Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director.
His best known films were made for
Hammer
A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nail (fastener), nails into wood, to sh ...
in the 1960s, and included ''
Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and ''
Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966). In 1965 he directed ''
The Face of Fu Manchu
''The Face of Fu Manchu'' is a 1965 thriller film directed by Don Sharp and based on the characters created by Sax Rohmer. It stars Christopher Lee as the eponymous villain, a Chinese criminal mastermind, and Nigel Green as his pursuing rival ...
'', based on the character created by
Sax Rohmer
Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (15 February 1883 – 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was an English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Fu Manchu."Rohmer, Sax" by Jack Adrian in David ...
, and starring
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a career spanning more than sixty years, Lee became known as an actor with a deep and commanding voice who often portrayed villains in horr ...
. Sharp also directed the sequel ''
The Brides of Fu Manchu'' (1966). In the 1980s he was also responsible for several hugely popular miniseries adapted from the novels of
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford (10 May 1933 – 24 November 2024) was a British Americans, British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, ''A Woman of Substance (novel), A Woman of Substance'', was published in 1979 and sold over 30 mi ...
.
Early career
Early life
Sharp was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1921, according to official military records and his own account (some sources still give 1922 as his year of birth). He was the second of four children.
He attended
St Virgil's College and began appearing regularly in theatre productions at the Playhouse Theatre in Hobart, where he trained under a young
Stanley Burbury
Sir Stanley Charles Burbury, (3 December 1909 – 24 April 1995) was an Australian judge. He served as Chief Justice of Tasmania from 1956 to 1973 and as Governor of Tasmania from 1973 to 1982, the state's first Australian-born governor.
Early ...
. He later said this was prompted "by a desire not to study to become an accountant, which is what my parents wanted for me."
[Midnight p 14] Among the plays Sharp appeared in were ''
You Can't Take It With You'' and ''
Our Town
''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...
''. He also directed a production of ''
Stage Door
''Stage Door'' is a 1937 American Tragicomedy, tragicomedy film directed by Gregory La Cava, and starring Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds, and Lucille Ball. Adapt ...
''.
[Anthony Hayward]
Don Sharp: Film director who made his mark with 'Kiss of the Vampire'
from ''The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' dated 29 December 2011, accessed 30 December 2011 He studied accountancy in the evenings but this was interrupted by war service.
War service
Sharp enlisted in the
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...
on 7 April 1941 and was transferred to Singapore. In addition to his military duties he appeared in radio and on stage with a touring English company. Among his radio performances were ''
Escape
Escape or Escaping may refer to:
Arts and media Film
* ''Escape'' (1928 film), a German silent drama film
* ''Escape!'' (film), a 1930 British crime film starring Austin Trevor and Edna Best
* ''Escape'' (1940 film), starring Robert Taylor and ...
'' and ''
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' is a 1930 play by the Dutch/English dramatist Rudolf Besier, based on the romance between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, and her domineering father's unwillingness to allow them to marry. Presented f ...
''. "The acting bug had definitely gotten hold of me," says Sharp, "and I did a bit of it while I was in the RAAF as well, in the odd moment."
Sharp was invalided out before the city fell to the Japanese. He returned to Melbourne and recuperated at Heidelberg Hospital. Sharp spent the majority of his war service in Melbourne, appearing in amateur theatre productions of ''
Quality Street'' and ''
The Late Christopher Bean'' as well as recorded broadcasts and ABC plays.
In early 1943 Sharo moved to Hobart. He appeared in a theatre production of ''
Interval'' by
Sumner Locke Elliott
Sumner Locke Elliott (17 October 191724 June 1991) was an Australian (later American) novelist and playwright.
Biography
Elliott was born in Sydney to the writer Sumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsi ...
, also serving as assistant director. Following this he appeared in a theatre revue, ''
Khaki Kapers'', notably in a sketch which figured a flag flown over the air force station in Singapore which Sharp had brought back with him.
Sharp was discharged from the air force on 17 March 1944 at the rank of corporal.
Acting career
After the war Sharp did not want to return to Hobart. He auditioned for and won an understudy's position in
J. C. Williamson Limited version of the Broadway comedy ''
Kiss and Tell''; when a bout of laryngitis incapacitated one of the leads two weeks later, Sharp stepped into the role. He toured in the production from 1944-1945 then went on to appear in such plays as ''
Arsenic and Old Lace'' (1945) and ''
The Dancing Years
''The Dancing Years'' is a musical with book and music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Christopher Hassall, set in Vienna, from 1911 until 1938. It follows a Jewish composer and his love for two women of different social classes, with an ending set ...
''. He worked for
Morris West
Morris Langlo West (26 April 19169 October 1999) was an Australian novelist and playwright, best known for his novels ''The Devil's Advocate (West novel), The Devil's Advocate'' (1959), ''The Shoes of the Fisherman (novel), The Shoes of the Fi ...
's production company in radio and played a small role in ''
Smithy'' (1946), one of the few feature films shot in Australia at this time.
Sharp also toured Japan performing for the occupying troops there. From Japan he went to London in 1948. "I could have gone on with a theatrical
career in Australia," says Sharp, "but what I really wanted was movies. So I went to England."
Move to England
''Ha'Penny Breeze''
Arriving in England in 1948, Sharp got some stage work quickly "but I couldn't even get an appointment to see a casting director" for films.
He was sharing a flat with an assistant director and they decided to make their own film. He co-wrote ''
Ha'penny Breeze
''Ha'penny Breeze'' is a 1950 black and white British film directed by Frank Worth and starring Edwin Richfield, Don Sharp and Gwynneth Vaughan. It was the first writing credit for Sharp who also appears as an actor.
