10 Movies Directed by Tony Richardson

Look Back in Anger

Look Back in Anger

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1959-10-09

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

98 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.2 (1949 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Nigel Kneale

John Osborne (additional dialogue)

John Osborne (play)

Fullplot:

Jimmy Porter is a loud, obnoxious man, rude and verbally abusive to his wife, Alison. Alison comes from an upper class family that Jimmy abhors and he berates Alison for being too reserved and unfeeling. Jimmy is college educated but works with a partner, Cliff Lewis, as a street vendor operating a candy stall. Cliff lives with Jimmy and Alison and is close friends with both. When Jimmy pushes Alison while she is at the ironing board she is burned. Alison visits her doctor where it is revealed that she is pregnant. She asks him if it is too late to do something about it but the doctor immediately tells her never to mention such an idea. When Jimmy leaves for work, Alison confides to Cliff that she is pregnant. She is frightened of Jimmy's reaction to this news, and has not told him. Jimmy is visited by his childhood nanny, Mrs. Tanner, whom Jimmy loves and calls "Mom." Alison tries to tell Jimmy of the pregnancy but is frustrated when Jimmy insults her for being cool towards Mrs. Tanner.. Alison tells Jimmy that her actress friend, Helena Charles, is coming to stay at the flat. Jimmy hates Helena. In his anger, he curses Alison for her cool demeanor, and wishes that she would have a child and that the child would die so she could feel anguish to break her cool demeanor. Helena arrives, and when she has had enough of Jimmy's bitterness toward Alison, she convinces Alison she should allow her to call Alison's father, Colonel Redfern, to take her to the family home and leave Jimmy. Jimmy then gets word that his nanny has had a stroke. Jimmy begs Alison to come with him to see her but Alison goes with Helena to church. Jimmy visits his nanny in the hospital and is convinced she is dying. Before Jimmy returns, Alison's father arrives and leaves with Alison. Helena stays in the flat. Jimmy returns and Helena tells Jimmy that Alison is going to have a baby. Jimmy says he does not care. When he calls Helena an evil-minded virgin, she slaps him. Then they kiss and make love, locking Cliff from the flat. Jimmy and Helena live for a while in the flat, apparently happy, with Cliff, while Alison stays at her family's home waiting to give birth. Cliff begins to feel out of place, having been close to Alison but not Helena. At the candy stall, Cliff tells Jimmy that he has decided to leave. He wants something better. Jimmy has decided to get out of the candy business, too. Cliff says good-bye to Jimmy at the train station and Jimmy tells him he is worth more to him than a dozen Helenas. Jimmy and Helena enter a train station pub where they find Alison seated at a table alone. Jimmy leaves and Alison tells Helena she lost her child in pregnancy. Helena feels that she has to leave Jimmy. Helena returns to the flat and tells Jimmy she is leaving him because she cannot stand the torment of their lives. Jimmy returns to the train station and finds Alison waiting to return home. They talk of the lost child and Alison tells him she can never have children. Jimmy and Alison reconcile.

The Entertainer

The Entertainer

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1960-12-02

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

96 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.2 (1828 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

John Osborne (screenplay)

Nigel Kneale (screenplay)

John Osborne (adaptation)

Fullplot:

Archie Rice, a pathetic music hall comic, plagued by debts, manipulates those around him in a defiant and selfish attempt to survive against improbable odds. He drinks, makes crude philosophical jokes about sex and politics and humiliates his lamenting, gin-soaked wife. Archie lures his father, Billy Rice, out of retirement for a benefit performance which will ultimately bring financial aid to Archie and his impractical investments.

A Taste of Honey

A Taste of Honey

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1962-04-30

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

100 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.7 (2703 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Shelagh Delaney (screenplay)

Tony Richardson (screenplay)

Shelagh Delaney (play)

Fullplot:

Black and white, gay and straight, mothers and daughters, class, and coming of age. Jo is working class, in her teens, living with her drunk and libidinous mother in northern England. When mom marries impulsively, Jo is out on the streets; she and Geoffrey, a gay co worker who's adrift himself, find a room together. Then Jo finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with Jimmy, a Black sailor. Geoffrey takes over the preparations for the baby's birth, and becomes, in effect, the child's father. The three of them seem to have things sorted out when Jo's mother reappears on the scene, assertive and domineering. Which "family" will emerge?

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1962-10-08

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

104 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.7 (5224 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

DramaSport

Cast:

Writer:

Alan Sillitoe (screenplay)

Alan Sillitoe (short story)

Fullplot:

A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy's reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of the institution through his prowess as a long distance runner. During his solitary runs, reveries of his life and times before his incarceration lead him to re-evaluate his privileged status as the Governor's prize runner.

