Jeremy Summers
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Summers is a retired British
television director
and film director
, best known for his directorship of ITC
productions in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably The Saint
.
in 1931, Summers was born into a family of theatrical tradition and his father Walter Summers
(1896-1973) was a film director and screenwriter.
He directed nearly 50 different TV programmes between 1960 and 1999, including The Saint
and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
.
and four episodes of International Detective between 1960 and 1961.
In 1962 he directed the Tony Hancock
feature film vehicle The Punch and Judy Man
, Crooks in Cloisters
(1964) with Barbara Windsor
, and Dateline Diamonds
(1965) starring William Lucas
and Kenneth Cope
. Meanwhile he continued in television with Man of the World and, in 1965, episodes of Court Martial, Gideon's Way
and two more films Ferry Cross the Mersey
and San Ferry Ann
.
In 1966 Summers directed episodes of Danger Man
; he also directed some 12 episodes of The Saint
from 1964 to 1966. Episodes of The Saint that Summers filmed include "The Lawless Lady", "The Death Penalty" and "The Unkind Philanthropist" (1964), "The Abducters" (1965) and "The Man Who Liked Lions" (1966).
This was followed in 1967 by The Baron
and several foreign films of that year The Vengeance of Fu Manchu
, Five Golden Dragons
and La Casa de las mil muñecas. He also directed an episode of Man in a Suitcase
in 1968.
In 1969, still under contract with ITC
, Summers directed a number of episodes of the popular series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
, working with actors Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope
and Annette Andre
.
In in the '70s, summers directed 2 episodes of UFO (TV series)
and several for The Protectors
, both being Gerry Anderson
series.
In the 1990s he even directed episodes of the television soap opera
s Coronation Street
and Brookside
before his retirement.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, best known for his directorship of ITC
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
productions in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
.
Background
Born in St AlbansSt Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
in 1931, Summers was born into a family of theatrical tradition and his father Walter Summers
Walter Summers
Walter Summers was a British film director and screenwriter.-Biography:Born in Barnstaple to a family of actors, British motion picture director Walter Summers began his career in the family trade; his first contact with filmmaking was as an assistant to American director George Loane Tucker, who...
(1896-1973) was a film director and screenwriter.
He directed nearly 50 different TV programmes between 1960 and 1999, including The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
and 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...
.
Career
Summers began directing in 1960 with a film Depth Charge, the screenplay of which he also wrote, but he immediately turned his attention to television and directed episodes of Desert Hi-Jack, Interpol CallingInterpol Calling
Interpol Calling was a 1959 Rank Organisation and Jack Wrather Productions television crime drama series for ITC Entertainment. The series, which ran for one season of 39 half-hour monchrome episodes, followed the adventures of Interpol policemen Duval and Mornay as they fought against...
and four episodes of International Detective between 1960 and 1961.
In 1962 he directed the Tony Hancock
Tony Hancock
Anthony John "Tony" Hancock was an English actor and comedian.-Early life and career:Hancock was born in Southam Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, England, but from the age of three was brought up in Bournemouth, where his father, John Hancock, who ran the Railway Hotel in...
feature film vehicle The Punch and Judy Man
The Punch and Judy Man
The Punch and Judy Man is a British comedy film from 1963 directed by Jeremy Summers. It was Tony Hancock's second film in a starring role, following The Rebel .-Plot:...
, Crooks in Cloisters
Crooks in Cloisters
Crooks in Cloisters is a British-made comedy released in 1964 and starring Ronald Fraser as 'Little Walter' , the boss of a gang of forgers, including Bernard Cribbins as 'Squirts' , Melvyn Hayes as 'Willy' , Grégoire Aslan as 'Lorenzo' , and Davy Kaye as 'Specs' .-Synopsis:After pulling off...
(1964) with Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
, and Dateline Diamonds
Dateline Diamonds
Dateline Diamonds is a 1966 British music-film. The film was shot in black and white. The "pop and cop" genre of film was a popular concept in the UK during the early 1960s to highlight young music talent and was geared to appeal directly to the young teenage market...
(1965) starring William Lucas
William Lucas (British actor)
William Lucas is a British film and television actor. His first acting role was in the film Portrait of Alison , and later appeared in many Hammer Film Productions such as Shadow of the Cat. He is probably best known for his role in The Adventures of Black Beauty as Dr...
and Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
. Meanwhile he continued in television with Man of the World and, in 1965, episodes of Court Martial, Gideon's Way
Gideon's Way
Gideon's Way is a British television crime series made by ITC Entertainment in 1964/65, based on the novels by John Creasey . The series was made at Elstree in twin production with The Saint TV series...
and two more films Ferry Cross the Mersey
Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)
Ferry Cross the Mersey is a 1965 musical film featuring Gerry and the Pacemakers.The film, directed by Jeremy Summers, is one of the more uncommon artifacts of the Mersey scene, shown very rarely on television and never issued on video...
and San Ferry Ann
San Ferry Ann
San Ferry Ann is a 1966 British sound effect comedy. Wordlessly, with soundtrack and sound effects, it tells the story of a holiday crossing from Dover to Calais.-Synopsis:...
.
In 1966 Summers directed episodes of Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
; he also directed some 12 episodes of The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
from 1964 to 1966. Episodes of The Saint that Summers filmed include "The Lawless Lady", "The Death Penalty" and "The Unkind Philanthropist" (1964), "The Abducters" (1965) and "The Man Who Liked Lions" (1966).
This was followed in 1967 by The Baron
The Baron
The Baron is a British television series, made in 1965/66 based on the book series by John Creasey, written under the pseudonym Anthony Morton, and produced by ITC Entertainment. It was the first ITC show without marionettes to be produced entirely in colour...
and several foreign films of that year The Vengeance of Fu Manchu
The Vengeance of Fu Manchu
The Vengeance of Fu Manchu is a 1967 British film directed by Jeremy Summers starring Christopher Lee, Douglas Wilmer and Tsai Chin. It was the third British/German Constantin Film co-production of the Fu Manchu series and the first to be filmed in Hong Kong.-Plot:In his remote hideaway in the...
, Five Golden Dragons
Five Golden Dragons
Five Golden Dragons is a 1967 action film directed by Jeremy Summers and starring Robert Cummings. -Cast:* Robert Cummings - Bob Mitchell* Margaret Lee - Magda* Rupert Davies - Comm...
and La Casa de las mil muñecas. He also directed an episode of Man in a Suitcase
Man in a Suitcase
Man in a Suitcase is a 1967 television series produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.-Origins and overview:Man in a Suitcase was effectively a replacement for Danger Man, whose production had been curtailed when its star Patrick McGoohan had decided to create his own series, The Prisoner...
in 1968.
In 1969, still under contract with ITC
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
, Summers directed a number of episodes of the popular series 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...
, working with actors Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
and Annette Andre
Annette Andre
Annette Andre is an Australian actress best known for her work on British television throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She was educated at Brigidine College, Sydney. Her father was an upholsterer....
.
In in the '70s, summers directed 2 episodes of UFO (TV series)
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...
and several for The Protectors
The Protectors
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It is Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in the present day...
, both being Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson MBE is a British publisher, producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called "Supermarionation"....
series.
In the 1990s he even directed episodes of the television soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
before his retirement.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838725/