Plot
David King and his Aus ...
'' (1950), with a fellow Australian,
Frank Worth. Together with another man,
Darcy Conyers, they formed a production company and raised finance to make the £8,000 film. Sharp also played a leading role, did the accounts and helped with the direction. The film was not a large hit but it was theatrically released.
Sharp also got a small role in a British radio adaptation of ''
Robbery Under Arms
''Robbery Under Arms'' is a bushranger novel by Thomas Alexander Browne, published under his pen name Rolf Boldrewood. It was first published in serialised form by ''The Sydney Mail'' between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in ...
'' (1950).
Sharp said "Shortly after, a number of influential film people made contact with me, but none of them offered me a job as an actor — they all asked if I would write for them!"
[Midnight p 15] Sharp was unable to cash in on ''Ha'penny Breeze'' as he came down with a recurrence of tuberculosis and spent nearly two years in hospital, during which he had six ribs and one lung removed.
Group 3
When Sharp recovered he got some acting roles in such films as ''
The Planter's Wife'' (1952), ''
Appointment in London'' (1953), ''
The Cruel Sea'' (1953) and ''
You Know What Sailors Are'' (1954). Several of these films were directed by
Ken Annakin
Kenneth Cooper Annakin, OBE (10 August 1914 – 22 April 2009) was an English film director.
His career spanned half a century, beginning in the early 1940s and ending in 1992, and in the 1960s he was noticed by critics with large-scale advent ...
who Sharp says was particularly helpful giving him jobs when needed.
He began to turn increasingly to writing and directing.
[ Sharp said his background as an actor was useful for his development as a director, in particular it developed his sense of timing:
]You’ve got to know, for example, a thing I was taught early in theatre – if there's a scene in a movie, in a play, that always gets good laughs, on a good night, when there's a good and laughing audience, you’ll get laughs in the build-up to it, in the five or ten minutes beforehand, because it's a good audience who's appreciative of what's going on. On a bad night, when the audience are not laughing, increase your pace, get them at the point. And this teaches you a control of speed and how to control an audience. . . . Working with good actors, you get a feeling of timing with them; although sometimes the timing between them can be good but their overall pace, which is quite different, can be wrong – its context in the film, because of the situation in the film, perhaps there should be that little more urgency, therefore pace, in the scene.
When Sharp was ill he received "messages of encouragement" from Michael Balcon, John Grierson and James Lawrie. When he got out of hospital he contacted them and they invited him to write an original story for Group Three, a new government-backed film company which had a brief to support new talent. Sharp sold them an original script called '' Child's Play'' (made 1952, released 1954). Group Three liked Sharp's work and assigned him to work on the script for ''Background''; he was also given the job as assistant to the producer which he later called "the most wonderful education". He stayed with Group Three for two years, writing four films and working as a personal assistant to the producer on them, as well as (after three attempts) getting in the ACTT unnion. Sharp later said, "no doubt about it, ''Ha'penny Breeze'' paid off."
Group Three bought a story of Sharp's, originally called ''The Norfolk Story''. He turned this into a novel called ''Conflict of Wings
''Conflict of Wings'' (also known as ''Norfolk Story''; U.S. title: ''Fuss Over Feathers'' ) is a 1954 British comedy film, comedy drama film directed by John Eldridge (director), John Eldridge and starring John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Kieron ...
'' (1954), the title under which it was filmed; Sharp also collaborated on the screenplay with John Pudney
John Sleigh Pudney (19 January 1909 – 10 November 1977) was a British poet, journalist and author. He was known especially for his popular poetry written during the Second World War, but he also wrote novels, short stories and children's fict ...
, and did some second unit directing.
Sharp and Pudney then wrote '' The Blue Peter'' (1955) for Group Three. Once again, Sharp also directed second unit, and he began to develop ambitions to direct. Sharp was offered a job at Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in west London, England. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on th ...
as a production assistant but decided to turn it down.
Director
Early films and documentaries
Sharp left Group Three to direct some documentaries for Pathe. He worked on a proposed film at Ealing about the Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic coast of Namibia. Immediately south of Angola, it stretches from the Kunene River to the Swakop River, although the name is sometimes used to describe the entire Namib Desert coast. The in ...
which was never made. Sharp's first feature as director was '' The Stolen Airliner'' (1955), made for the Children's Film Foundation
The Children's Film Foundation (CFF) is a non-profit organisation which makes films and other media for children in the United Kingdom. Originally it made films to be shown as part of children's Saturday morning matinée cinema programming. Th ...
, based on a script by Pudney.
Sharp then received an offer from the BBC to replace fellow Australian, Bruce Beeby
Bruce Edward Beeby (21 October 1921 – 20 October 2013) was an Australian actor who worked primarily in British films and television. He was probably best known for portraying Stephen "Mitch" Mitchell in the 1950s BBC radio serials '' Journ ...
, as an actor on the science fiction serial '' Journey into Space''. The show was recorded on Sundays, enabling Sharp to appear in it while still continuiing with his writing and directing work. Sharp was hired by Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in west London, England. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on th ...
to adapt the novel ''Robbery Under Arms
''Robbery Under Arms'' is a bushranger novel by Thomas Alexander Browne, published under his pen name Rolf Boldrewood. It was first published in serialised form by ''The Sydney Mail'' between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in ...
'' into a feature film script. He says some of his work was included in the final script which was ultimately done by Bill Lipscomb.
