Norman James Crisp (11 December 1923 – 14 June 2005), known as a writer only by his initials and surname, N. J. Crisp, was a British television writer, dramatist and novelist.
In the 1960s, after writing single dramas, Crisp moved to writing for serials and turned out scripts for BBC series including Compact, R3, Dixon of Dock Green, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Colditz and Secret Army.
In 1968, he co-created The Expert, a serial about a forensic scientist, with its producer Gerard Glaister. Four years later the pair repeated these roles with the boardroom drama The Brothers.
His 1996 play That Good Night starred Donald Sinden, Nigel Davenport, Lucy Fleming, Patrick Ryecart and Julie-Kate Olivier and was directed by Edward Hall. The film of the same title, based on Crisp's play, received its world premiere in June 2017 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It was John Hurt's final film, and was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film.
Crisp's 1987 psychological thriller Dangerous Obsession was filmed in 1999 as Darkness Falls, starring Ray Winstone, Tim Dutton and Sherilyn Fenn. Crisp was displeased with the end result and how his plot had been distorted without his permission that he insisted on having his name removed from the final print.
Personal life He was married to Marguerite (née Lowe), had three sons and one daughter and five grandchildren.
Writing credits Production Notes BroadcasterThe Dark ManTelevision drama (1960)BBC TelevisionBBC Sunday-Night Play"A Kind of Strength" (1961)
"The Alderman" (1962)
"The Man Who Opted Out" (1962)
"The Stepfather" (1962)BBC TelevisionITV Play of the Week"Two on the Beach" (1961)
"The Gentle Assassin" (1962)
"Danger Zone" (1963)ITV24-Hour Call"Cry for Help" (1963)ITVTaxi!"The Runaway" (1963)
"The Accident" (1963)BBC TelevisionCompact"A Job for the Boy" (1963)BBC TelevisionIt's a Woman's World"Jean" (1964)ITVDixon of Dock Green66 episodes (1964–1972, 1974–1975)BBC1The Sullavan Brothers"The Guilty Go Free" (1965)ITVArmchair Mystery Theatre"The Hunter" (1965)ITVThe Man in Room 17"The Seat of Power" (1965)ITVR3"The Astronaut" (1964)
"A State of Anxiety" (1964)
"Patterns of Behaviour" (1965)
"The Fratton Experiment" (1965)
"Experiment in Death" (1965)BBC1The Flying Swan"The Cupboard" (1965)
"The Contract" (1965)BBC1Quick Before They Catch Us"Power of Three" (1966)BBC1Trapped"Journey Into Nowhere" (1967)ITVThe Revenue Men6 episodes (1967–1968)BBC2The First Lady"A Little Goodwill" (1968)
"Yes, But Who Am I?" (1968)BBC1Dr. Finlay's Casebook15 episodes (1964–1967, 1969)BBC1The Doctors"Episode #1.7" (1969)
"Episode #1.8" (1969)BBC1Doomwatch"Project Sahara" (co-written with Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler, 1970)BBC1Codename"Target" (1970)BBC2With Love in MindFeature film (1970)N/AOwen, M.D.6 episodes (1971–1972)BBC1The Long Chase13 episodes (1972)BBC1The Man Who Was Hunting HimselfTelevision miniseries (1973)BBC1Spy Trap7 episodes (1972–1973)BBC1Orson Welles Great Mysteries"The Power of Fear" (1973) "Ice Storm" (1974)ITVColditz"Welcome to Colditz" (1972)
"Bribery and Corruption" (1972)
"Arrival of a Hero" (1974)
"The Gambler" (1974)
"Death Sentence" (1974)BBC1You're on Your Own6 episodes (co-written with Gerard Glaister, 1975)BBC1Oil Strike North"The Floating Bomb" (1975)
"Shore Leave" (1975)
"The Fatal Hours: Part 1" (1975)
"The Fatal Hours: Part 2" (1975)BBC1Dangerous Knowledge6 episodes (1976)ITVThe Expert62 episodes (1968–1976)BBC1The Brothers92 episodes (1972–1976)BBC1The Gotland DealFirst book in the 'Sidney Kenyon' series (1976)NovelJubilee"Ramsey" (1977)BBC1The Odd Job ManHardback Edition (1977)NovelThe Mackinnons"Man from the Past" (1977)
"Working Weekend" (1977)
"The Ex-Mrs. Mackinnon" (1977)
"A New Life" (1977)BBC1Secret Army9 episodes (1977–1979)BBC1The London DealSecond book in the 'Sidney Kenyon' series (1978)NovelEnemy at the Door"The Librarian" (1978)
"The Jerrybag" (1978)
"Post Mortem" (1980)"T
he Right Blood" (1980)ITVA Family AffairPublished the same year as his BBC TV Drama (1979)NovelA Family Affair10 episodes (1979)BBC1Jet SetTheatre Royal, Bath (1979–1980)Stage PlayBuccaneer13 episodes (1980)BBC1FestivalHardback edition (1981)NovelSquadron"Independence Day" (1982)BBC1The BrinkHardback edition (1982)NovelYesterday's GoneHardback edition (1983)NovelThe Odd Job ManTelevision miniseries (1984)BBC1Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of DeathTelevision film (co-written with Anthony Hinds, 1984)Channel 4Fighting ChanceApollo (Shaftesbury Avenue), London (1985–1985)Stage PlayMurder EliteFeature film (1985)N/AStrike It Rich!"Suspicions" (1986)
"Extraordinary General Meeting" (1986)BBC1In the Long RunThe first book in the 'Stephen Haden' series (1987)NovelThe Ninth CircleThe second book in the 'Stephen Haden' series (1988)NovelDangerous ObsessionTheatre Royal, Bath (1989–1990)Stage playSunday PursuitShort film (1990)HTVCoup de Foudre"Retour" (co-written with Jean Curtelin, 1991)Canal+France 2SuspicionsFull Length play, Drama (1992)Stage playThat Good NightYvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (1996)Stage playThat Good NightWorld premiere in June 2017
Released in UK cinemas on 11 May 2018Film
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