Tony Maylam
Encyclopedia
Tony Maylam is an English
-born filmmaker for cinema and television.
on the 100 years of the FA Cup. A number of films for television followed, which he wrote and directed, including Graham, on Graham Hill
with Paul Newman
(which was one of the highest rated documentaries shown on British television in the 1970s) and A Fast Drive in the Country with James Coburn
. This led to White Rock, again featuring James Coburn, with a bestselling soundtrack by Rick Wakeman
, which played in British cinemas for over six months and garnered wide international sales and recognition, including BAFTA.
Another Tony Maylam film which received an extensive cinema release in 1976 was Genesis in Concert, featuring Phil Collins
, which, like White Rock, was shot in anamorphic
Panavision
. This led to Tony Maylam’s first fictional feature film, an adaption of the classic novel, The Riddle of the Sands
, starring Simon MacCorkindale
, Michael York
and Jenny Agutter
, which he wrote and directed.
Bob and Harvey Weinstein
then bought White Rock and Genesis for release in the United States and released it under the combined title of Sensasia (Harvey at the time was a major rock promoter based in Buffalo, New York). This led to Harvey and Bob’s first venture as full movie producers, a cult horror film, The Burning, which Maylam directed and which was also the first film for Jason Alexander
, Fisher Stevens
and Holly Hunter
. Whilst in the United States, Maylam also directed a movie for ABC television, The Sins of Dorian Gray, a 1983 made-for-TV adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray
that starred Anthony Perkins
.
Tony Maylam also wrote and directed, Hero
, featuring Diego Maradona
, the Official Film of the FIFA World Cup
, which received wide acclaim during its international cinema release (including Argentina
, where it was one of the biggest box-office successes of 1987).
Back in the UK, Tony made the critically acclaimed feature-length film for the BBC, Across the Lake, starring Anthony Hopkins
, which was one of the highest-rated dramas on British television throughout the 1980s.
Besides a substantial amount of commercial work for companies like Coca-Cola
, Goodyear
and Shell
, in 1992 Maylam made a science fiction thriller, Split Second
, starring Rutger Hauer, which was widely shown internationally, including the biggest print-release of any independent British film in the US. In 2001, he wrote and directed the movie thriller, Phoenix Blue, and in 2008, wrote and directed a thriller shot in Italy and London, Journal of a Contract Killer, which won Best Film and Best Actress in New York.
Tony Maylam has also recently written and directed ten major documentaries for Speed/Fox TV under the title, Victory by Design
. This award-winning series is continuing its run.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born filmmaker for cinema and television.
Biography
Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he began his career as an actor and then television presenter for ZDF Bermuda (The Tony Maylam Show) and the UK’s ITV (Sportsweek), before concentrating solely on filmmaking. Always interested in sport, he began his cinematic career in 1972 with the film Cup Glory, a feature length theatrical film with Richard AttenboroughRichard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
on the 100 years of the FA Cup. A number of films for television followed, which he wrote and directed, including Graham, on Graham Hill
Graham Hill
Norman Graham Hill was a British racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion. He is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.Graham Hill and his son Damon are the only father and son pair both to...
with Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
(which was one of the highest rated documentaries shown on British television in the 1970s) and A Fast Drive in the Country with James Coburn
James Coburn
James Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
. This led to White Rock, again featuring James Coburn, with a bestselling soundtrack by Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, which played in British cinemas for over six months and garnered wide international sales and recognition, including BAFTA.
Another Tony Maylam film which received an extensive cinema release in 1976 was Genesis in Concert, featuring Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, which, like White Rock, was shot in anamorphic
Anamorphic format
Anamorphic format is a term that can be used either for: the cinematography technique of capturing a widescreen picture on standard 35 mm film, or other visual recording media, with a non-widescreen native aspect ratio; or a photographic projection format in which the original image requires an...
Panavision
Panavision
Panavision is an American motion picture equipment company specializing in cameras and lenses, based in Woodland Hills, California. Formed by Robert Gottschalk as a small partnership to create anamorphic projection lenses during the widescreen boom in the 1950s, Panavision expanded its product...
. This led to Tony Maylam’s first fictional feature film, an adaption of the classic novel, The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service is a 1903 novel by Erskine Childers. It is an early example of the espionage novel, with a strong underlying theme of militarism...
, starring Simon MacCorkindale
Simon MacCorkindale
Simon Charles Pendered MacCorkindale was a British actor, film director, writer and producer. MacCorkindale spent much of his childhood moving around due to his father's commission with the Royal Air Force. Poor eyesight prevented him from following a similar career in the RAF, so he instead...
