Britain is a country which says "Goodbye" to an old film director called Peter Yates

The film director Peter Yates, has died aged 81.
Things you may or may not have known about Peter, that he :

* was the son of an army officer, attended Charterhouse School Public School and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

* entered repertory theatre in the late 1940s as an actor, then worked as a racing driver and manager for the internationally successful Stirling Moss.

* dubbed foreign-language films into English and edited documentaries before becoming an assistant director on such films as 'The Inn of the Sixth Happiness' in 1958, 'The Entertainer' in 1960 and 'The Guns of Navarone' in 1961.

* From 1962, directed episodes of the TV series 'The Saint' and 'Danger Man'.

* directed his first film 'Summer Holiday' in 1963, as a lightweight vehicle for Cliff Richard :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbajf_rHzys

* the time spent as a racing driver gave him the break he needed when he was hired to direct 'Robbery' in 1967, which, with its opening car chase and climactic action sequence made the film, brought him box-office success, critical plaudits and an invitation to Hollywood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-GT-_gziw

* was nudging 40 when he was offered 'Bullitt' in 1968, starring Steve McQueen as a cool, laconic cop whose San Francisco car chase became one of cinema's most influential action sequences :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiihioRMZmU

* enjoyed a massive box-office success with 'The Deep' in 1977 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPNauytoxw

* made 'The Dresser' in 1983, a film based on Ronald Harwood's play about his experiences working for the actor-manager Donald Wolfit :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZROSsbbHJ0

* made 'Krull' in 1983 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHgC9sAEvE



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