Sharp made some television documentary shows for Pathe. During the making of one of them, ''Crossroads'' (1955), a film about why British soldiers left the army, he met actor Mary Steele who he later married. Sharp directed a "three reeler" for Warwick Films
Warwick Films was a film company founded by film producers Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli in London in 1951. The name was taken from the Warwick New York Hotel, Warwick Hotel in New York City where Broccoli and his wife were staying at the ...
in Rome called ''Arrivederci Roma'' (1956). This was followed by a documentary for Martin Films, ''The Passing Years'' (1957), a dramatised documentary about the British motor industry.
Sharp's second feature film as director as another for the Children's Film Foundation, '' The Adventures of Hal 5''. He received an offer to direct second unit on ''Carve Her Name with Pride
''Carve Her Name with Pride'' is a 1958 British war Drama (film and television), drama film based on the book of the same name by R. J. Minney.
The film, directed by Lewis Gilbert, is based on the true story of Special Operations Executive agen ...
'' (1958), directed by Lewis Gilbert; Sharp was responsible for various action sequences.
Sharp wrote and directed ''The Golden Disc
''The Golden Disc'' (also known as ''The In-Between Age'') is a 1958 British pop musical film directed by Don Sharp, starring Terry Dene and Mary Steele. It was written by Sharp and Don Nicholl based on a story by Gee Nicholl. A young man and a ...
'' (1959), starring his wife, Mary Steele. This was the first British rock 'n' roll movie – released a year before the Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is a British singer and actor. He has total sales of over 21.5 million singles in the United Kingdom and, as of 2012, was the third-top-selling artist in UK Singles Chart histo ...
vehicle ''Expresso Bongo
''Expresso Bongo'' is a 1958 West End musical and a satire of the music industry. It was first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London, on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music by Da ...
'' (1959) and a full two years ahead of ''Beat Girl
''Beat Girl'' is a 1960 British teen exploitation drama film directed by Edmond T. Gréville. The film was released in the United States under the title ''Wild for Kicks''.
The title character of ''Beat Girl'' was played by starlet Gillian H ...
'' (1960). Sharp was hired to do more second unit work, on '' Harry Black'' (1958), which involved shooting tiger footage in India. After this he made a documentary for American television at Expo 58
Expo 58, also known as the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (; ), was a world's fair held on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Brussels, Belgium, from 17 April to 19 October 1958. It was the first major world's fair registered under the Bureau Internati ...
, and one for the British army called ''Keeping the Peace'' (1959).
Independent Artists
After an unsuccessful attempt to get up finance for a film with Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002) was a British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician, referred to as the " King of Skiffle", who influenced 1960s British pop and rock musicians. Born in Scotland and brought ...
Sharp made two films for Independent Artists. The first was a low-budget thriller, '' The Professionals'' (1960), which screened on US TV as part of the ''Kraft Mystery Theatre
''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947, on NBC, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imper ...
''. The second was ''Linda
Linda is an English feminine given name, derived from the Spanish word , meaning "pretty."
Linda may also refer to:
Names
* Linda (given name), a female given name (including a list of people and fictional characters so named)
* Linda (singer) ...
'' (1960), a teen drama starring Carol White
Carole Joan White (1 April 1943 – 16 September 1991) was an English actress.
White became famous for her performances in the television play ''Cathy Come Home'' (1966) and the films ''Poor Cow'' (1967) and '' I'll Never Forget What's ' ...
for Independent Artists, which went out as a support feature for ''Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
''Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'' is the first novel by British author Alan Sillitoe and won the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award.
It was adapted by Sillitoe into the 1960 film of the same name starring Albert Finney, directed by ...
'' (1960) and is now considered a lost film
A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...
. Sharp then made another army documentary.
He went into TV, becoming the resident director for the first season of '' Ghost Squad'' (1961–62). Sharp directed '' Two Guys Abroad'' (1962) with George Raft
George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...
, which was intended as a pilot for a TV series or as a B movie, but ended up not being released at all. Sharp then directed second unit on '' The Fast Lady'' (1962) for Ken Annakin
Kenneth Cooper Annakin, OBE (10 August 1914 – 22 April 2009) was an English film director.
His career spanned half a century, beginning in the early 1940s and ending in 1992, and in the 1960s he was noticed by critics with large-scale advent ...
.
Hammer Films and Harry Alan Towers
Sharp received an offer from Tony Hinds of Hammer Films
A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as wi ...
who had seen ''The Professionals'' and was looking for a director for Hammer's vampire movie '' Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963). Sharp had never seen a horror movie before but agreed after watching several Hammer films. According to his obituary Sharp helped make an "atmospheric, suspenseful gothic horror and giving a depth to the characters that was sometimes missing in Hammer's other vampire productions." ''Kiss of the Vampire'' is now one of Hammer's most highly regarded horrors; Sharp's ''New York Times'' obituary says "Not a few Hammer fans contend that ''Kiss of the Vampire'' is one of the greatest Gothic horror movies ever made".
''Kiss of the Vampire'' was shot in 1962. After making it, Sharp went back to television, directing episodes of '' The Human Jungle'', then made another teen musical in the vein of ''The Golden Disc'', '' It's All Happening'' (1963), with Tommy Steele
Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.
After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele recor ...
.
He returned to Hammer for a swashbuckler, '' The Devil-Ship Pirates'' (1964) which starred Christopher Lee, who would make several movies with Sharp.[Koetting p 11] By now ''Kiss of the Vampire'' had been released, and Sharp started receiving offers to direct more horror films; he says Milton Subotsky
Milton Subotsky (September 27, 1921 – June 27, 1991) was an American film and television writer and producer. In 1964, he founded Amicus Productions with Max J. Rosenberg. Amicus means "friend" in Latin. The partnership produced low-budget ...
offered him the choice of three scripts but Sharp liked none of them. Instead Sharp made ''Witchcraft
Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...
'' (1964), for producer Robert L. Lippert. Sharp called it "a little four-week movie, very quickly done, but it received some lovely notices".
