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Michael Latham Powell (September 30, 1905-February 19,1990) was a British film director, renowned for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger which produced a series of classic British films.
Powell was born in Bekesbourne, Kent, and educated at Dulwich College. He worked in a bank before becoming an actor and entering the film industry. He developed his skills directing 'quota quickies', sometimes making up to 7 films a year. In 1939 he met Emeric Pressburger whilst they worked together on The Spy in Black — together they made 19 films, many of which received critical and commercial success.
After making the psychological horror film Peeping Tom in 1960 as a solo effort, Powell was ostracised by the film world. His offence, it seemed, was to have made a horror movie that was genuinely horrific. However, his reputation was restored over the years, and by the time of his death he and Pressburger were recognised as one of the foremost film partnerships of all time.
Filmography
- For his films with Emeric Pressburger, see Powell and Pressburger and Powell and Pressburger films
Early work
His early film are mostly low-quality 'quota quickies':
- 1928: Riviera Revels
- 1930: Caste (uncredited)
- 1931: Two Crowded Hours
- 1932: His Lordship, C.O.D., Hotel Splendide, The Star Reporter, Rynox, The Rasp, My Friend the King
- 1933: Born Lucky
- 1934: Something Always Happens, Red Ensign (US title: Strike!), The Fire Raisers
- 1935: Someday (aka Young Nowheres), The Price of a Song, The Phantom Light, The Night of the Party (US title: The Murder Party), The Love Test, Lazybones, The Girl in the Crowd
- 1936: The Man Behind the Mask (reissued as Behind the Mask), Crown Vs. Stevens (aka Third Time Unlucky), The Brown Wallet, Her Last Affaire
Later work
From late 1930s onwards, most of Powell's films were in collaboration with Pressburger. His solo films were:
- The Edge of the World (1937)
- Smith (1939)
- The Lion Has Wings (1939)
- The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
- An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941)
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1955)
- Luna de miel (1959, aka Honeymoon)
- Peeping Tom (1960)
- The Queen's Guards (1961)
- Herzog Blaubarts Burg (1964, aka Bluebeard's Castle)
- Age of Consent (1969)
- Return to the Edge of the World (1978)
External links
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