Fear in the Night
Fear in the Night (1972 film)
Fear in the Night is a 1972 British psychological horror film directed by Jimmy Sangster and starring Judy Geeson, Joan Collins and Peter Cushing. A young woman goes to take up a new position working in a boy's boarding school. She soon begins to believe she is losing her mind when a one armed man...
, which resurrected the psychological woman-in-peril thriller Sangster had begun with his script for Taste of Fear
Taste of Fear
Taste of Fear is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Seth Holt, shot in black-and-white by Douglas Slocombe, and released by Hammer Films...
in 1961. All three of these films featured actor Ralph Bates
Ralph Bates
Ralph Bates was an English film and television actor, known for his role in the British sitcom Dear John and for being one of Hammer Horror's best-known actors from the latter period of the company....
, one of Hammer's best-known actors of the latter period of the company.
Sangster scripted and produced two films for Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
, The Nanny (1965) and The Anniversary
The Anniversary (film)
The Anniversary is a 1968 British black comedy film directed by Roy Ward Baker. The screenplay by Jimmy Sangster is based on the 1966 play of the same title by Bill MacIlwraith.-Plot:...
(1968).
Other scriptwriting credits included The Siege of Sidney Street
The Siege of Sidney Street
The Siege of Sidney Street is a 1960 British historical drama film co-directed by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman. It starred Donald Sinden, Nicole Berger and Kieron Moore....
(1960) which starred Donald Sinden
Donald Sinden
Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE is an English actor of theatre, film and television.-Personal life:Sinden was born in Plymouth, Devon, England, on 9 October 1923. The son of Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes , he grew up in the Sussex village of Ditchling, where their home doubled as the...
and in which Sangster appeared as Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
He is survived by his third wife, the actress Mary Peach
Mary Peach
Mary Peach is a British film and television actress, who was married to the screenwriter and director Jimmy Sangster until his death in 2011....
and by a son from an earlier marriage, Mark James Sangster and two grandchildren, Claire and Ian Sangster.