Sharp then spent several months directing second unit on '' Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'' (1965) at the behest of director Ken Annakin
Kenneth Cooper Annakin, OBE (10 August 1914 – 22 April 2009) was an English film director.
His career spanned half a century, beginning in the early 1940s and ending in 1992, and in the 1960s he was noticed by critics with large-scale advent ...
. Sharp said "I had to think very hard about going back to second unit after directing a half-dozen features — but it was so tempting, especially after my air force days. So I did it; and it was tremendously exciting, and a marvelous movie to work on." Sharp did find shooting footage with old airplanes very slow - "you're fortunate if you can get two set-ups in a day" so when his work was done on ''Magnificent Men'' he asked his agent to get him any directing job he could. He wound up making a sequel to ''The Fly'' for Robert Lippert, ''Curse of the Fly
A curse (also called an imprecation, malediction, execration, malison, anathema, or commination) is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, ...
'' (1965). "I'm afraid they'd pretty much run out of ideas," said Sharp who says he and the writer "both had the feeling,'Oh dear, what a pity they're making another one'."[Midnight p 16]
Sharp reteamed with Lee for ''The Face of Fu Manchu
''The Face of Fu Manchu'' is a 1965 thriller film directed by Don Sharp and based on the characters created by Sax Rohmer. It stars Christopher Lee as the eponymous villain, a Chinese criminal mastermind, and Nigel Green as his pursuing rival ...
'' (1965), produced by Harry Alan Towers
Harry Alan Towers (19 October 1920 – 31 July 2009) was a British radio and independent film producer and screenwriter. He wrote numerous screenplays for the films he produced, often under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck. He produced over 80 f ...
in Ireland. Sharp later said "I like Harry, a great deal... but Harry will get more kick out of making $5 in a slightly crooked and fast way, than he would making $100 legitimately; he's a dealer rather than a movie maker, and he enjoys getting the best part of a deal. But he does have a certain enthusiasm, and a sense of showmanship. In order to make a good film while working with Harry, you have to be insistent."
''Fu Manchu'' was a big hit and led to four sequels; Sharp only directed the first of these, but he worked several more times for Towers who later said he "kept using Don because his films came in on budget and were without exception very successful. On top of that he was a most agreeable person of very good character – no tantrums – clear headed – resourceful; a gentleman too." The movie would give Sharp a reputation for action movies. He later stated his philosophy:
You can’t do big action sequences and then have flabby, everyday stuff round it. Those movies have got to have a feeling of latent energy in there... You can’t do action sequences as an entity in themselves. They’ve got to be part of the way a whole movie is developing. You’ve got to have, apart from energy, a very good sense of editing, what a camera can do... a sense of timing... and an ability to have a visual of exactly what it's going to look like... Also, I enjoyed it... some directors... didn’t get the same enjoyment out of it; it was a necessity rather than a pleasure. I always liked doing it, liked doing action.
Sharp returned to Hammer for '' Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966), with Lee playing the title role. In contrast with ''Kiss of the Vampire'' and ''The Devil Ship Pirates'' Sharp said he disliked this experience working for Hammer as the budgets were being tightened.
Sharp made two more films for Towers, ''Our Man in Marrakesh
''Our Man in Marrakesh'' (also known as ''Intriga Brutal''; U.S. title: ''Bang! Bang! You're Dead!'') is a 1966 British comedy spy film directed by Don Sharp and starring Tony Randall, Herbert Lom and Senta Berger. It was written by Peter Yeldha ...
'' (1966), a spy spoof starring Tony Randall
Anthony Leonard Randall (born Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg; February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004) was an American actor of film, television and stage. He is best known for portraying the role of Felix Unger in the 1970–1975 television adaptation of ...
, and '' The Brides of Fu Manchu'' (1966), again with Lee. After this he worked on an adaptation of H.G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...
' ''The Sleeper Awakes
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' for American International Pictures
American International Pictures, LLC (AIP or American International Productions) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution c ...
; Sharp said Sam Arkoff
Samuel Zachary Arkoff (June 12, 1918 – September 16, 2001) was an American film producer, known as the co-founder of American International Pictures.
Life and career
Arkoff was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Russian Jewish parents. He was the ...
, head of AIP ultimately decided not to make this movie because it did "not have enough sex and violence".
Sharp then made '' Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon'' (1967), an adventure tale in the vein of ''Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'' for Towers. Sharp and Towers were meant to follow this with ''Casanova'', a film in the style of ''Tom Jones
Tom Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer
*Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist
*''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...
'' (1963) from a script by Peter Yeldham
Peter Alan Yeldham (25 April 1927 – 20 September 2022) was an Australian screenwriter for motion pictures and television, playwright and novelist whose career spanned five decades.
Biography
Peter Yeldham was born in Gladstone, near Smitht ...
to be shot in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...
starring Horst Buchholz
Horst Werner Buchholz (4 December 1933 – 3 March 2003) was a German actor who appeared in more than 60 feature films from 1951 to 2002. During his youth, he was sometimes called "the German James Dean". He is perhaps best known in English- ...
. This film was ultimately cancelled due to tensions following the Six-Day War
The Six-Day War, also known as the June War, 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states, primarily United Arab Republic, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan from 5 to 10June ...
. Also not made was another proposed Sharp-Towers collaboration, ''Legion of the Damned'', based on a script by Harry Spalding, which was to have been shot in Spain; Sharp says Towers was unable to raise the finance, and their collaborations ended.
