Michael Anderson (director)

Michael Anderson
Born	Michael Joseph Anderson, Sr. 30 January 1920 (1920-01-30) (age 91) London, England, U.K.
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1949 - 1999

Michael Joseph Anderson, Sr. (born 30 January 1920) is an English film director, best known for directing The Dam Busters (1955), Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and Logan's Run (1976).

Early life

He was born in London, England: Anderson's was a theatrical family. His parents were the actors Lawrence and Beatrice Anderson. His great-aunt was Mary Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky, who became one of the first American Shakespearian actresses; the Mary Anderson Theatre in Louisville was dedicated to her.

Career

After serving in the Second World War, Anderson first developed his career in British films, becoming a director in 1949 and enjoying his first success with the war film The Dam Busters (1955). The Dam Busters made good use of limited special effects and is often cited as an inspiration for the climax of the first Star Wars film. He directed the first cinema adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 (1956) and Around the World in 80 Days (1956), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his direction. He also directed the 1968 film The Shoes of the Fisherman starring Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.

He settled in Hollywood, California, making such science fiction offerings as Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) and Logan's Run (1976). Logan's Run was an expensive box-office success, contributing a box office of $50 million worldwide and boosting sales for its distributor, Metro Goldwyn Mayer. It has gone on to enjoy a cult status. He also directed Orca (1977). Anderson's later work was mostly made-for-television miniseries, including The Martian Chronicles (1980), Sword of Gideon (1986) and Young Catherine (1991). In 1988, he directed Bottega dell'orefice (The Jeweler's Shop), based on the 1960 play written by Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II). Other films he has directed include All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960), Flight from Ashiya (1964), The Quiller Memorandum (1966), Yangtse Incident (1957) and a film adaptation of Conduct Unbecoming (1975).

He is fluent in French, Italian, and German.

Anderson is currently the oldest individual still living that was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director.

Personal life

He has been married three times:

1. Betty Jordan 1939; five children
2. Vera Carlisle 1969; one child
3. Adrienne Ellis 1977 to date; two stepchildren; stepfather of actress Laurie Holden (The X-Files, Silent Hill, The Mist, The Walking Dead) and Christopher Holden.

His son Michael Anderson, Jr., is an actor who appeared in Logan's Run; another son David Anderson, is a film producer.

Filmography

• Private Angelo (1949)
• Waterfront Women (1950)
• Hell Is Sold Out (1951)
• Night Was Our Friend (1951)
• Will Any Gentleman...? (1953)
• The House of the Arrow (1953)
• The Dam Busters (1955)
• 1984 (1956)
• Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
• Yangtse Incident (1957)
• Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958)
• Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
• The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959)
• All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960)
• The Naked Edge (1961)
• Flight from Ashiya (1964)
• Wild and Wonderful (1964)
• Operation Crossbow (1965)
• The Quiller Memorandum (1966)
• The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)
• Pope Joan (1972)
• Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)
• Conduct Unbecoming (1975)
• Logan's Run (1976)
• Orca (1977)
• Dominique (1978)
• The Martian Chronicles (1980) (TV)
• Murder by Phone (1982)
• Second Time Lucky (1984)
• Separate Vacations (1986)
• Sword of Gideon (1986) (TV)
• The Jeweller's Shop (1989)
• Millennium (1989)
• Young Catherine (1991) (TV)
• The Sea Wolf (1993) (TV)
• Rugged Gold (1994) (TV)
• Captains Courageous (1996) (TV)
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997) (TV)
• Summer of the Monkeys (1998)
• The New Adventures of Pinocchio (1999)

References

External links

• Michael Anderson at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Anderson at AllRovi
• Michael Anderson biography at BFI Screenonline

Persondata
Name	Anderson, Michael
Alternative names
Short description	Film director
Date of birth	January 30, 1920
Place of birth	London, England  United Kingdom
Date of death
Place of death