Alan John Clarke (28 October 1935 – 24 July 1990) was an English television and film director, producer and writer.

Life and career

Clarke was born on 28 October 1935, in

Wallasey Wallasey () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is at the mouth of the River Mersey, on the north-eastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula. It lies within the Historic counties of England, historic county bou ...

. Most of Clarke's output was for television rather than cinema, including work for the famous play strands ''

The Wednesday Play ''The Wednesday Play'' is an anthology series of United Kingdom, British television plays which ran on BBC One, BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic ...

'' and ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

''. His subject matter tended towards

social realism Social realism is work produced by painters, printmakers, photographers, writers, filmmakers and some musicians that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class as a means to critique the power structures ...

, with deprived or oppressed communities as a frequent setting. As Dave Rolinson's book details, between 1962 and 1966 Clarke directed several plays at The Questors Theatre in Ealing, London. Between 1967 and 1969, he directed various ITV productions including plays by

Alun Owen Alun Davies Owen (24 November 1925 – 6 December 1994) was a Welsh playwright, screenwriter and actor, predominantly in television. However, he is best remembered by a wider audience for writing the screenplay of The Beatles' debut feature f ...

(''Shelter'', ''George's Room'', ''Stella'', ''Thief'', ''Gareth''),

Edna O'Brien Josephine Edna O'Brien (15 December 1930 – 27 July 2024) was an Irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short-story writer. O'Brien's works often revolve around the inner feelings of women and their problems relating to men and soc ...

(''Which of These Two Ladies Is He Married To?'' and ''Nothing's Ever Over'') and Roy Minton (''The Gentleman Caller'', '' Goodnight Albert'', '' Stand By Your Screen''). He also worked on the series '' The Informer'', ''The Gold Robbers'' and ''A Man of Our Times'' (but not, as ''

Sight and Sound ''Sight and Sound'' (formerly written ''Sight & Sound'') is a monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute (BFI). Since 1952, it has conducted the well-known decennial ''Sight and Sound'' Poll of the Greatest Films of All Time. ...

'' once claimed, ''

Big Breadwinner Hog ''Big Breadwinner Hog'' is a British television thriller serial devised by Robin Chapman, produced by Granada TV and transmitted in eight parts, starting at 9.00pm on 11 April 1969 on the ITV network. Overview The series focussed on the rut ...

''). Clarke continued to work for ITV through the 1970s, but during the decade made much of his work for the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

. This included pieces for ''

'' (''Sovereign's Company'' 1970), ''

'' and ''

Play of the Month ''Play of the Month'' is a BBC television anthology series, which ran from 1965 to 1983 featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays (or adaptations) which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different wor ...

'' ('' The Love-Girl and the Innocent'', 1973, and ''

Danton's Death ''Danton's Death'' (''Dantons Tod'') was the first play written by Georg Büchner, set during the French Revolution. History Georg Büchner wrote his works in the period between Romanticism and Literary realism, Realism in the so-called Vormär ...

'', 1978). Distinctive work for these strands included further plays by Minton including ''

Funny Farm A psychiatric hospital, also known as a mental health hospital, a behavioral health hospital, or an asylum is a specialized medical facility that focuses on the treatment of severe mental disorders. These institutions cater to patients with c ...

'' (1975) and '' Scum'' (further details below), but also ''Sovereign's Company'' by Don Shaw, ''The Hallelujah Handshake'' by

Colin Welland Colin Welland (born Colin Edward Williams; 4 July 1934 – 2 November 2015) was an English actor and screenwriter. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Mr Farthing in '' Kes'' (1969) and the Academy A ...

(both 1970) and '' Penda's Fen'' by

David Rudkin James David Rudkin (born 29 June 1936) is an England, English playwright. Early life Rudkin was born in London. Coming from a family of strict evangelical Christians, he was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham and read Mods and Great ...