Sharp said "after a couple of months of doing nothing" he returned to TV, directing some episodes of '' The Avengers'' (1968) and ''The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'' (1969). He was hired by producer George Willoughby to direct '' Taste of Excitement'' (1969), which then led to making ''The Violent Enemy'' for the same producers (the former would be released first). Sharp was offered '' The Vengeance of She'' at Hammer but was unable to take the job.[Koetting p 13] Sharp was meant to direct the feature film version of ''Till Death Us Do Part
''Till Death Us Do Part'' is a British television sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1965 to 1975. The show was first broadcast in 1965 as a '' Comedy Playhouse'' pilot, then as seven series between 1966 and 1975. In 1981, ITV continued the sitc ...
'' but clashed with Johnny Speight
Johnny Speight (2 June 1920 – 5 July 1998) was an English television scriptwriter of many classic British sitcoms.
Speight emerged in the mid-1950s, writing for radio comics Frankie Howerd, Vic Oliver, Arthur Askey, and Cyril Fletcher. For ...
over the script and was fired before filming.
''Puppet on a Chain'' and 70s movies
Sharp said he was "out of work for about a year" when he got an offer to direct a boat chase sequence for '' Puppet on a Chain'' (1971), based on a novel by Alistair MacLean
Alistair Stuart MacLean (; 21 April 1922 – 2 February 1987) was a Scottish novelist who wrote popular thrillers and adventure stories. Many of his novels have been adapted to film, most notably '' The Guns of Navarone'' (1957) and '' Ice Sta ...
. The producers liked his work so much they hired him to shoot some additional footage. In 2007 Sharp said the film earned him a reputation as "The Doctor" and he was still getting royalties from the movie.
Sharp worked on a number of films which did not get made including ''Turncoat'' from a script by Peter Yeldham, a project with Judy Geeson
Judith Amanda Geeson ( ; born 10 September 1948) is an English film, stage, and television actress. She began her career primarily working on British television series, with a leading role on '' The Newcomers'' from 1965 to 1967, before making ...
called ''Dead'', and a film in Israel for the producers of ''Puppet on a Chain''. Michael Carreras
Michael Henry Carreras (21 December 1927 – 19 April 1994) was a British film producer and director. He was known for his association with Hammer Films, being the son of founder James Carreras, and taking an executive role in the compan ...
of Hammer asked Sharp to take over from Seth Holt
Seth Holt (21 July 1923 – 14 February 1971) was a Palestinian-born British film director, producer and editor. His films are characterized by their tense atmosphere and suspense, as well as their striking visual style. In the 1960s, ''Movie' ...
who had died while directing '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb'' (1971) but Sharp was unable as he had a contract to make the aforementioned film in Israel. According to ''Filmink'' "it’s a great shame Sharp only worked with" Hammer three times "because he was one of their best ever directors."
Sharp was put under long-term contract to a company called Scotia who assigned him to direct '' Psychomania'' (1973), the final movie of George Sanders
George Henry Sanders (3 July 1906 – 25 April 1972) was a British actor and singer whose career spanned over 40 years. His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth bass voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous charac ...
. This picture has become a cult classic; Sharp called it "great fun to do, especially after doing several films in a row like ''The Violent Enemy''. It was a great change, geared for a younger audience as it was." Scotia loaned out Sharp's services to another company so he could direct '' Dark Places'' (1973). Sharp then developed further projects with Scotia, and worked for months on another project to be made in Israel; neither was made, nor was a proposed version of the Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
story.
Sharp's next project was '' Callan'' (1974), a big screen adaptation of the TV series starring Edward Woodward
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward (1 June 1930 – 16 November 2009) was an English actor and singer. He began his career on stage, appearing in productions in both the West End of London and on Broadway in New York City. He came to wider att ...
(1967–72). During the making of that film Sharp received an offer to direct a thriller, ''Hennessy
Jas Hennessy & Cie., commonly known simply as Hennessy (), is a French producer of cognac, founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy which has its headquarters in Cognac, France.
It is one of the best-known cognac houses, along with Martell, Courvo ...
'' (1975), with Rod Steiger
Rodney Stephen Steiger ( ; April 14, 1925 – July 9, 2002) was an American actor, noted for his portrayal of offbeat, often volatile and crazed characters. Ranked as "one of Hollywood's most charismatic and dynamic stars", he is closely associ ...
in the title role, as an IRA man out to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. This led to Sharp receiving an offer from producer Harry Saltzman
Herschel "Harry" Saltzman (; – ) was a Canadian theatre and film producer. He is best remembered for co-producing the first nine of the ''James Bond'' film series with Albert R. Broccoli. Apart from a ten-year stint living in St. Petersbu ...
to work on ''The Micronauts'', a "shrunken man" epic to have starred Gregory Peck
Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...
and Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick (; December 14, 1935 – July 2, 1991) was an American actress and singer. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film ''Days of Wine and Roses (film), Days of Wine and Roses'' (1962) and was nominated fo ...
. Sharp worked on the film for months before deciding to leave the project, which was ultimately never made.
Michael Carreras offered Sharp the job of directing ''To the Devil a Daughter
''To the Devil a Daughter'', sometimes stylised as ''To the Devil... a Daughter'', is a 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Peter Sykes and starring Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman, Nastassja Kinski, and Denholm E ...
'' for Hammer and he was interested but Sharp ultimately pulled out due to dissatisfaction with the script. Sharp worked on some films that were not made: a proposed film adaptation of Alistair MacLean's '' The Way to Dusty Death''; a horror film, ''Croc''; an adaptation of Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 15 April 1940) is an English novelist and former politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Louth (Lincolnshire) from 1969 to 1974, but did not seek re-election after a fina ...