, Michael York
Michael York (actor)
Michael York, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May , a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores...
and Jenny Agutter
Jenny Agutter
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" Agutter is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress in the mid 1960s, starring in the BBC television series The Railway Children and the film adaptation of the same book, before moving on to adult roles and relocating to Hollywood.She...
, which he wrote and directed.
Bob and Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein, CBE is an American film producer and movie studio chairman. He is best known as co-founder of Miramax Films. He and his brother Bob have been co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company, their film production company, since 2005...
then bought White Rock and Genesis for release in the United States and released it under the combined title of Sensasia (Harvey at the time was a major rock promoter based in Buffalo, New York). This led to Harvey and Bob’s first venture as full movie producers, a cult horror film, The Burning, which Maylam directed and which was also the first film for Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
, Fisher Stevens
Fisher Stevens
Fisher Stevens is an American actor, director and producer. His most recent successes include the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film The Cove and 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film Crazy Love...
and Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter is an American actress. Hunter starred in The Piano for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She has also been nominated for Oscars for her roles in Broadcast News, The Firm, and Thirteen...
. Whilst in the United States, Maylam also directed a movie for ABC television, The Sins of Dorian Gray, a 1983 made-for-TV adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine...
that starred Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was an American actor, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Friendly Persuasion and as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho , and its three sequels.-Early life:...
.
Tony Maylam also wrote and directed, Hero
Hero (1987 film)
Hero is the official documentary film of the 1986 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico.The film was narrated by Michael Caine and the music score was written by Rick Wakeman...
, featuring Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, the Official Film of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, which received wide acclaim during its international cinema release (including Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where it was one of the biggest box-office successes of 1987).
Back in the UK, Tony made the critically acclaimed feature-length film for the BBC, Across the Lake, starring Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
, which was one of the highest-rated dramas on British television throughout the 1980s.
Besides a substantial amount of commercial work for companies like Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
and Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, in 1992 Maylam made a science fiction thriller, Split Second
Split Second (1992 film)
Split Second is a 1992 British science fiction film starring Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, and Neil Duncan. The film is directed by Tony Maylam and Ian Sharp.-Plot summary:...
, starring Rutger Hauer, which was widely shown internationally, including the biggest print-release of any independent British film in the US. In 2001, he wrote and directed the movie thriller, Phoenix Blue, and in 2008, wrote and directed a thriller shot in Italy and London, Journal of a Contract Killer, which won Best Film and Best Actress in New York.
Tony Maylam has also recently written and directed ten major documentaries for Speed/Fox TV under the title, Victory by Design
Victory by Design
Victory by Design is a series of documentary films produced in the 1990s and 2000s on the subject of famous racing automobile marques. The series began as a single film focused on Porsche, directed by award winning film-maker Tony Maylam, executive produced by Clive Pullan and hosted by former...
. This award-winning series is continuing its run.
Director
- Cup Glory (1972)
- Genesis in concert (1976)
- White Rock (1977)
- The Riddle of the SandsThe Riddle of the Sands (film)The Riddle of the Sands is a 1979 British spy thriller based on the novel of the same name by Erskine Childers. Set in 1901, and starring Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale, it concerns the efforts of two British yachtsmen to avert a German plot to invade England.It was filmed on the North Sea...
(1979) - The Burning (1981)
- The Sins of Dorian Gray (1983 - TV)
- Across the Lake (1988 - TV)
- Split SecondSplit Second (1992 film)Split Second is a 1992 British science fiction film starring Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, and Neil Duncan. The film is directed by Tony Maylam and Ian Sharp.-Plot summary:...
(1992) - Phoenix Blue (2001)
- Victory by DesignVictory by DesignVictory by Design is a series of documentary films produced in the 1990s and 2000s on the subject of famous racing automobile marques. The series began as a single film focused on Porsche, directed by award winning film-maker Tony Maylam, executive produced by Clive Pullan and hosted by former...
(10 one-hour TV series - 2003-2008) - Journal of a contract killer (2008)
Screenplays
- Cup Glory (1972 - co-screenplay)
- White Rock (1977)
- The Riddle of the Sands (1979 - co-screenplay)
- The Burning (1981 - co-story)
- Phoenix Blue (2001)
- Victory by DesignVictory by DesignVictory by Design is a series of documentary films produced in the 1990s and 2000s on the subject of famous racing automobile marques. The series began as a single film focused on Porsche, directed by award winning film-maker Tony Maylam, executive produced by Clive Pullan and hosted by former...
(10 one-hour TV series - 2003-2008) - Journal of a contract killer (2008)