Good British comedy directors

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I am trying to compile a list of UK feature directors who've made well-received comedies, and who are either quite experienced/renowned or new but hot. Suggestions gratefully received!

― Earwig oh! (Mark C), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Edgar Wright.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Charles Crichton

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Marcel Vernel who did some of the Will Hay films.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Ken Loach.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Roy Boulting!

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:16 (seventeen years ago) link

John Boulting!

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh sorry I didn't read your question properly - obviously being dead none of my suggestions are any good.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Also I think Marcel Vernel is French...

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Garth Jennings (new/hot)
Peter Cattaneo (exp)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Michael Winterbottom

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Gerald Thomas - directed all the Carry On films and still with us.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:26 (seventeen years ago) link

If by "well-received" you mean "made shitloads at the box office", then:

Mel Smith (Bean, also The Tall Guy which was sort of amusing)
Sharon Maguire (Bridget Jones)
Mike Newell (Four Weddings)

Proper answers:

Edgar Wright (oh, Archel said that, never mind...)
Terry Gilliam

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Gurinder Chadha

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't believe I forgot Bill Forsyth!

So, yeah, Bill Forsyth.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Nick Park - successful, well-received, exp. he's got the lot.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:30 (seventeen years ago) link

ailsa - otm - Local Hero my fav. film ever ever.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Really? It's quite rare to find Local Hero love compared to the rifeness of Gregory's Girl love. I watched Local Hero the other day and it has its moments but...

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks loads, you guys - you have prevented me from looking hopelessly ignorant. I think Nick Park is a genius idea!

― Earwig oh! (Mark C), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Are any of Terry Gilliam's (non-Python) films "comedies"?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 July 2006 09:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Fear & Loathing is pretty comedic.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:03 (seventeen years ago) link

I think most of his films have comedy aspects, but I wouldn't call him a "comedy director", the title wouldn't fit him.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Time Bandits, for one. Baron Munchausen?

― Earwig oh! (Mark C), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Shane Meadows has funny bits.

But then I suppose most films have funny bits.

Who did Spice World?

I forgot the name of the Withnail and I fella.

Who did Norman Wisdom films? Oh yes, Mr Grimsdale.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Bruce Robinson

― mason storm (mason storm), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:09 (seventeen years ago) link

There is a League of Gentlemen film. I have never seen them though.

Big screen versions of most 70s sitcoms.

What a wonderful world this is. What are you doing, Markelby? Or is it a secret? If it is a secret, don't tell me. I am bound to blurt it out.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, it is a secret I guess :)

― Earwig oh! (Mark C), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Terry Gilliam is American.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I would make quite good comedy director, Markelby.

Just in case.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Terry Gilliam is American.

He has British citizenship now!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Mclaren could stick him in goal.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Terry Gilliam is American.
He has British citizenship now!

Yeah, but most of his films are American too.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 July 2006 10:59 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost

Really? It's quite rare to find Local Hero love compared to the rifeness of Gregory's Girl love. I watched Local Hero the other day and it has its moments but...
-- Archel, July 13th, 2006

Yes really, I don't know why though but I usually find that favourite things have no rhyme or reason to them, you just love them. Gregorys Girl is of course excellent but for some reason I find myself watching LH more. Probably something to do with the beach.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 13 July 2006 11:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Local Hero is marvellous. Gregory's Girl is more immediately marvellous, but it also has a crappy sequel, which Local Hero doesn't. I like them both equally, I think, but I seem to automatically veer towards Gregory's Girl when asked which is my favourite. Perhaps I'll start repping for Local Hero more, since it seems so under-rated.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Terrific theme tune.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Gregory's Girl is nice; Local Hero achieves greatness.

I'm amazed how few films Bruce Robinson (Withnail & I) has done. Rum Diary with Depp supposedly next!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 July 2006 18:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Astonished no-one mentioned Alexander Mackendrick!!!!!!!!!!!

― Dadaismus (Are we in love like I think we be?) (Dada), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:35 (seventeen years ago) link

I am shocked to suddenly discover that Restless Natives wasn't a Forsyth movie. Still great though.

― More Tongue Feldman (noodle vague), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, I LOVE Restless Natives! I should have been in it - I was in the crowd cheering at the bottom of the Mound when they come down as heroes at the end, but my precious seconds of fame seem to have been cruelly snatched away.

It *should* be a Bill Forsyth film, shouldn't it?

Dadaismus, Alexander Mackendrick is both American and dead, so somewhat disqualified.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Alexander Mackendrick was as American as David Byrne is Scottish

― Dadaismus (Are we in love like I think we be?) (Dada), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:54 (seventeen years ago) link

He's still dead.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:54 (seventeen years ago) link

(OK, I'll grant you his not-American-ness though)

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 14 July 2006 11:56 (seventeen years ago) link

I reciprocate vis a vis his not-alive-ness

― Dadaismus (Are we in love like I think we be?) (Dada), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Excellent Brit film comedies of the recent decades seem more traceable to their writers -- like A Private Function (Alan Bennett).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, and No Surrender (Alan Bleasdale). The guy that directed it doesn't seem to have done any other movies.

― More Tongue Feldman (noodle vague), Friday, 14 July 2006 15:09 (seventeen years ago) link

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Good British comedy directors - can you help me?