Biography for
John Boorman

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John Boorman attended Catholic school (Salesian Order) although his family was not, in fact, Roman Catholic. His first job was for a drycleaner. Later he worked as a critic for a women's journal and for a radio station until he entered the television business, working for the BBC in Bristol. There he started as assistant but worked later as director on documentaries, such as "The Newcomers" (1964). His friendship with Lee Marvin allowed him to work in Hollywood (e.g. Point Blank (1967) and Hell in the Pacific (1968)) from where he returned to the UK (e.g. Leo the Last (1970), Zardoz (1974) or _Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)_). He became famous for Excalibur (1981), The Emerald Forest (1985) an his autobiographic story Hope and Glory (1987) where he tells his own experiences as a child after World War II and which brought him another Academy Award Nomination after Deliverance (1972).

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Trivialidades

Attended Catholic school (Salesian Order) although his family was not Roman Catholic. Apparently his parents thought that Catholic school teachers would be less likely to be drafted into WWII.

He is President of the Young Irish Film Makers, a youth based film training organisation based in Kilkenny, Ireland.

Father of Katrine Boorman, Charley Boorman, Telsche Boorman, and Daisy Boorman.

2004: Awarded the fellowship of the British Film Academy.

Said he cast Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren as Merlin and Morgana, respectively, against both their protests, in Excalibur (1981) because he thought their real-life dislike for each other would give their scenes more of an edge.

On the DVD commentary for Excalibur (1981), he never refers to the late Nicholas Clay, the actor who played Lancelot, by name.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985." Pages 141-145. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1992.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1991.

Grandfather of Kinvara Boorman and Doone Boorman.

Personal Quotes

(On the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy) "I think it was a brilliant idea to make three films ... I'm glad 'The Lord Of The Rings' is being made now, and I'm looking forward to seeing it. I'm sure it'll be a big success."

(On his failed attempt at bringing writer J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings to the screen) "Everything I learned, the technical problems I had to resolve in planning for 'The Lord Of The Rings,' I applied to Excalibur (1981). That was my recompense."

"I always think that watching films is very like dreaming."

"He seems to think he's Lee Marvin. Except he's two feet shorter. And about one third the talent." - On Mel Gibson

[on Lee Marvin] I learned more from Lee about filmmaking than from anyone. He has this incredible economy and brilliant camera technique. Most actors are completely spastic when it comes to moving properly, but Lee has the economy and quickness of a dancer.

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