's '' Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less''; an adaptation of Alistair MacLean's ''Bear Island'' (originally postponed); a biopic of Kim Philby
Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby (1 January 191211 May 1988) was a British intelligence officer and a double agent for the Soviet Union. In 1963, he was revealed to be a member of the Cambridge Five, a spy ring that had divulged British secr ...
.
Sharp received an offer to direct the fourth version of '' The Four Feathers'' (1978), made for American TV but released theatrically in some markets. He then directed another remake, '' The Thirty Nine Steps'' (1978), with Robert Powell
Robert Thomas Powell ( ; born 1 June 1944) is an English actor who is known for the title roles in '' Mahler'' (1974) and '' Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977), and for his portrayal of secret agent Richard Hannay in '' The Thirty Nine Steps'' (1978) ...
(who had been in ''Four Feathers''). Greg Smith, who produced ''The Thirty Nine Steps'', said he hired Sharp "because he's one of Britain's best action adventure directors and he was familiar with the period." The film was very popular.
Eventually the '' Bear Island'' (1979), project was re-activated and was made starring Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, ''Kiss of Death (1947 film ...
, Donald Sutherland
Donald McNichol Sutherland (17 July 1935 – 20 June 2024) was a Canadian actor. With a career spanning six decades, he received List of awards and nominations received by Donald Sutherland, numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award ...
and Vanessa Redgrave
Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress. In her career spanning over six decades, she has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Redgrave, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony A ...
. It was one of the most expensive Canadian films ever made and a box office flop. Following this Sharp was going to make a version of two other MacLean novels - '' Goodbye California'', with Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...
, and '' Air Force One is Down'' - but the finance fell through for both. Neither made were adaptations of ''Quicksand'' by Wilfred Greatorex
Wilfred Glyn Greatorex (27 May 1921 – 14 October 2002) was an English television and film writer, script editor and producer.
Early life
Born in Liverpool, he was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn. After wartime servic ...
and ''Scoop
Scoop, Scoops or The Scoop may refer to:
Artefacts
* Scoop (machine part), a component of machinery to carry things
* Scoop (tool), a shovel-like tool, particularly one deep and curved, used in digging
* Scoop (theater), a type of wide area l ...
'' by Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires ''Decli ...
.
Later career
Sharp returned to TV with episodes of ''Hammer House of Horror
''Hammer House of Horror'' is a British horror anthology television series produced in Britain in 1980. Created by Hammer Films in association with Cinema Arts International and ITC Entertainment, it consists of 13 hour-long episodes, origin ...
'' (1980) ("Guardian of the Abyss") and '' QED'' (1982) (TV series). "It was nice to shoot something again," said Sharp.
Sharp developed several projects that were not made - ''Spy Ship''; a biopic of John Simpson Kirkpatrick; ''Red Alert West''; a film about the Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
. A film that was made was ''What Waits Below
''What Waits Below'', also known as ''Secrets of the Phantom Caverns'', is a 1984 British-American fantasy adventure film directed by Don Sharp, and starring Robert Powell, Timothy Bottoms and Lisa Blount. In it, a group of soldiers enter a cave ...
'' (1984) shot in America with Robert Powell in the lead role; it was an unhappy experience for Sharp. He developed a film version of Jack Higgins
Henry Patterson (27 July 1929 – 9 April 2022), commonly known by his pen name Jack Higgins, was a British author. He was a best-selling author of popular thrillers and espionage novels. His novel '' The Eagle Has Landed'' (1975) sold more t ...
' novel ''A Prayer for the Dying
''A Prayer for the Dying'' is a 1987 thriller film about a former IRA member trying to escape his past. The film was directed by Mike Hodges, and stars Mickey Rourke, Bob Hoskins, Alan Bates and Liam Neeson. The film is based on the 1973 Jack ...
'' but the eventual movie was directed by Mike Hodges. However Sharp was then called in to replace the original director on the mini series '' A Woman of Substance'' (1985); based on the novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford (10 May 1933 – 24 November 2024) was a British Americans, British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, ''A Woman of Substance (novel), A Woman of Substance'', was published in 1979 and sold over 30 mi ...
, and starring Jenny Seagrove
Jennifer Ann Seagrove (born 4 July 1957) is an English actress. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and first came to attention playing the lead in a television dramatisation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's '' A Woman of Substance'' ...
and Deborah Kerr
Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a Scottish actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first person from Scotland to be no ...
. This was a huge ratings success.
After ''Tusitala
''Tusitala'' is a genus of Salticidae, jumping spiders that was first described by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1902. The name is Samoan language, Samoan, meaning "writer of stories". It is considered a senior synonym of ''Blaisea''.
Species
...
'' (1986), an Australian mini series shot in Samoa, Sharp directed ''Hold the Dream
''Hold the Dream'' is a British two-part serial made in 1986, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It is the second book in the Emma Harte series, following '' A Woman of Substance''. ''Hold the Dream'' continues ...
'' (1986), a mini-series sequel to ''Woman of Substance'', with Jenny Seagrove reprising her role. '' Tears in the Rain'' (1988) was a TV movie from a novel by Pamela Wallace which gave an early starring role to Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American actress and film producer. Known for primarily playing femmes fatales and women of mystery on film and television, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s. She is the ...
. '' Act of Will'' (1989) was another mini series based on a novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford (10 May 1933 – 24 November 2024) was a British Americans, British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, ''A Woman of Substance (novel), A Woman of Substance'', was published in 1979 and sold over 30 mi ...
, which starred Liz Hurley.
Personal life
Sharp married Australian actress Gwenda Wilson in 1945, after appearing on stage with her in ''Kiss and Tell''. In 1956, he married actress Mary Steele who he had met while shooting a documentary, ''Crossroads''.