(1974). He also made ''To Encourage the Others'' (1972), a powerful drama-documentary about the

Derek Bentley Derek William Bentley (30 June 1933 – 28 January 1953) was a British man who was hanged for the murder of a policeman during a burglary. Christopher Craig, then aged 16, a friend and accomplice of Bentley, was accused of the murder. Be ...

case (the case that was later dramatised in

Peter Medak Péter Medák (born 23 December 1937) is a Hungarians in the United Kingdom, Hungarian-British film and television director. Early life Born in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, Hungary, he was the son of Elisabeth (née Diamounstein) and Gyula Med ...

's 1991 film ''

Let Him Have It ''Let Him Have It'' is a 1991 British drama film directed by Peter Medak and starring Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, Tom Courtenay and Tom Bell. The film is based on the true story of Derek Bentley, who was convicted of the murder of a ...

''), and several documentaries, including ''Vodka Cola'' (1981) on multinational corporations. Clarke's other work in the mid-to-late 1970s included the initially unreleased documentary ''Bukovsky'' about the Soviet dissident and defector

Vladimir Bukovsky Vladimir Konstantinovich Bukovsky (; 30 December 1942 – 27 October 2019) was a Soviet and Russian Human rights activists, human rights activist and writer. From the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, he was a prominent figure in the Soviet dissid ...

and a companion ''Play For Today'' follow-up titled ''Nina'' (1978), which starred Jack Shepherd and

Eleanor Bron Eleanor Bron (born 14 March 1938) is an English stage, film and television actress, and an author. Her film roles include Ahme in the Beatles musical ''Help!'' (1965), the Doctor in '' Alfie'' (1966), Margaret Spencer in '' Bedazzled'' (1967) an ...

. A number of his works achieved notoriety and widespread criticism from the conservative end of the political spectrum, including '' Scum'' (1977), dealing with the subject of

borstal A borstal is a type of youth detention centre. Such a detention centre is more commonly known as a borstal school in India, where they remain in use today. Until the late 20th century, borstals were present in the United Kingdom, several mem ...

s (youth prisons), which was banned by the BBC, and subsequently remade by Clarke as a feature film released in 1979 (the original television version was only screened after his death). Clarke directed the television play '' Made in Britain'' (1982), starring

Tim Roth Timothy Simon Roth (; born 14 May 1961) is an English actor. He was among a group of prominent British actors known as the " Brit Pack". After garnering attention in television productions '' Made in Britain'' (1982) and '' Meantime'' (1983), ...

(in his television debut) as a racist skinhead and his negative relationship with authorities and racial minorities, from a screenplay by

David Leland David Leland (20 April 1941 – 24 December 2023) was a British film director, screenwriter and actor who came to international fame with his directorial debut ''Wish You Were Here'' in 1987. Life and career Leland initially trained as an ac ...

. The feature film ''

Rita, Sue and Bob Too ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'' is a 1987 British comedy-drama film directed by Alan Clarke and starring Michelle Holmes, Siobhan Finneran, George Costigan, and Lesley Sharp. Set in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the film is about two teenage schoolg ...

'' (1987), was adapted by the working-class writer Andrea Dunbar from her stage work. The 1975 BBC play ''Diane'', starring

Janine Duvitski Janine Duvitski (born Christine Janine Drzewicki; 28 June 1952) is a British actress, known for her roles in the BBC television sitcom series '' Waiting for God'', ''One Foot in the Grave'' and ''Benidorm''. Duvitski first came to national atte ...

, which dealt with an incestuous relationship between a father and daughter was controversially received by the tabloid press. Clarke's work in the 1980s was fiercely stark and political, including the

plays ''Beloved Enemy'' (1981) on multinational corporations and ''Psy-Warriors'' (1981) on military interrogation. Clarke also directed

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...

in ''

Baal Baal (), or Baʻal, was a title and honorific meaning 'owner' or 'lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The ...

'' (1982) for the BBC, part of Clarke's interest in

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

. His film work became more sparse, culminating in '' Contact'' (1985) on the British military presence in Northern Ireland, '' Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire'' (1985), ''

Road A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved. Th ...

