- Born
- Nickname
- Titch
- Height5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- John Boorman attended Catholic school (Salesian Order) although his family was not, in fact, Roman Catholic. His first job was for a dry-cleaner. 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) and 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).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm
- SpousesIsabella Weibrecht(1997 - present) (3 children)Christel Kruse Boorman(1957 - ?) (divorced, 4 children)
- Usually has a shot in his movies of a hand emerging from a body of water holding a weapon.
- Dream sequences with surreal or psychedelic imagery.
- 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.
- (April 11, 1998) When Boorman's Best Director Oscar nomination for Hope and Glory (1987) coincided with directors Adrian Lyne (UK) for Fatal Attraction (1987), Lasse Hallström (Sweden) for My Life as a Dog (1985), Norman Jewison (Canada) for Moonstruck (1987) and winner Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy) for The Last Emperor (1987), this was the only instance in Oscar history where all five Best Director nominees were non-Americans.
- He offered the chance to direct The Exorcist (1973), but declined because he felt the storyline was "cruel towards children". He did, however, accept the offer to direct Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977).
- He was asked to direct Fatal Attraction (1987), but turned it down to make Hope and Glory (1987).
- Was sent an early draft of a script for Rocky (1976) by producer Robert Chartoff. He wrote back to say that not only was he not interested but that he strongly advised Chartoff to drop the project completely.
- [on the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy by Peter Jackson] 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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