Sharp died on 14 December 2011, after a short spell in hospital.[ He was survived by Mary Steele, two sons and a daughter. Another son, ]Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English trip hop collective formed in 1988 in Bristol, England, by Robert Del Naja, Robert "3D" Del Naja, Daddy G, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, Tricky (musician), Adrian "Tricky" Thaws and Andrew Vowles, Andrew "Mushroom" ...
producer Jonny Dollar
Jonathan Peter Sharp (20 February 1964 – 29 May 2009), better known by the pseudonym Jonny Dollar, was an English record producer and songwriter.
Sharp was born in Westminster, London, and his father was the Australian film director Do ...
, predeceased him in 2009.
Filmography
As actor
*'' Smithy'' (1946)
*''Ha'penny Breeze
''Ha'penny Breeze'' is a 1950 black and white British film directed by Frank Worth and starring Edwin Richfield, Don Sharp and Gwynneth Vaughan. It was the first writing credit for Sharp who also appears as an actor.
Plot
David King and his Aus ...
'' (1950, also writer, producer) – Johnny Craig
*'' The Planter's Wife'' (1952) – Lieutenant Summers (uncredited)
*'' Appointment in London'' (1953) – Mid Upper Gunner (uncredited)
*'' The Cruel Sea'' (1953) – Lieutenant-Commander (final film role)
*'' You Know What Sailors Are'' (1954)
*'' Journey into Space'' (1953–54) (radio serial)
*''The Red Planet'' (1954–55) (radio serial)
As writer only
*'' Background'' (1953)
* ''Conflict of Wings
''Conflict of Wings'' (also known as ''Norfolk Story''; U.S. title: ''Fuss Over Feathers'' ) is a 1954 British comedy film, comedy drama film directed by John Eldridge (director), John Eldridge and starring John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Kieron ...
'' (1954) – also novel, and second unit director
*'' Child's Play'' (1954) - and second unit director
*'' The Blue Peter'' (1955) – and second unit director
2nd Unit Director Only
*''Carve Her Name with Pride
''Carve Her Name with Pride'' is a 1958 British war Drama (film and television), drama film based on the book of the same name by R. J. Minney.
The film, directed by Lewis Gilbert, is based on the true story of Special Operations Executive agen ...
'' (1958)
*'' Harry Black'' (1958)
*'' The Fast Lady'' (1962)
*'' Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'' (1965)
*'' Puppet on a Chain'' (1971) – 8-minute boat chase sequence, also script.
As director
*'' The Stolen Airliner'' (1955) – also script
*''As Old as the Windmill'' (1957) (documentary)
*''The Changing Life'' (1958) (documentary)
*''Keeping the Peace'' (1959) (documentary)
* ''The Golden Disc
''The Golden Disc'' (also known as ''The In-Between Age'') is a 1958 British pop musical film directed by Don Sharp, starring Terry Dene and Mary Steele. It was written by Sharp and Don Nicholl based on a story by Gee Nicholl. A young man and a ...
'' (1959) – also script
*'' The Adventures of Hal 5'' (1959) – also script
* ''Linda
Linda is an English feminine given name, derived from the Spanish word , meaning "pretty."
Linda may also refer to:
Names
* Linda (given name), a female given name (including a list of people and fictional characters so named)
* Linda (singer) ...
'' (1960)
* '' The Professionals'' (1960)
*'' Ghost Squad'' (1961–62) (TV series)
*'' The Human Jungle'' (1963) (TV series) – episode "A Friend of the Serjeant Major"
* '' Two Guys Abroad'' (1962)
* '' It's All Happening'' (1963)
* '' Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963)
* ''Witchcraft
Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...
'' (1964)
* '' The Devil-Ship Pirates'' (1964)
* ''Curse of the Fly
A curse (also called an imprecation, malediction, execration, malison, anathema, or commination) is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, ...
'' (1965)
* ''The Face of Fu Manchu
''The Face of Fu Manchu'' is a 1965 thriller film directed by Don Sharp and based on the characters created by Sax Rohmer. It stars Christopher Lee as the eponymous villain, a Chinese criminal mastermind, and Nigel Green as his pursuing rival ...
'' (1965)
* '' Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966)
* ''Our Man in Marrakesh
''Our Man in Marrakesh'' (also known as ''Intriga Brutal''; U.S. title: ''Bang! Bang! You're Dead!'') is a 1966 British comedy spy film directed by Don Sharp and starring Tony Randall, Herbert Lom and Senta Berger. It was written by Peter Yeldha ...
'' (1966)
* '' The Brides of Fu Manchu'' (1966)
* '' The Violent Enemy'' (1967)
* '' Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon'' (1967)
*'' The Avengers'' (1968) (TV series) – episodes "Get-A-Way!", "The Curious Case of the Countless Clues", "Invasion of the Earthmen"
*''The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'' (1969) (TV series) – episode "Project Zero"
* '' Taste of Excitement'' (1969) – also script
* '' Dark Places'' (1973) – also script
* '' Psychomania'' (1973)
* '' Callan'' (1974)
* ''Hennessy
Jas Hennessy & Cie., commonly known simply as Hennessy (), is a French producer of cognac, founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy which has its headquarters in Cognac, France.
It is one of the best-known cognac houses, along with Martell, Courvo ...
'' (1975)
* '' The Four Feathers'' (1978) (TV film)
* '' The Thirty Nine Steps'' (1978)
* '' Bear Island'' (1979) – also script
*''Hammer House of Horror
''Hammer House of Horror'' is a British horror anthology television series produced in Britain in 1980. Created by Hammer Films in association with Cinema Arts International and ITC Entertainment, it consists of 13 hour-long episodes, origin ...