'' (1987), and ''

Elephant Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant ('' Loxodonta africana''), the African forest elephant (''L. cyclotis''), and the Asian elephant ('' Elephas maximus ...

'' (1989). Many of the films that Clarke directed from this period are often seen as bleak and lacking redemptive qualities – the 1986 BBC film ''Christine'' dealt with teenage drug addiction whilst ''Road'' featured a cast of characters in the depressed estates of Northern England. ''Elephant'', lasting only 37 minutes, dealt with '

the troubles The Troubles () were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed t ...

' in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

by featuring a series of shootings with no narrative and minimal dialogue; all were based on accounts of actual sectarian killings that had taken place in Belfast. The film took its title from

Bernard MacLaverty Bernard MacLaverty (born 14 September 1942) is a Northern Irish fiction writer and novelist. His novels include '' Cal'' and '' Grace Notes''. He has written five books of short stories. Biography MacLaverty was born in no. 73 Atlantic Avenue ...

's description of the troubles as " the elephant in our living room" – a reference to the collective denial of the underlying social problems of Northern Ireland. His final production of Al Hunter's ''

The Firm The FIRM is a brand of exercise videos and equipment currently owned by Gaiam. First released in 1986, the video series is best known for popularizing a hybrid of aerobic exercise and weight training. History In 1979, Anna Benson founded th ...

'' (1989), covered

football hooliganism Football hooliganism, also known as soccer hooliganism, football rioting or soccer rioting, constitutes violence and other destructive behaviors perpetrated by spectators at association football events. Football hooliganism typically involves ...

through the lead character played by

Gary Oldman Sir Gary Leonard Oldman (born 21 March 1958) is an English actor and filmmaker. Known for his versatility and intense acting style, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Gary Oldman, various accolades, including an Academ ...

, but also explored the politics of Thatcher's Britain. Like several of Clarke's previous films, the screening of ''

'' as part of BBC 2's ''

Screen Two ''Screen Two'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC2 from 1985 to 1998 (not to be confused with a run of films shown on BBC2 under the billing ''Screen 2'' between April 1977 and March 1978 ...

'' series was controversial and criticised by some of the British Press as being too violent and sexually explicit. Like ''Christine'', ''Road'' and ''Elephant'', ''The Firm'' was also notable for Clarke's use of the

steadicam Steadicam is a brand of camera stabilizer mounts for motion picture cameras invented by Garrett Brown and introduced in 1975 by Cinema Products Corporation. The Steadicam brand was acquired by Tiffen in 2000. It was designed to isolate the ...

, partly inspired by its earlier use in films by Stanley Kubrick like ''The Shining''. In 1990, Clarke travelled to America in order to pursue the idea of developing a US-based career in filmmaking. Prior to his death he was making initial plans to film ''Assassination On Embassy Row'', later retitled ''An American Murder'', about a murder filmed from the assassin's point-of-view. The film never came to fruition, partly due to a lack of interest from the major US film studios and Clarke's declining health. Another project, a script by David Yallop entitled ''In God's Name'', also went unmade as Clarke began radiotherapy for cancer which by that time had spread from his lungs to his spine. In 1991, a documentary on him, ''Director Alan Clarke'' by Corin Campbell-Hill, aired on British TV. In 2016, all of Clarke's surviving work for the BBC was released in a two-part DVD/Blu-Ray collection titled ''Dissent & Disruption: Alan Clarke at the BBC''. This set included the first official release of the 1976 documentary ''Bukovsky'' alongside extensive interviews with many of Clarke's collaborators and contemporaries. Clarke inspired

Nick Love Nick Love (born 24 December 1969) is an English film director and writer. His credits include the films '' The Football Factory'', '' The Business'', '' Goodbye Charlie Bright'', ''Outlaw'', '' The Sweeney'', a 2009 remake of football hooligan ...

to direct films founded upon social realism. Love stated that watching Clarke's ''

'' had motivated him to become a filmmaker.

