Jonathan Bates (1 November 1939 – 31 October 2008) was an English sound editor. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Sound for the film Gandhi, and won a BAFTA in 1988 for his work on the film Cry Freedom alongside long-term collaborators Gerry Humphreys and Simon Kaye.
Early life Jonathan Bates was born at home on 1 November 1939, the youngest of the four children of author H. E. Bates. He was a pupil at The King's School, Canterbury and had early ambitions to become a jet pilot, but was influenced to work in the movies due to his father's relationship with the director David Lean.
Career Jonathan Bates began his film career at Ealing Studios, Borehamwood as a runner and trainee soon after leaving school in 1956, and eventually became a Sound editor. He worked on over 65 films between 1959 and 2007, and was most associated with the films of Brian G. Hutton, Jack Gold, Lewis Gilbert and Richard Attenborough with whom he collaborated on numerous productions.
Personal life In 1966 Bates married Jennifer Thompson whilst shooting Hotel Paradiso in Paris. He had first met her whilst working on the 1961 production of Whistle Down the Wind, where she was and also an assistant dubbing editor. They remained married until his death in 2008. The union produced a son, Tim and a daughter, Catherine. Bates retired in 2003 and was also a passionate cricketer and played for Twickenham All-Stars. He died in 2008 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Awards YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef.1983Gandhi55th Academy Awards (Oscars)Sound1983Gandhi36th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)Sound1986A Chorus Line39th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)Sound1988Cry Freedom41st British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)Sound
Selected filmography YearTitleCreditDirectorRef1959KidnappedDubbing AssistantRobert Stevenson 1960 Never Let GoDubbing AssistantJohn Guillermin1961Whistle Down the WindDubbing AssistantBryan Forbes 1963 Station Six Sahara Sound EditorSeth Holt1964 The Moon-spinners Sound EditorJames Neilson The Three Lives of Thomasina Sound EditorDon Chaffey 1965 Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines Dubbing EditorKen Annakin1966 Bunny Lake is Missing Sound EditorOtto Preminger Return of the Seven Sound EditorBurt Kennedy Hotel Paradiso SoundPeter Glenville 1967 Fathom Sound EditorLeslie H. Martinson Maroc 7 SoundGerry O'Hara The Comedians SoundPeter Glenville1968Inspector ClouseauSoundBud Yorkin1969Where Eagles DareSound EditorBrian G. Hutton1970Kelly's HeroesSound EditorBrian G. Hutton 1971 'Friends' Dubbing EditorLewis GilbertMacbethDubbing EditorRoman Polanski1972 Danny Jones Sound EditorJules Bricken Young Winston Dubbing EditorRichard Attenborough1973 Catholics. A Fable of the Future (TV movie) Sound EditorJack Gold Night Watch Sound EditorBrian G. Hutton197411 HarrowhouseSound EditorAram Avakian1975The "Human" FactorSound EditorEdward DmytrykMurder on the Orient ExpressSound EditorSidney Lumet92 in the ShadeSound EditorThomas McGuane1976Aces HighSound EditorJack Gold1977Voyage of the DamnedSound EditorStuart RosenbergThe Eagle Has LandedSound EditorJohn Sturges1978Silver BearsSound EditorIvan PasserMagicSound EditorRichard AttenboroughInternational VelvetSound EditorBryan ForbesThe Medusa TouchSound EditorJack Gold1979DraculaSound EditorJohn Badham1980Flash GordonSound EditorMike Hodges1982GandhiSound EditorRichard Attenborough1983Red MonarchSound EditorJack GoldHigh Road to ChinaSound EditorBrian G. Hutton1984The ChainSound EditorJack Gold1985A Chorus LineSupervising Sound EditorRichard Attenborough1986Mona LisaSound EditorNeil Jordan1987Cry FreedomSound EditorRichard Attenborough1988A Fish Called WandaSound EditorCharles CrichtonThe DeceiversSupervising Sound EditorNicholas Meyer1989The Mighty QuinnSound EditorCarl SchenkelShirley ValentineSound EditorLewis Gilbert1992ChaplinSound EditorRichard Attenborough1993PragueSound EditorIan SellarThe Man Without a FaceSupervising Sound EditorMel Gibson1994ShadowlandsSoundRichard Attenborough1995HauntedSound EditorLewis Gilbert1996In Love and WarSoundRichard Attenborough1997Lawn DogsSupervising Sound EditorJohn Duigan1998Dancing at LughnasaSupervising Sound EditorPat O'ConnorLes MisérablesSupervising Sound EditorBille August1999The TrenchSupervising Sound EditorWilliam Boyd2000The BodySupervising Sound EditorJonas McCordGrey OwlSoundRichard Attenborough2002Before You GoSupervising Sound EditorLewis Gilbert2003Nicholas NicklebySupervising Sound EditorDouglas McGrath2007Closing the RingSupervising Sound EditorRichard Attenborough
References
External links
Obituary in The Guardian newspaper Obituary in The Independent newspaper Obituary in The Times newspaper