John Boorman

Directing

John Boorman

Born 1933-01-18 · Shepperton, Middlesex, England, UK

John Boorman (born 18 January 1933) is an English filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Boorman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Acting credits

Zardoz poster
5.9

In the far future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

Zardoz

1974

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael poster
6.7

Pauline Kael (1919–2001) was undoubtedly one of the greatest names in film criticism. A Californian native, she wrote her first review in 1953 and joined ‘The New Yorker’ in 1968. Praised for her highly opinionated and feisty writing style and criticised for her subjective and sometimes ruthless reviews, Kael’s writing was refreshingly and intensely rooted in her experience of watching a film as a member of the audience. Loved and hated in equal measure – loved by other critics for whom she was immensely influential, and hated by filmmakers whose films she trashed - Kael destroyed films that have since become classics such as The Sound of Music and raved about others such as Bonnie and Clyde. She was also aware of the perennial difficulties for women working in the movies and in film criticism, and fiercely fought sexism, both in her reviews and in her media appearances.

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael

2019

Hope and Glory poster
6.9

A middle-aged man recalls his childhood growing up in and around London during World War II.

Hope and Glory

1987

Filmmakers in Action poster
7.2

What is the state of cinema and what being a filmmaker means? What are the measures taken to protect authors' copyright? What is their legal status in different countries? (Sequel to “Filmmakers vs. Tycoons.”)

Filmmakers in Action

2006

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos poster
5.6

The artistry, triumph and lifelong friendship of the great cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond. With film school equipment, they shoot the Soviet crackdown of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. As refugees they struggle in Hollywood, finally breaking into the mainstream with their pivotal contribution to the "American New Wave."

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

2009

No artwork available
NR

Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot offers a master class in image making, with insightful examples from his work on Diva, Hope and Glory, A River Runs Through It, Dangerous Liaisons, Interview with the Vampire and many more in this cineaste's delight.

A Look Through His Lens

2024

Dreamers poster
6.0

Dreamers is a film directed by Noelle Deschamps in 2012. Creation was always imagined as a mysterious process. Following these filmmakers, brings to light their passion, their imagination and their magical process.

Dreamers

2012

The Rock poster
7.4

A promotional two-part short for John Boorman's "Point Blank" shot on and around Alcatraz. Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and former inmate Joe Giles share their thoughts on the former prison.

The Rock

1967

Boorman and the Devil poster
8.5

Featuring commentary from surviving participants, as well as other filmmakers and critics, this documentary chronicles the career of director John Boorman and the tumultuous production of his film Exorcist II: The Heretic, exploring its critical and commercial failure, how it changed the industry, and the importance of risk-taking in art.

Boorman and the Devil

2026

Point Blank the Documentary poster
NR

How Lee Marvin and John Boorman's movie Point Blank was made.

Point Blank the Documentary

2024

Excalibur: Behind the Movie poster
NR

This retrospective documentary looks back on the making of director John Boorman's 1981 movie, Excalibur. Self-described as the toughest film he ever made, Excalibur told the tale of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone and helped start the careers of actors Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren and Patrick Stewart. In this one hour film, they join other cast and crew to share their memories from the filming of this Arthurian masterpiece. Documentary originally released in 2013 with the title Behind The Sword In The Stone; a later, renamed version with updated biographical information on the actors involved was then released in 2016. The 2016 version has since been shown on various on-demand channels.

Excalibur: Behind the Movie

2013

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond poster
6.9

A very special encounter between legendary American cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and young French director Pierre Filmon. A personal journey with the brightest shadowmaker and his friends.

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond

2016

The Last Movie: Stanley Kubrick and 'Eyes Wide Shut' poster
7.7

A documentary chronicling the making of Kubrick's final film, 'Eyes Wide Shut', and his legacy.

The Last Movie: Stanley Kubrick and 'Eyes Wide Shut'

1999

Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman poster
10.0

John Boorman met Lee Marvin in London when the latter was making The Dirty Dozen and immediately they struck up a friendship. Shortly afterwards they made two films together, the first of which was Point Blank, during which Boorman found that he learnt a lot about screen acting and how to direct from the contributions and support from Marvin. Later they worked together on Hell in the Pacific. With his friendship providing an insightful collection of memories of Marvin, Boorman leads this intimate documentary on the life of Lee Marvin.

Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman

1998

The Sean Connery Paradox poster
7.3

Having become a world star thanks to James Bond, Sean Connery, who died in 2020, has never stopped trying to shed the image of a sexy and slightly brutal macho that stuck to 007. A look back at an eclectic career, carried out with panache.

The Sean Connery Paradox

2022

The Dangerous World of 'Deliverance' poster
7.0

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Deliverance (1972) on location in Georgia, including outtakes and interviews with the cast and crew.

The Dangerous World of 'Deliverance'

1972

No artwork available
NR

The film director, Carol Reed, is the subject of this documentary short. The illegitimate son of the famous stage actor, 'Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree' , Reed was brilliant with actors, especially child actors, making him the perfect person to bring Oliver! to the screen. Reed is best known for three films he made in the late 1940s, and the documentary offers generous clips from Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, and the most famous of all, The Third Man. The film director, John Boorman, the assistant director, Guy Hamilton, the actors, Ron Moody and Bryan Forbes and the cinematographer, Oswald Morris, are among the interviewees.

A Sense of Carol Reed

2006

Long Shot poster
9.0

Against the backdrop of the 1977 Edinburgh Film Festival, two low-budget filmmakers attempt to talk up some finance as they hunt for cash, cast and ‘name director’ Sam Fuller to shoot their Aberdeen-set oil-boom adventure ‘Gulf and Western’. Along the way, they encounter a plethora of filmmaking luminaries including Wim Wenders, Stephen Frears, John Boorman, Bill Forsyth and Alan Bennett.

