Michael Deeley
Michael Deeley's voice
from the BBC programme Desert Island Discs, 14 December 2008.[1]
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Michael Deeley (born 6 August 1932) is a British film producer known for such motion pictures as The Italian Job, The Deer Hunter and Blade Runner. He is also a founding member and currently Honorary President of The British Screen Advisory Council.

Biography

Deeley's father was a director at McCann-Erickson advertising agency, and his mother was a PA to various film producers. After national service in Malaysia during the time of the Malayan Emergency, Deeley got a job through his mother's connections as an assistant editor at a company run by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

While editing the TV show The Adventures of Robin Hood he and his editing partner Harry Booth decided to branch into producing together. They raised funds to produce a 26-minute short starring Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan, The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn (1956). This launched Deeley's producing career, although he did not give up his day job as editor for the next few years.[2]

In the early 1960s Deeley worked for the UK sales arm of MCA Universal for three years, then he returned to producing with Sandy the Reluctant Nudist and One Way Pendulum (1964). The latter was made for Woodfall Film Productions who hired Deeley in 1964 to assist Oscar Lewenstein, a director of the company.

Deeley went on to produce Robbery (1967), which started a partnership with Stanley Baker making films through Oakhurst Productions. Along with Baker and Barry Spikings Deeley also established a series of companies all called "Great Western" which did a variety of activities, including music festivals (Great Western Festivals), and investments (Great Western Investments). Great Western Investments later took over British Lion Films in 1973, and Deeley was appointed managing director of that company.[2][3]

While at British Lion, Deeley oversaw the release of Don't Look Now (1973) and The Wicker Man (1973), and helped finance The Internecine Project, Who?, Conduct Unbecoming (1975) and Ransom (1975). He also personally produced The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976).

In 1976 British Lion merged with EMI Films and Deeley and Spikings took over management of that company.[4][5] They oversaw a series of successful films including Convoy, The Driver, Death on the Nile, Warlords of Atlantis and The Deer Hunter (all 1978).[6] [7][8]

Deeley left the company in 1979 and produced Blade Runner (1982). [9]

In 1984 Deeley was appointed CEO of Consolidated, a TV company seeking to further expand into US network television.[2]

Selected filmography

Unmade Films

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Deeley profile". Desert Island Discs. 14 December 2008. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Michael Deeley, Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies, Pegasus Books, 2009, pp. 95-97, 186.
  3. ↑ £1m. bid for studio likely The Irish Times (1921-Current File) [Dublin, Ireland] 11 June 1975: 14.
  4. ↑ Acquisitionof B Lion The Guardian (1959-2003) [London (UK)] 19 May 1976: 18
  5. ↑ The final fade-out for British Lion Barker, Dennis. The Guardian (1959-2003) [London (UK)] 14 May 1977: 2.
  6. ↑ If a Movie Goes in America, Will Rest of World Buy It?: E.M.I. Films Chief Says Answer Depends Upon Motion and Stars By ALJEAN HARMETZ Special to The New York Times. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 01 Aug 1977: 34.
  7. ↑ Films shop for cash in worldwide markets: Films shop for cash in the markets of the world Wilson, John M. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 05 Aug 1979: g20.
  8. ↑ The man who came to film The Guardian (1959-2003) [London (UK)] 18 July 1979: 10.
  9. ↑ RODERICK MANN: 'BLADE RUNNER': FILM REQUIRING 2020 VISION Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 03 Mar 1981: g1.
  10. ↑ FILM CLIPS: 'The Body Snatchers' Moves Up Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 Oct 1977: c11.

Sources

External links

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