Alexander MacKendrick

08.09.1912, Boston, SAD - 22.12.1993, Los Angeles, SAD

 

Scottish by origin, MacKendrick was born during his parents’ stay in the
United States. He worked as an animator in the commercial movies and in 1937
gets a full time job as a screenwriter and director of short-movies. Soon he
starts collaborating with the Ealing studios working on screenplays. Immediately
with the first movie Whisky Galore! He gains success. One of his most
famous movies is without question The Ladykillers where he brings black
humor and absurdity to its extremes. He goes to Hollywood in 1956. Later, his
opposing to commercial compromises and illness make his work more difficult.
From the late 60’s he is the Dean at the California Institute of Arts.

Filmography

Don't Make Waves (1967)
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad (1967)
A High Wind in Jamaica (1965)
Sammy Going South (1963)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
The Ladykillers (1955)
The Maggie (1954)
Mandy (1952)
The Man in the White Suit (1951)
Whisky Galore! (1949)


Films by this director

The Man in the White Suit

(1951)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
PHOTOGRAPHY: Douglas Slocombe
Synopsis:

Sidney Stratton discoveres a cloth that doesn’t wear out or get dirty. When the owner of the factory where Stratton works becomes aware of the dangerous competition, he tries to eliminate him. Stratton finds himself in a situation where he is a potential danger for colleagues and employees.

black and white, 85 min.

The Maggie

(1953.)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
Synopsis:

The skipper of a small steamboat talks a rich American Marshall into moving his furniture for his new house on the island. Very soon Marshal realizes the game he is in, tries to get hold of his properties, but learns that money just can’t buy everything …

black and white, 92 min.

The Ladykillers

(1955)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
PHOTOGRAPHY: Otto Heller
Synopsis:

The Ladykillers, a group of five men, are forced to live with Mrs. Wilberforce. She believes they are musicians. When they decide to get rid of the disturbance, problems arise and it seems that the greatest threat to their job is old Mrs. Wilberforce.

black and white, 97 min.

Viskija napretek!

(Whisky Galore!, 1949)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
PHOTOGRAPHY: Gerald Gibbs
Synopsis:

WHISKEY GALORE! prvi je film škotskog redatelja Alexandera Mackendricka te je ujedno i prva u nizu popularnih i prepoznatljivih komedija iz britanskog filmskog studija Ealing koje su nastale u četrdesetim i pedesetim godinama 20. stoljeća (Passport to Pimlico, Kind Hearts and Coronets). Radnja se odvija u udaljenom Outer Hebrides na otoku Todday, čiji su stanovnici bezbrižni i imuni na ratna zbivanja u 2. svjetskom ratu sve dok im ne ponestane zaliha njihova omiljena pića - viskija. Nad otokom s...

black and white, 82 min.

Priče obične ludosti

(Storia di ordinaria folia, 1983.)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
Synopsis:

Charles Serking je zapravo Bukowski. Pratimo njegova lutanja po Los Angelesu; prostitutke, maloljetne djevojke, alkohol…tu su sve komponente postupnog silaska u očaj i samoću, kao i u prozi Charlesa Bukowskog.

color, 101 min

Sweet Smell of Success

(USA, 1957)

Directed by: Alexander MacKendrick
PHOTOGRAPHY: James Wong Howe
Synopsis:

Utjecajni J.J. Hunsecker beskrupulozni je njujorški novinar, tračerski kolumnist koji vješto manipulira činjenicama i uništava karijere popularnih zvijezda. Nakon što ambicioznog tiskovnog agenta Sidneyja Falca, kako se čini podjednako beskrupuloznom osobom, angažira da u javnosti stvori negativnu sliku o dobrodušnom jazz-glazbeniku Steveu Dallasu, zaručniku svoje 19-godišnje sestre Susan, Hunsucker ne sluti da se ovog puta stvari neće odvijati prema nje...

b/w, 96'
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