'' (1980) (TV series) — episode "Guardian of the Abyss"
*'' QED'' (1982) (TV series) – episode "The Limehouse Connection"
* '' A Woman of Substance'' (1985) (TV mini-series)
* ''What Waits Below
''What Waits Below'', also known as ''Secrets of the Phantom Caverns'', is a 1984 British-American fantasy adventure film directed by Don Sharp, and starring Robert Powell, Timothy Bottoms and Lisa Blount. In it, a group of soldiers enter a cave ...
'' (1985)
*''Tusitala'' (1986) (TV mini-series)
* ''Hold the Dream
''Hold the Dream'' is a British two-part serial made in 1986, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It is the second book in the Emma Harte series, following '' A Woman of Substance''. ''Hold the Dream'' continues ...
'' (1986) (TV)
* '' Tears in the Rain'' (1988) (TV)
* '' Act of Will'' (1989) (TV)
Unmade projects
Sharp was announced for the following projects which were not made:
*''Sleeper Awakens'' (circa 1967) from the novel by H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...
with Christopher Lee and Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...
for Harry Alan Towers
Harry Alan Towers (19 October 1920 – 31 July 2009) was a British radio and independent film producer and screenwriter. He wrote numerous screenplays for the films he produced, often under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck. He produced over 80 f ...
*''Spaceborn'' – an action suspense story that was to start filming in 1972
*''Philby'' (circa 1977) – biopic of Kim Philby
Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby (1 January 191211 May 1988) was a British intelligence officer and a double agent for the Soviet Union. In 1963, he was revealed to be a member of the Cambridge Five, a spy ring that had divulged British secr ...
starring Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
in the lead role supported by Nicol Williamson
Thomas Nicol Williamson (14 September 1936 – 16 December 2011) was a British actor. He was once described by playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando". He was also described by Samuel Beckett as "touched by genius" an ...
as Guy Burgess
Guy Francis de Moncy Burgess (16 April 1911 – 30 August 1963) was a British diplomat and Soviet double agent, and a member of the Cambridge Five spy ring that operated from the mid-1930s to the early years of the Cold War era. His defection ...
and Vanessa Redgrave
Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress. In her career spanning over six decades, she has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Redgrave, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony A ...
as Philby's first wife
Theatre credits
*'' The Man from Toronto'' (January 1940) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*'' You Can't Take It with You'' by Kaufman and Hart (April 1940) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*'' I Killed the Count'' by Alec Coppel
Alec Coppel (17 September 1907 – 22 January 1972) was an Australian-born screenwriter, novelist and playwright. He spent the majority of his career in London and Hollywood, specialising in light thrillers, mysteries and sex comedies. He is best ...
(August 1940) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*'' Tonight at 8.30'' – "Hands Across the Sea" and "Ways and Means" by Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...
(October 1940) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*''Our Town
''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...
'' by Thornton Wilder
Thornton Niven Wilder (April 17, 1897 – December 7, 1975) was an American playwright and novelist. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, for the novel ''The Bridge of San Luis Rey'' and for the plays ''Our Town'' and ''The Skin of Our Teeth'', and a U. ...
(March 1941) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*revue at Theatre Royal Hobart (April 1941) – actor
*'' Dear Octopus'' (May 1941) – The Playhouse, Hobart – assistant producer
*''Quiet Wedding
''Quiet Wedding'' is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play '' ...
'' (June 1941) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor
*''Silver Lining Revue'' (June 1941) – The Playhouse, Hobart – performer
*''Stage Door
''Stage Door'' is a 1937 American Tragicomedy, tragicomedy film directed by Gregory La Cava, and starring Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds, and Lucille Ball. Adapt ...
'' (mid 1941) – The Playhouse, Hobart – producer
*''The Barretts of Wimpole Street
''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' is a 1930 play by the Dutch/English dramatist Rudolf Besier, based on the romance between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, and her domineering father's unwillingness to allow them to marry. Presented f ...
'' (late 1941) – Singapore – actor
*'' Quality Street'' (1942) – Melbourne – actor
*'' The Late Christopher Bean'' (1942) – Melbourne – actor
*'' Interval'' by Sumner Locke Elliott
Sumner Locke Elliott (17 October 191724 June 1991) was an Australian (later American) novelist and playwright.
Biography
Elliott was born in Sydney to the writer Sumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsi ...
(February 1943) – The Playhouse, Hobart – actor, assistant producer
*''Khaki Kapers'' musical revue (April 1943) – Theatre Royal, Hobart – contributing writer
*'' The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse'' by Barre Lyndon
Barre or Barré may refer to:
People
* Barre (given name) or Barré
* Barre (surname) or Barré
Places United States
* Barre, Massachusetts, a New England town
** Barre (CDP), Massachusetts, the central village in the town
* Barre, New York, a ...
(December 1944) – Comedy Theatre, Melbourne – actor
*'' Kiss and Tell'' (1944–45) – national tour for J.C. Williamson Ltd – actor
*'' Arsenic and Old Lace'' (1945) – national tour for J.C. Williamson Ltd – actor
*''The Dancing Years
''The Dancing Years'' is a musical with book and music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Christopher Hassall, set in Vienna, from 1911 until 1938. It follows a Jewish composer and his love for two women of different social classes, with an ending set ...
'' by Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century.
He was born into a musical ...
(June 1946) – His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
Obituary
at The Guardian
Obituary
at Variety
at New York Times
Obituary from The Times with funeral arrangements.
Don Sharp
at Britmovie
Don Sharp
at AustLit
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Don
1921 births
2011 deaths
Australian emigrants to the United Kingdom
British film directors
Australian film directors
Australian horror film directors
Male actors from Hobart
Royal Australian Air Force airmen
Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
People educated at St Virgil's College