Britain is no longer a country for and says "goodbye" to an old film director called Paul Dickson

Paul Dickson who found success as a film director in film, television and and advertising has died at the age of 91.

What you possibly didn't know about Paul, that he :

* was born in Cardiff, the son of a tobacconist and went to Llandaff Cathedral School and Ellesmere College, before joining the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.

* worked as a cameraman in the Army Film Unit and then earned a directorial credit on the 'Ministry of Information' cine-magazine 'Britain Can Make It'.

As a director he :


* made 'The Undefeated' in 1950, the powerfully dramatised story of a Second World War veteran overcoming loss of limbs and speech which won the British Film Academy’s award for 'Best Documentary'.


* created 'David' about the life of school caretaker and poet David Griffiths which was the official Welsh contribution to the 'Festival of Britain' in 1951.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9aqYMaiBsw


* in the 'Calling Scotland Yard' detective series from 1954-56 worked alongside the blacklisted US director Joseph Losey.

* worked in advertising on high-profile campaigns for Martini, John Player and Birdseye during the 1950's.

* saw his career, temporarily, take a new turn when he was taken on by Hollywood studios as a 'dialogue coach' for 'Anastasia' in 1956, for which Ingrid Bergman won Best Actress Oscar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1L-qxQuWzU

* was commissioned by the Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt, to produce 'A Student in Berlin' in 1963, a portrait of the city seen through the eyes of a visiting Indian student.


* in the 1970's worked on tv series 'Department S', 'Jason King' and 'The Adventurer'.

As 'Head of Direction' at the National Film School in Beaconsfield in the 1980's lectured in Sydney, Belgrade, Moscow and Łódz´ and became a mentor to a new generation of British film-makers.

A dedicated practitioner of yoga, he was also an enthusiastic sailor, cook, gardener and beekeeper.

Jason King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XBB1nxgIjs&feature=related

His filmography at :
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225704/