Personal life

Clarke died on 24 July 1990, aged 54, in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, after suffering from lung cancer. Clarke's son is Gabriel Clarke, a sports journalist with ITV. His daughter is Molly Clarke.

Filmography

Television plays

Broadcast strand/series in brackets, otherwise screened as a standalone play. *''Shelter'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1967) *''A Man Inside'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1967) *''The Gentleman Caller'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1967) *''Which of these Two Lades is He Married To?'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1967) *''George's Room'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1967) *''Sleeping Dogs Lie'' (episode of '' The Informer'', Rediffusion 1967) *''Sally Go Round the Moon'' (episode of ''A Man of Our Times'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Goodnight Albert'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Got Yourself Sorted Out At All?'' (episode of ''A Man of Our Times'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Never Mind How We Got Here - Where Are We?'' (episode of ''A Man of Our Times'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Stella'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1968) *''The Fifty-Seventh Saturday'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Nothing's Ever Over'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Thief'' (''Half-Hour Story'', Rediffusion 1968) *''Stand By Your Screen'' (''Company of Five'', LWT 1968) *''Gareth'' (''Company of Five'', LWT 1968) *''The Piano Tuner'' (''Saturday Night Theatre'', Kestrel/LWT 1969) *''The Arrangement'' (episode of ''The Gold Robbers'', LWT 1969) *''The Ladies: Joan/Doreen'' (two plays for ''Plays of Today'', BBC Two 1969) *''The Last Train Through Harecastle Tunnel'' (''

'', BBC One 1969) *''The Comic'' (''Saturday Night Theatre'', Kestrel/LWT 1969) *''Sovereign's Company'' (''

'', BBC One 1970) *''I Can't See My Little Willie'' (''

'', BBC One 1970) *''The Hallelujah Handshake'' (''

'', BBC One 1970) *''Everybody Say Cheese'' (''

'', BBC One 1971) *''Under the Age'' (''

Thirty-Minute Theatre ''Thirty-Minute Theatre'' was a British anthology drama series of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, which was used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short running length, and which ...

'', BBC Two 1972) *''

Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 BC – 27 November 8 BC), Suetonius, Life of Horace commonly known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). Th ...

'' (BBC Two, 1972) *''To Encourage the Others'' (BBC Two, 1972) *''A Life is for Ever'' (''

'', BBC One 1972) *''Horatio Bottomley'' ('' The Edwardians'', BBC Two 1972) *''Achilles Heel'' (LWT, 1973) *''Man Above Men'' (''

'', BBC One 1973) *''The Love Girl and the Innocent'' (''

'', BBC One 1973) *'' Penda's Fen'' (''

'', BBC One 1974) *''A Follower for Emily'' (''

'', BBC One 1974) *''

'' (''

'', BBC One 1975) *''Diane'' (BBC Two, 1975) *''Fast Hands'' (''Plays for Britain'', Thames 1976) *'' Scum'' (made for ''

'', BBC One 1977, but not transmitted until 1991 on BBC Two) *''Danton's Death'' (''

'', BBC One 1978) *''Nina'' (''

'', BBC One 1978) *''Beloved Enemy'' (''

'', BBC One 1981) *''Psy-Warriors'' (''

'', BBC One 1981) *''David Bowie in Baal'' (BBC One, 1982) *'' Made in Britain'' (''Tales Out of School'', Central 1982) *''Stars of the Roller State Disco'' (BBC 1984) *''Contact'' (''

'', BBC Two 1985) *''Christine'' (''

ScreenPlay A screenplay, or script, is a written work produced for a film, television show (also known as a '' teleplay''), or video game by screenwriters (cf. ''stage play''). Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of w ...