Tom Jones

Tom Jones

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1963-12-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

128 min

Rated:

UNRATED

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (7853 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Cast:

Writer:

John Osborne (screenplay)

Henry Fielding (novel)

Fullplot:

In eighteenth century England, "first cousins" Tom Jones and Master Blifil grew up together in privilege in the western countryside, but could not be more different in nature. Tom, the bastard son of one of Squire Allworthy's servants Jenny Jones and the local barber Partridge, was raised by virtuous Allworthy as his own after he sent Jenny away. Tom is randy, chasing anything in a skirt, he's having a sexual relationship on the sly with Molly Seagrim, the peasant daughter of Allworthy's gamekeeper. Tom is nonetheless kind-hearted and good-natured, he who is willing to defend that and those in which he believes. Blifil, on the other hand, is dour, and although outwardly pious, is cold-hearted and vengeful. Despite his randiness, Tom eventually falls in love with Sophie Western, who has just returned to the area after a few years abroad. Despite Sophie's love for Tom, Squire Western and his spinster sister would rather see Sophie marry Blifil rather than a bastard, who Western nonetheless liked before he knew that Tom liked Sophie. Based on half truths, Tom, out of circumstance, is forced to leave his home and strike out on his own in London. While Sophie sneaks away in search of Tom, and Squire Western and Miss Western go off in search of Sophie, Tom gets into one misadventure after another on his way to London, some involving his randiness, and some which will reveal certain aspects of his life previously unknown to him. Through it all, Sophie, deep down, is never far from his mind, even when his life is in danger.

The Loved One

The Loved One

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1965-10-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

122 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (2451 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

Comedy

Cast:

Writer:

Evelyn Waugh (novel)

Terry Southern (screenplay)

Christopher Isherwood (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Newly arrived in Hollywood from England, Dennis Barlow finds he has to arrange his uncle's interment at the highly-organised and very profitable Whispering Glades funeral parlour. His fancy is caught by one of their cosmeticians, Aimee Thanatogenos. But he has three problems - the strict rules of owner Blessed Reverand Glenworthy, the rivalry of embalmer Mr Joyboy, and the shame of now working himself at The Happy Hunting Ground pets' memorial home.

Mademoiselle

Mademoiselle

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1966-08-01

Languages:

French, Italian, Latin

Countries:

France, UK

Runtime:

103 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.4 (616 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Marguerite Duras

Jean Genet (story)

Fullplot:

In a French village, Manou is an Italian logger, virile, with a broad laugh. He can't say no to women's sexual invitations, and jealous villagers blame him for recent fires and a flood. He is innocent; the culprit is "Mademoiselle," town schoolmarm, a recent arrival admired by all, but sexually repressed and obsessed with Manou. She sets the first fire accidentally and throbs watching a shirtless Manou perform heroics. Subsequent catastrophes are no accident and express her mad passion for him. Also, after befriending Manou's son, she turns on the lad, making him miserable and raising his suspicions. Her designs, Manou's frank innocence, and the town's xenophobia mix explosively.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1968-10-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

139 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (2083 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Fullplot:

A chronicle of events that led to the British involvement in the Crimean War against Russia and which led to the siege of Sevastopol and the fierce Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 which climaxed with the heroic, but near-disastrous cavalry charge made by the British Light Brigade against a Russian artillery battery in a small valley which resulted in the near-destruction of the brigade due to error of judgment and rash planning on part by the inept British commanders.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1990-03-18

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA, France, Italy, Germany

Runtime:

168 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.5 (1113 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Cast:

Writer:

Gaston Leroux (novel)

Arthur Kopit (play)

Arthur Kopit (teleplay)

Fullplot:

Count de Chagnie has discovered Christine's singing talent on a market place and sent her to his friend Carriere, the director of the Parisian opera. However just when she arrives Carriere's dismissed. His arrogant successor refuses to let a woman of low birth sing in his opera, but graciously employs Christine as gadrobiere for his wife Charlotta, who's installed as first singer. He also fights the phantom, an unknown guy who lives since many years in the catacombs below the opera and was granted privileges by Carriere. However the phantom knows how to defend himself and at the same time helps Christine to her career.

Blue Sky

Blue Sky

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1994-09-16

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

101 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

6.4 (4893 Reviews)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Genres:

DramaRomance

Cast:

Writer:

Rama Laurie Stagner (story)

Rama Laurie Stagner (screenplay)

Arlene Sarner (screenplay)

Jerry Leichtling (screenplay)

Fullplot:

It's the early 1960s. Hank Marshall is a tough, square-jawed, strait-laced Army engineer and nuclear science expert, assigned to help conduct weapons-testing in America. Hank has become a thorn in the side of the United States Army, though, for a couple of very different reasons. He is an outspoken opponent of atmospheric testing, though his superiors hold contrary views and want to squelch his concerns... and his reports. The other problem is his wife, Carly, who is voluptuous, volatile and fun-loving. Her antics are wreaking havoc in his personal life and stirring up intrigue at each Army base.

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