Douglas Hickox | |
|---|---|
| Born | Douglas Arthur Hickox (1929-01-10)10 January 1929 |
| Died | 25 July 1988(1988-07-25) (aged 59) London, England |
| Occupations | Film director, television director |
| Years active | 1950–1988 |
| Known for | Theatre of Blood Brannigan Zulu Dawn The Hound of the Baskervilles |
| Spouse | |
Douglas Arthur Hickox (10 January 1929 – 25 July 1988) was an Englishfilm andtelevision director.[1][2]
In 1998, theBritish Independent Film Awards created theDouglas Hickox Award, also named The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director), in his honor, as an annual award to recognize the best British debut director.
Hickox was born in London, where he was educated atEmanuel School. He started in the film industry at age 17, working atPinewood Studios as "a thirty bob a week office boy".[3]
Hickox worked extensively as an assistant director and second unit director throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.The British 'B' Film, by Steve Chibnall and Brian McFarlane (British Film Institute, 2009), credits him with working on over thirty musical shorts and a handful of jazz/pop supporting featurettes. He worked on TV shows such asSunday Break andTempo and became a leading director of TV commercials. In 1966 he won several awards for his advertisements at theVenice International Advertising Film Congress.[4]
He made his first major picture,Entertaining Mr Sloane, in 1970 at the age of 41.[5] He joined forces with the producer who had the rights and raised the finance. Hickox was meant to follow it withA Mouthful of Gold withNicol Williamson andThe Italian Girl byIris Murdoch, but neither was made.[3]
"I think of myself as an interpretive director," he said in 1970. "I'm a narrative director, basically. An audience should become totally involved in the film, the actors and the story. They shouldn't be aware of the director at all or of how things are done."[3]
Over the next ten years, he developed a reputation for the wit and style of his direction, and for his taut action sequences. His work includesLes Bicyclettes de Belsize (1968),Entertaining Mr Sloane (1970),Sitting Target (1972),Theatre of Blood (1973),Brannigan (1975),Sky Riders (1976) andZulu Dawn (1979). He worked on various TV movies and mini-series in the 1980s until his death. He died in a London hospital following a heart surgery operation at age 59.
Hickox was married three times. His first wife was Josephine Elizabeth Popovic (née May). In 1958 he marriedAnne V. Coates, theOscar-winning editor ofLawrence of Arabia. After his death, his third wife Annabel approached theRaindance Film Festival with an annual bequest from Douglas' estate. This bequest led directly to the creation of theBritish Independent Film Awards. In recognition of Douglas's commitment and support for new talent, BIFA inaugurated theDouglas Hickox Award, which is given to a British director on their debut feature.
Douglas had two sons,Anthony Hickox (1959–2023) and James D. R. Hickox (b. 1965), both also directors; and two daughters, one with Coates,Emma Hickox (b. 1964), who is a successful film editor, and one with Annabel, Diana. Anthony Hickox is known forHellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992), whilst he was executive producer onChildren of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995), directed by his brother James. Emma Hickox's resume includesThe Brylcreem Boys,Kinky Boots,The Jacket,The Boat That Rocked,Blue Crush,Rock of Ages andA Walk to Remember.
Douglas Hickox was buried inPutney Vale Cemetery, London.
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