Charles Ainslie Crichton (6 August 1910 – 14 September 1999) was an English film director and editor.

Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, he became best known for directing many comedies produced at Ealing Studios and had a 40-year career editing and directing many films and television programmes. For his final film, the acclaimed comedy A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Crichton was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (along with the film's star John Cleese).

Life and career Early years and education Crichton, one of six children, was born on 6 August 1910 in Wallasey, Cheshire, England. He was educated at Oundle School in Northamptonshire, followed by New College at the University of Oxford where he read history.

Editing In 1931, Crichton began his career in the film industry as a film editor. His first credit as editor was Men of Tomorrow (1932). He edited over fifty films, such as Things to Come (1936). Other films he edited included those that were produced by Alexander Korda, such as Cash (1933), The Girl from Maxim's (1933), The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), Sanders of the River (1935), Elephant Boy (1937) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). Crichton was paid £8 per week for his editing. In 1940, Crichton began his employment at Ealing Studios. There he edited the film, The Big Blockade (1942). Crichton also served as an associate producer of the film, Nine Men (1943), which he also edited.

Directing Crichton made his directorial debut with For Those in Peril (1944). In 1945, he directed Painted Boats and co-directed a segment in Dead of Night. Crichton then directed Hue and Cry (1947), a film considered to be the first comedy released by Ealing Studios. Crichton later directed Against the Wind (1948) and Dance Hall (1950). Crichton then directed Alec Guinness in The Lavender Hill Mob (1951). This was followed by Hunted (1952), starring Dirk Bogarde. Afterwards, Crichton directed The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953). Later films he directed during the 1950s included The Divided Heart (1954), Law and Disorder (1958), and Floods of Fear (1959).

He also directed Peter Sellers in The Battle of the Sexes (1959).

Crichton was the original director of Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), but he quit after clashing with Burt Lancaster. Crichton was then replaced by John Frankenheimer. Crichton said of the experience: "Had I known that Burt Lancaster was to be de facto producer, I do not think I would have accepted the assignment, as he had a reputation for quarreling with better directors than I. But Harold Hecht, the credited producer, had assured me that there would be no interference from Lancaster. This did not prove to be the case." Crichton was also planning another film project with Sammy Davis Jr., but it never came to fruition due to the death of a producer involved with it.

The Third Secret (1964) and He Who Rides a Tiger (1965), the last two films Crichton directed during the 1960s, were not successful. The latter film was the last film he directed for 23 years.

Crichton moved to directing television shows, then corporate videos. The latter were through John Cleese's company Video Arts. This led Cleese to propose Crichton returning to the crime comedy film genre. Beginning in 1983, Cleese and Crichton worked together on the story for A Fish Called Wanda. Cleese wrote the screenplay. When the film went into production in 1987, Cleese had to act as stand-by director for insurance reasons since Crichton was 77 years old. Cleese said of working with Crichton as a stand-by director: "That was a subterfuge. I knew the studio would be worried about Charlie's age. I don't know anything about how to direct, but that doesn't stop one-half of the directors. I simply prayed that Charlie would be on the set every morning. He shoots in such a way to convey the essence of every scene. He's economical. He's a dear man who's terrified of showing off. If he says anything shrewd or insightful, he'll apologize for a minute so he won't be considered pompous."

Personal life and death In 1936, Crichton married Vera Harman-Mills, and together they had two sons, David and Nicholas. Nicholas became an eminent judge and reformer in UK family law. Crichton married his second wife, Nadine Haze, in 1962, and their marriage lasted until his death.

Following completion of production on A Fish Called Wanda, Crichton retired from the entertainment industry and spent the rest of his life living comfortably, fishing in both Scotland and Wales. He died on 14 September 1999 in South Kensington, London, at the age of 89.

Filmography

Feature films Year Title Director Writer Notes 1944 For Those in Peril 1945 Dead of Night Co-Directed with Alberto Cavalcanti, Basil Dearden and Robert HamerDirected Segment: The Golfer's Story Painted Boats 1947 Hue and Cry 1948 Against the Wind Another Shore 1949 Train of Events Co-Directed with Sidney Cole and Basil DeardenDirected Segment: The Composer 1950 Dance Hall 1951 The Lavender Hill Mob Nominated – Golden LionNominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film 1952 Hunted 1953 The Titfield Thunderbolt 1954 The Love Lottery The Divided Heart 1957 Man in the Sky 1958 Law and Disorder 1959 Floods of Fear The Battle of the Sexes 1960 The Boy Who Stole a Million 1964 The Third Secret 1965 He Who Rides a Tiger 1988 A Fish Called Wanda Nominated – Academy Award for Best DirectorNominated – Academy Award for Best Original ScreenplayNominated – BAFTA Award for Best FilmNominated – BAFTA Award for Best DirectionNominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature FilmNominated – Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay

Television +YearTitleNotes1957ITV Play of the WeekEpisode: "The Wild Duck"1962-1963Man of the World 3 episodes1964Danger Man2 episodesThe Human JungleEpisode: "Ring of Hate"1965-1969The Avengers5 episodes, including "The Correct Way to Kill"1967-1968Man in a Suitcase6 episodes1969Strange Report5 episodes1970Here Come the Double Deckers!Episode: "The Go-Karters"1971Shirley's WorldEpisode: "The Colonel"1972-1974The Adventures of Black Beauty18 episodes1973-1974The Protectors5 episodes1975NBC Special TreatEpisode: "Into Infinity"1975-1976Space: 199914 episodes1976Rentaghost1 episode (film sequences)1978The ProfessionalsEpisode: "Look After Annie"1978-1979Return of the Saint2 episodes1979-1982Dick Turpin10 episodes

See also List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain References

External links

BECTU interview of Crichton conducted by Sid Cole and Alan Lawton (1987) reproduced on the BFI screenonline website