'', BBC Two 1987) *''Road'' (''

'', BBC Two 1987) *''

'' (BBC Two 1989) *''

'' (''

'', BBC Two 1989)

Films

*'' Scum'' (1979) *'' Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire'' (1985) *''

'' (1987)

Documentaries

*'' Bukovsky'' (1977) *''Vodka Cola'' (1980) *''British Desk'' (1984)

Cultural influences

Musician Annie Locke was a close friend of Clarke for many years, and they worked together on '' The Love-Girl and the Innocent''. After Clarke's death, she wrote a suite of pieces in his memory, entitled "A Man Called Alan". Clarke inspired a generation of actors, writers and directors, including

Paul Greengrass Paul Greengrass (born 13 August 1955) is an English film director, film producer, screenwriter and former journalist. One of his early films, '' Bloody Sunday'' (2002), won the Golden Bear at 52nd Berlin International Film Festival. Other f ...

Stephen Frears Sir Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is a British director and producer of film and television, often depicting real life stories as well as projects that explore social class through sharply-drawn characters. He has received numerous a ...

Ray Winstone Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage, and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is known ...

Danny Brocklehurst Danny Brocklehurst (born June 1971) is an English screenwriter, playwright, and former journalist. He has won both BAFTA and Royal Television Society writing awards. He was featured in the writers' section of ''Broadcast'' magazine's Hot 100 in ...

and Iain MacDonald. Filmmakers

Harmony Korine Harmony Korine (born January 4, 1973) is an American filmmaker, actor, photographer, artist, and author. His methods feature an erratic, loose and transgressive aesthetic, exploring taboo themes and incorporating experimental techniques,Alicia Kn ...

and Joel Potrykus have cited Clarke as a major influence on their work. As documented in the series ''The Story of Film'' by Mark Cousins, the 2003 movie ''

'' by

Gus Van Sant Gus Green Van Sant Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American filmmaker, photographer, painter, and musician. He has earned acclaim as an independent film, independent auteur. His films typically deal with themes of marginalized subcultures. His ...

about the

Columbine High School Massacre A school shooting and attempted bombing occurred on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, United States. The perpetrators, twelfth-grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, murdered 13 students and one teach ...

was named after and influenced by Clarke's earlier work of the same title, especially by Clarke's penchant for

long take In filmmaking, a long take (also called a continuous take, continuous shot, or oner) is Shot (filmmaking), shot with a duration much longer than the conventional editing pace either of the film itself or of films in general. Significant camera mov ...

tracking shot In cinematography, a tracking shot is any shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded. Mostly the camera’s position is parallel to the character, creating a sideway motion, tracking the chara ...

s, often following one or more characters from the rear as they move through space. James Marsh's 2012 film '' Shadow Dancer'' makes specific homage to the walking scenes in 1987 television play ''Christine''. Critic David Thomson has observed, "No one has ever grasped the central metaphor of cramped existence in walking as well as Alan Clarke."'' The New Biographical Dictionary of Film'', David Thomson, Knopf, 2014

References

External links

Biography and filmography
from the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

Screenonline Screenonline is a website about the history of British film, television and social history as documented by film and television. The project has been developed by the British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and tele ...

*
''Senses of Cinema'' profile
fro

''My Hero Alan Clarke''
Paul Greengrass tells of his unexpected encounter with Clarke at a court martial * Alan Clarke: His Own Man (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXzAeji4CPU) a 2000 documentary made for Film4 by Andy Kimpton-Nye/400Blows Productions. * Tim Roth: Made in Britain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deOzrwyMqRA) a 2000 documentary short made for Film4: Tim Roth talks about working with Alan Clarke. Made by Andy Kimpton-Nye/400Blows Productions. * Memories of: Elephant (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyj0DNoeCSg) a 2000 documentary short made for Film4: Gary Oldman, David Hare, Howard Schuman and Molly Clarke remember Alan Clarke's powerful BBC drama, Elephant. made by Andy Kimpton-Nye/400Blows Productions. {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Alan 1935 births 1990 deaths English film directors English television directors ITV people British experimental filmmakers People from Birkenhead Social realism Deaths from cancer in England People from Cheshire People from Wallasey