Chris Bryant (writer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Bryant was an English
screenwriter
and occasional actor
(usually performing in productions he wrote himself).
Born Christopher Brian Spencer Dobson in Bolton
, Lancashire
, his great-grandfather was Sir Benjamin Dobson who made his wealth as a manufacturer of textile machinery. Dobson was educated at Radley College
and graduated in Law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
. In 1957, he emigrated to Canada
and received a Master of Civil Law degree from McGill University
in 1959.
In 1960, he worked as a private secretary to Davie Fulton
, the Minister of Justice
, while in his spare time was a stand-up comedian. This caused a minor scandal when it was revealed in the Canadian House of Commons
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and occasional actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
(usually performing in productions he wrote himself).
Born Christopher Brian Spencer Dobson in Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, his great-grandfather was Sir Benjamin Dobson who made his wealth as a manufacturer of textile machinery. Dobson was educated at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
and graduated in Law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. In 1957, he emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and received a Master of Civil Law degree from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1959.
In 1960, he worked as a private secretary to Davie Fulton
Davie Fulton
Edmund Davie Fulton, PC, OC, QC was a Canadian Rhodes Scholar, politician and judge. Popularly known as E. Davie Fulton. He was born in Kamloops, British Columbia, the son of politician/lawyer Frederick John Fulton and Winnifred M. Davie, daughter of A.E.B. Davie...
, the Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (Canada)
The Minister of Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada .This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone with formal legal training...
, while in his spare time was a stand-up comedian. This caused a minor scandal when it was revealed in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
Writing credits
- Special Branch (TV series)Special Branch (TV series)Special Branch is a British television series made by Thames Television for ITV and shown between 1969 and 1974. A police drama series, the action was centred on members of the Special Branch anti-espionage and anti-terrorist department of the London Metropolitan Police.The first two series were...
(1969) TV Series - The Man Who Had Power Over WomenThe Man Who Had Power Over WomenThe Man Who Had Power Over Women is a 1970 British comedy film directed by John Krish and starring Rod Taylor, Carol White and James Booth. A successful Australian talent agent grows disenchanted with his life, which includes includes a failing marriage and having to represent a troublesome rock...
(1970) - Don't Look NowDon't Look NowDon't Look Now is a 1973 thriller film directed by Nicolas Roeg. Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland star as a married couple whose lives become complicated after meeting two elderly sisters in Venice, one of whom claims to be clairvoyant and informs them that their recently deceased daughter is...
(1973) (screenplay) - The Girl from PetrovkaThe Girl from PetrovkaThe Girl from Petrovka is a 1974 feature film starring Goldie Hawn and Hal Holbrook, based on the novel by George Feifer.-Cast:* Goldie Hawn as Oktyabrina* Hal Holbrook as Joe* Anthony Hopkins as Kostya* Grégoire Aslan as Minister...
(1974) - The Spiral StaircaseThe Spiral Staircase (1975 film)The Spiral Staircase is a 1975 British film directed by Peter Collinson. It is a remake of the 1945 film The Spiral Staircase.-Cast:* Jacqueline Bisset as Helen Mallory* Christopher Plummer as Dr. Joe Sherman* John Phillip Law as Steven Sherman...
(1975) - Golden RendezvousGolden RendezvousGolden Rendezvous is a 1977 South African thriller film directed by Ashley Lazarus and starring Richard Harris, Ann Turkel and Gordon Jackson. A luxury cruise ship is hijacked by terrorists. It was based on the 1962 novel The Golden Rendezvous by Alistair MacLean.-Cast:* Richard Harris - John...
(1977) ... aka Nuclear Terror (USA: TV title) - Joseph AndrewsJoseph AndrewsJoseph Andrews, or The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams, was the first published full-length novel of the English author and magistrate Henry Fielding, and indeed among the first novels in the English language...
(1977) (screenplay) - The Awakening (1980) ... aka The Wakening (UK)
- Martin's Day (1984)
- Sword of GideonSword of GideonSword of Gideon is a 1986 television film about Mossad agents hunting down terrorists associated with the 1972 Munich massacre. It was first shown on the CTV network in Canada as a four hour miniseries and later on the HBO television network. Directed by Michael Anderson and written by Chris...
(1986) (TV) - Lady JaneLady Jane (film)Lady Jane is a 1986 British costume drama romance film directed by Trevor Nunn, written by David Edgar, and starring Helena Bonham Carter as the title character in her first major film role. It tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen, on her reign and romance with husband Lord...
(1986) (story) - Stealing HeavenStealing HeavenStealing Heaven is a 1988 film, a costume drama based on the French 12th century medieval romance of Peter Abelard and Héloïse and on a historical novel by Marion Meade...
(1988) - Young CatherineYoung CatherineYoung Catherine is a 1991 American TV miniseries based on the early life of Catherine II of Russia. It stars Julia Ormond as Catherine and Vanessa Redgrave as Empress Elizabeth....
(1991) (written by) - One Against the Wind (1991) (TV) (written by)
- Foreign Affairs (1993) (TV) (teleplay)
- The House That Mary Bought (1995) (TV) (screenplay)
- Miracle at MidnightMiracle at MidnightMiracle at Midnight is a TV movie based on the Rescue of the Danish Jews in Denmark during the Holocaust. It is a Disney production and premiered on ccc in 1998. It was also portrayed in Ms...
(1998) (TV) (written by) - Don't Look Now (2007) (announced) (1973 screenplay)
Acting credits
- Joseph AndrewsJoseph AndrewsJoseph Andrews, or The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams, was the first published full-length novel of the English author and magistrate Henry Fielding, and indeed among the first novels in the English language...
(1977) .... Wicked Squire's Steward - Young CatherineYoung CatherineYoung Catherine is a 1991 American TV miniseries based on the early life of Catherine II of Russia. It stars Julia Ormond as Catherine and Vanessa Redgrave as Empress Elizabeth....
(1991) (TV) .... Doctor Lande - Only in Hollywood (2002) .... The Preacher