Michael Klinger (producer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Klinger was a British film producer.
Klinger was born in London. His father was a Polish-born tailor. Klinger was initially the owner of a strip club, but began a business association with Tony Tenser
in 1960 after they had met following a publicity stunt organised by Tenser at a cinema he managed. The two men opened a private members cinema, the Compton Club that year, apparently with John Trevelyan, then head of the British Board of Film Censors
, as a founder member. A distribution firm Compton Cameo Films was established. Both enterprises were originally dedicated to imported exploitation films, but undertook its own films in the 'nudie' genre from 1961, though their first Naked as Nature Intended, directed by Harrison Marks
, was marketed as a documentary. For a time, Klinger and Tenser owned the Windmill Theatre
, after its original nude reviews had ended turning it into a cinema, and using it as a setting for Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966).
It was Klinger though who persuaded Tenser to back the first English language feature films of Polish director Roman Polanski
. Despite the success of Repulsion
(1965) and Cul-de-Sac (1966) Klinger and Tenser ended their business connection in 1967.
Klinger sent the Ted Lewis
novel Jack's Return Home
to director Mike Hodges
, asking whether he would be interested in adapting and directing a film version. Hodges agreed. The result starring Michael Caine
, Get Carter
, was released early the following year. Klinger, Hodges and Caine formed a production company to make Pulp which followed in 1972.
Klinger was the executive producer of the Confessions series of sex comedies (Window Cleaner
/Pop Performer
/Driving Instructor
/Holiday Camp
) during the period 1974-78. He continued with big budget action films, such as Gold (1974) and Shout at the Devil
(1976), both starring Roger Moore
and based on novels by Wilbur Smith
, aimed an international market. He died in Watford.
Klinger was born in London. His father was a Polish-born tailor. Klinger was initially the owner of a strip club, but began a business association with Tony Tenser
Tony Tenser
Tony Tenser was an English-born film producer of Lithuanian-Jewish descent. He specialised in producing Exploitation film movies and founded his own production company Tigon British Film Productions in 1966, which also made more mainstream films such as Witchfinder General and other horror films...
in 1960 after they had met following a publicity stunt organised by Tenser at a cinema he managed. The two men opened a private members cinema, the Compton Club that year, apparently with John Trevelyan, then head of the British Board of Film Censors
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...
, as a founder member. A distribution firm Compton Cameo Films was established. Both enterprises were originally dedicated to imported exploitation films, but undertook its own films in the 'nudie' genre from 1961, though their first Naked as Nature Intended, directed by Harrison Marks
Harrison Marks
George Harrison Marks was a British glamour photographer and director of nudist, and later, pornographic films who was active in the fields for several decades.-Kamera and Pamela Green:...
, was marketed as a documentary. For a time, Klinger and Tenser owned the Windmill Theatre
Windmill Theatre
The Windmill Theatre, later The Windmill International, was a variety and revue theatre in Great Windmill Street, London. The theatre was famous for its nude tableaux vivants...
, after its original nude reviews had ended turning it into a cinema, and using it as a setting for Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966).
It was Klinger though who persuaded Tenser to back the first English language feature films of Polish director Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
. Despite the success of Repulsion
Repulsion
Repulsion is a 1965 British psychological thriller film directed by Roman Polanski, based on a scenario by Gérard Brach and Roman Polanski. It was Polanski's first English language film, and was shot in Britain, as such being his second film made outside his native Poland. The cast includes...
(1965) and Cul-de-Sac (1966) Klinger and Tenser ended their business connection in 1967.
Klinger sent the Ted Lewis
Ted Lewis (writer)
Ted Lewis was a British writer.He was born in Manchester, an only child. After World War II the family moved to Barton-on-Humber...
novel Jack's Return Home
Jack's Return Home
Jack's Return Home is a 1970 novel by British writer Ted Lewis. An uncompromising novel of a brutal half-world of pool halls, massage parlours and teenage pornography, it was memorably brought to life in the cult film Get Carter, starring Michael Caine as Jack Carter...
to director Mike Hodges
Mike Hodges
Mike Hodges is an English screenwriter, film director, playwright and novelist. His films as writer/director include Get Carter, Pulp, The Terminal Man and Black Rainbow; as director his films include Flash Gordon, Croupier and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead...
, asking whether he would be interested in adapting and directing a film version. Hodges agreed. The result starring Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
, Get Carter
Get Carter
Get Carter is a 1971 British crime film directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine as Jack Carter, a gangster who sets out to avenge the death of his brother in a series of unrelenting and brutal killings played out against the grim background of derelict urban housing in the city of...
, was released early the following year. Klinger, Hodges and Caine formed a production company to make Pulp which followed in 1972.
Klinger was the executive producer of the Confessions series of sex comedies (Window Cleaner
Confessions of a Window Cleaner
Confessions of a Window Cleaner is a 1974 British sex comedy film, directed by Val Guest.Like the other films in the Confessions series; Confessions of a Pop Performer, Confessions of a Driving Instructor and Confessions from a Holiday Camp, it concerns the erotic adventures of Timothy Lea, based...
/Pop Performer
Confessions of a Pop Performer
Confessions of a Pop Performer is a 1975 British sex-farce film. This second instalment continues the erotic adventures of Timothy Lea and is based on the novels written under the name by Christopher Wood. In this case, the original novel was called Confessions from the Pop Scene, but was later...
/Driving Instructor
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
Confessions of a Driving Instructor is a 1976 British sex-farce film. This was the third instalment of the Confessions sequence on the erotic adventures of Timothy Lea, based on the novels published under the name by Christopher Wood.-Premise:...
/Holiday Camp
Confessions from a Holiday Camp
Confessions from a Holiday Camp is a 1977 British comedy film. It is the last film in the series which began with Confessions of a Window Cleaner.-Plot:...
) during the period 1974-78. He continued with big budget action films, such as Gold (1974) and Shout at the Devil
Shout at the Devil (film)
Shout at the Devil is a British film directed by Peter R. Hunt and starring Lee Marvin and Roger Moore.The picture is a comedic adventure story set in Zanzibar and German East Africa in 1913-1915 based on a novel written by Wilbur Smith and is very loosely inspired by real events.-Plot:It tells...
(1976), both starring Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
and based on novels by Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Addison Smith is a best-selling novelist. His writings include 16th and 17th century tales about the founding of the southern territories of Africa and the subsequent adventures and international intrigues relevant to these settlements. His books often fall into one of three series...
, aimed an international market. He died in Watford.