Long Shot

1978

John Boorman : Leçon de cinéma poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

John Boorman : Leçon de cinéma

2017

I Dreamt I Woke Up poster
7.3

John Boorman reflects on the personal influences shaping his life and films in this short work, blending family, neighbors, and the Wicklow Mountains landscape surrounding his Irish home.

I Dreamt I Woke Up

1991

Ennio Morricone poster
6.8

From his quirky compositions for the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone to his sublime musical contributions to director Roland Joffé's acclaimed 1986 drama The Mission, film composer Ennio Morricone has crafted more than 500 scores over the course of his enduring career in film. Now fans can take a look back at the life and career of one of cinema's most prolific composers through interviews with both the composer himself and many of his longtime collaborators. From his Italian efforts to his work in America, this documentary covers every aspect of Morricone's career as few have, offering insight into his childhood, his longtime association with Leone, and his ultimate disenchantment with the American studio system.

Ennio Morricone

1995

No artwork available
7.0

Documentary about television company ATV and its founder Lew Grade.

Just a Song and Dance

1987

The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie poster
NR

In this behind-the-scenes documentary, Neil Jordan chronicles the production of Excalibur, following director John Boorman on set and documenting the filmmaking process. The film includes on-set footage and interviews with members of the cast and crew.

The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie

1981

The Making of Ryan's Daughter poster
NR

Feature-lenght documentary, divided in three episodes (Storm rising, Storm chaser and Eye of the storm), describing the making of Ryan's Daughter as well as the critical reaction to it.

The Making of Ryan's Daughter

2006

Behind the camera

Excalibur poster
7.0

Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.

Excalibur

1981

Excalibur poster
7.0

Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.

Excalibur

1981

Excalibur poster
7.0

Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.

Excalibur

1981

Exorcist II: The Heretic poster
4.5

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a research specialist free her from its grasp?

Exorcist II: The Heretic

1977

Exorcist II: The Heretic poster
4.5

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a research specialist free her from its grasp?

Exorcist II: The Heretic

1977

Deliverance poster
7.3

Intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a river-rafting trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country.

Deliverance

1972

Deliverance poster
7.3

Intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a river-rafting trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country.

Deliverance

1972

The Tailor of Panama poster
6.0

A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Canal.

The Tailor of Panama

2001

The Tailor of Panama poster
6.0

A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Canal.

The Tailor of Panama

2001

The Tailor of Panama poster
6.0

A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Canal.

The Tailor of Panama

2001

The Professor and the Madman poster
7.1

Professor James Murray begins work compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid 19th century, and receives over 10,000 entries from a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Dr. William Minor.

The Professor and the Madman

2019

Point Blank poster
7.1

After being double-crossed and left for dead, a mysterious man named Walker single-mindedly tries to retrieve the rather inconsequential sum of money that was stolen from him.

Point Blank

1967

Zardoz poster
5.9

In the far future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

Zardoz

1974

Zardoz poster
5.9

In the far future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

Zardoz

1974

Zardoz poster
5.9

In the far future, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

Zardoz

1974

Lumière & Company poster
6.3

40 international directors were asked to make a short film using the original Cinematographe invented by the Lumière Brothers, working under conditions similar to those of 1895. There were three rules: (1) The film could be no longer than 52 seconds, (2) no synchronized sound was permitted, and (3) no more than three takes.

Lumière & Company

1995

The Emerald Forest poster
6.6

For ten years, engineer Bill Markham has searched tirelessly for his son Tommy who disappeared from the edge of the Brazilian rainforest. Miraculously, he finds the boy living among the reclusive Amazon tribe who adopted him. And that's when Bill's adventure truly begins. For his son is now a grown tribesman who moves skillfully through this beautiful-but-dangerous terrain, fearful only of those who would exploit it. And as Bill attempts to "rescue" him from the savagery of the untamed jungle, Tommy challenges Bill's idea of true civilization and his notions about who needs rescuing.

The Emerald Forest

1985

The Emerald Forest poster
6.6

For ten years, engineer Bill Markham has searched tirelessly for his son Tommy who disappeared from the edge of the Brazilian rainforest. Miraculously, he finds the boy living among the reclusive Amazon tribe who adopted him. And that's when Bill's adventure truly begins. For his son is now a grown tribesman who moves skillfully through this beautiful-but-dangerous terrain, fearful only of those who would exploit it. And as Bill attempts to "rescue" him from the savagery of the untamed jungle, Tommy challenges Bill's idea of true civilization and his notions about who needs rescuing.

The Emerald Forest

1985

Hope and Glory poster
6.9

A middle-aged man recalls his childhood growing up in and around London during World War II.

Hope and Glory

1987

Hope and Glory poster
6.9

A middle-aged man recalls his childhood growing up in and around London during World War II.

Hope and Glory

1987

Hell in the Pacific poster
7.0

During World War II, a shot-down American pilot and a marooned Japanese navy captain find themselves stranded on the same small uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean.

Hell in the Pacific

1968

In My Country poster
6.0

An American reporter and an Afrikaans poet meet and fall in love while covering South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.

In My Country

2004

In My Country poster
6.0

An American reporter and an Afrikaans poet meet and fall in love while covering South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.

In My Country

2004

The General poster
6.7

The real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team, but attracted unwanted attention from the police, the I.R.A., the U.V.F., and members of his own team.

The General

1998