Cyril Frankel
Encyclopedia
Cyril Frankel is a British
film and television director, now retired. His career in television began in 1953 and he directed for over 30 TV programmes until 1990.
He directed many episodes of popular British TV shows, such as The Avengers
, and the pilot
episodes of the ITC Entertainment
shows Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
and Department S
in 1969. In 1970, he directed "Timelash", an episode of UFO
, which he described as a very interesting script and one of his personal favourites.
Frankel also directed many documentaries and feature films, including Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
(1960) and School for Scoundrels
(1960; Robert Hamer
was incorrectly credited as director). One of his films, Man of Africa
(1953) - the first film to feature a cast made up of relatively unknown black actors - was not released and was apparently lost
. A complete copy has since been discovered and has been screened at a number of international film festivals.
In terms of documentaries, Frankel produced many of the films that were broadcast for the BBC arts series Monitor
(1958-65), among which was the first ballet programme to be filmed and edited to the choreography.
Before his retirement, he became the ceramics expert for Bonhams
auction house. A book, Modern Pots: Hans Coper
, Lucie Rie
and their Contemporaries - The Lisa Sainsbury Collection, was co-authored by Frankel and published in 2000. His memoir, Eye to Eye, was due to be published by Bank House Books in 2009.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
film and television director, now retired. His career in television began in 1953 and he directed for over 30 TV programmes until 1990.
He directed many episodes of popular British TV shows, such as The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
, and the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
episodes of the ITC Entertainment
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
shows Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk , first transmitted during 1969-70, is a British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk, respectively. The series was originally created by Dennis Spooner and produced by Monty Berman...
and Department S
Department S
Department S is a United Kingdom spy-fi adventure series produced by ITC Entertainment. The series consists of 28 episodes which originally aired in 1969–1970. It starred Peter Wyngarde as author Jason King , Joel Fabiani as Stewart Sullivan, and Rosemary Nicols as computer expert Annabelle Hurst...
in 1969. In 1970, he directed "Timelash", an episode of UFO
UFO (TV series)
UFO is a 1970-1971 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth, created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.UFO first aired in the UK and Canada...
, which he described as a very interesting script and one of his personal favourites.
Frankel also directed many documentaries and feature films, including Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger is a 1960 British film, directed by Cyril Frankel and released by Hammer Film Productions. The screenplay was developed by John Hunter from the play The Pony Trap by Roger Garis. It stars Patrick Allen, Gwen Watford and Felix Aylmer, the latter being cast...
(1960) and School for Scoundrels
School for Scoundrels (1960 film)
School for Scoundrels is a 1960 British comedy film inspired by the "Gamesmanship" series of books by Stephen Potter. The main character, Henry Palfrey , is a failure in sport and love, and victim of conmen. He enrols at the "School of Lifemanship" in Yeovil, run by Dr...
(1960; Robert Hamer
Robert Hamer
Robert James Hamer was a British film director and screenwriter. He was the son of the actor Gerald Hamer ....
was incorrectly credited as director). One of his films, Man of Africa
Man of Africa
Man of Africa is a 1953 British drama film directed by Cyril Frankel. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Frederick Bijuerenda - Jonathan* Gordon Heath - Narrator * Violet Mukabuerza - Violet...
(1953) - the first film to feature a cast made up of relatively unknown black actors - was not released and was apparently lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
. A complete copy has since been discovered and has been screened at a number of international film festivals.
In terms of documentaries, Frankel produced many of the films that were broadcast for the BBC arts series Monitor
Monitor (TV series)
Monitor was a BBC arts programme that was launched on 1 September 1958 and ran until 1965.Huw Wheldon was the first editor from 1958 to 1964. He was also the principal interviewer and anchor...
(1958-65), among which was the first ballet programme to be filmed and edited to the choreography.
Before his retirement, he became the ceramics expert for Bonhams
Bonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house founded in 1793. It is the third largest auctioneer after Sotheby's and Christie's, and conducts around 700 auctions per year. It has 700 employees....
auction house. A book, Modern Pots: Hans Coper
Hans Coper
Hans Coper , was an influential German-born British studio potter. His work is often coupled with that of Lucie Rie due to their close association, even though their best known work differs dramatically, with Rie's being more functional and traditional, while Coper's was much more abstract and...
, Lucie Rie
Lucie Rie
Dame Lucie Rie, DBE was an Austrian-born British studio potter.-Early life:Lucie Rie was born as Lucie Gomperz in Vienna, Lower Austria, Austria-Hungary the youngest child of Benjamin Gomperz, a Jewish medical doctor who was a consultant to Sigmund Freud. She had two brothers, Paul and Teddy...
and their Contemporaries - The Lisa Sainsbury Collection, was co-authored by Frankel and published in 2000. His memoir, Eye to Eye, was due to be published by Bank House Books in 2009.
Selected filmography
- Man of AfricaMan of AfricaMan of Africa is a 1953 British drama film directed by Cyril Frankel. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Frederick Bijuerenda - Jonathan* Gordon Heath - Narrator * Violet Mukabuerza - Violet...
(1953) - Make Me an Offer (1954)
- No Time for TearsNo Time for Tears (film)No Time for Tears is a 1957 British drama film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Anna Neagle, George Baker and Sylvia Syms. The staff at a children's hospital struggle with their workload.-Cast:* Anna Neagle ... Matron Eleanor Hammond...
(1957) - Alive and KickingAlive and Kicking (film)Alive and Kicking is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Sybil Thorndike, Kathleen Harrison, Estelle Winwood and Stanley Holloway. Three woman grow dissatisfied with their lives in a retirement home and decide to search for fresh enjoyment and adventure...
(1959) - Never Take Sweets from a StrangerNever Take Sweets from a StrangerNever Take Sweets from a Stranger is a 1960 British film, directed by Cyril Frankel and released by Hammer Film Productions. The screenplay was developed by John Hunter from the play The Pony Trap by Roger Garis. It stars Patrick Allen, Gwen Watford and Felix Aylmer, the latter being cast...
(1960) - School for ScoundrelsSchool for Scoundrels (1960 film)School for Scoundrels is a 1960 British comedy film inspired by the "Gamesmanship" series of books by Stephen Potter. The main character, Henry Palfrey , is a failure in sport and love, and victim of conmen. He enrols at the "School of Lifemanship" in Yeovil, run by Dr...
(1960) - On the FiddleOn the FiddleOn the Fiddle is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Sean Connery, Alfred Lynch, Cecil Parker, Stanley Holloway, Eric Barker, Mike Sarne, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Kathleen Harrison, Victor Maddern and John Le Mesurier....
(1961) - The Very EdgeThe Very EdgeThe Very Edge is a 1962 British drama film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Anne Heywood, Richard Todd, Jack Hedley, Jeremy Brett and Maurice Denham...
(1962) - Don't Bother to KnockDon't Bother to Knock (1961 film)Don't Bother to Knock is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Richard Todd, Nicole Maurey, Elke Sommer and John Le Mesurier.-Synopsis:...
(1961)