Production

Tony Garnett

Born — Died

1936-04-03 — 2020-01-12

Place of birth

Erdington, Birmingham, England, UK

Known for

Production

Credits

56 titles

Tony Garnett is a British film and television producer, director and former actor. He is best known for his thirteen-year association with director Ken Loach, which started with The Wednesday Play and the groundbreaking Cathy Come Home amongst others, and continued into Play For Today and big screen features such as Kes. His other TV productions have included the controversial Law and Order and The Spongers and, with his company World Productions, Between the Lines, Ballykissangel, Cops, Cardiac Arrest and This Life. As a director, he helmed the films Prostitute and Handgun, and produced Hollywood movies such as Earth Girls are Easy and Sesame Street's Follow That Bird, and British cult LGBT…

Known for

World in Action poster
7.0

World in Action was Granada Television’s flagship ITV current affairs series, running from 7 Jan 1963 to 7 Dec 1998, and built a reputation for film-led investigative reporting and a forceful editorial stance. Its journalism produced major public and political repercussions—including investigations associated with miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six—and it also served as a platform for landmark documentary projects, including the first broadcast of “Seven Up!” as part of the strand in 1964.

World in Action

1963

No artwork available
8.0

An anthology of single plays offering up adaptations of either of prominent stage plays or novels.

Festival

1963

Earth Girls Are Easy poster
5.6

In this musical comedy, Valerie is dealing with her philandering fiancé, Ted, when she finds that a trio of aliens have crashed their spaceship into her swimming pool. Once the furry beings are shaved at her girlfriend's salon, the women discover three handsome men underneath. After absorbing the native culture via television, the spacemen are ready to hit the dating scene in 1980s Los Angeles.

Earth Girls Are Easy

1988

No artwork available
7.5

Studio 4 is an anthology drama series utilising BBC Television Centre's Studio Four, and running for two series in 1962 on BBC One. It was envisaged as a sequel to Storyboard, a similar anthology series which had been transmitted the previous year.

Studio 4

1962

An Age of Kings poster
5.2

A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.

An Age of Kings

1960

Fat Man and Little Boy poster
6.2

Assigned to oversee the development of the atomic bomb, Gen. Leslie Groves is a stern military man determined to have the project go according to plan. He selects J. Robert Oppenheimer as the key scientist on the top-secret operation, but the two men clash fiercely on a number of issues. Despite their frequent conflicts, Groves and Oppenheimer ultimately push ahead with two bomb designs — the bigger "Fat Man" and the more streamlined "Little Boy."

Fat Man and Little Boy

1989

Film credits

Series credits

World in Action poster
7.0

World in Action was Granada Television’s flagship ITV current affairs series, running from 7 Jan 1963 to 7 Dec 1998, and built a reputation for film-led investigative reporting and a forceful editorial stance. Its journalism produced major public and political repercussions—including investigations associated with miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six—and it also served as a platform for landmark documentary projects, including the first broadcast of “Seven Up!” as part of the strand in 1964.

World in Action

1963

No artwork available
8.0

An anthology of single plays offering up adaptations of either of prominent stage plays or novels.

Festival

1963

No artwork available
7.5

Studio 4 is an anthology drama series utilising BBC Television Centre's Studio Four, and running for two series in 1962 on BBC One. It was envisaged as a sequel to Storyboard, a similar anthology series which had been transmitted the previous year.

Studio 4

1962

An Age of Kings poster
5.2

A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.

An Age of Kings

1960

An Age of Kings poster
5.2

A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.

An Age of Kings

1960

An Age of Kings poster
5.2

A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.

An Age of Kings

1960

An Age of Kings poster
5.2

A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.

An Age of Kings

1960

Behind the camera

Earth Girls Are Easy poster
5.6

In this musical comedy, Valerie is dealing with her philandering fiancé, Ted, when she finds that a trio of aliens have crashed their spaceship into her swimming pool. Once the furry beings are shaved at her girlfriend's salon, the women discover three handsome men underneath. After absorbing the native culture via television, the spacemen are ready to hit the dating scene in 1980s Los Angeles.

Earth Girls Are Easy

1988

Fat Man and Little Boy poster
6.2

Assigned to oversee the development of the atomic bomb, Gen. Leslie Groves is a stern military man determined to have the project go according to plan. He selects J. Robert Oppenheimer as the key scientist on the top-secret operation, but the two men clash fiercely on a number of issues. Despite their frequent conflicts, Groves and Oppenheimer ultimately push ahead with two bomb designs — the bigger "Fat Man" and the more streamlined "Little Boy."

Fat Man and Little Boy

1989

Follow That Bird poster
6.5

Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker, who thinks it would be better for him to live with other birds. Unhappy, Big Bird runs away from his foster home, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.

Follow That Bird

1985

Beautiful Thing poster
7.3

During a long, hot summer on the Thamesmead Estate in Southeast London, three teenagers edge towards adulthood.

Beautiful Thing

1996

Kes poster
7.4

Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.

Kes

1970

Kes poster
7.4

Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.

Kes

1970

The Sweet Body of Deborah poster
5.5

A newlywed couple visits the husband's hometown of Geneva, where they are subjected to threats stemming from the death of his former fiancée.

The Sweet Body of Deborah

1968

Hostile Waters poster
6.1

Based on true events, an American submarine collides into a Soviet sub of the coast of America and an ensuing standoff occurs that could lead to total annihilation.

Hostile Waters

1997

Black Jack poster
7.0

When honest young Tolly is forced on the run with ‘Black Jack’, a villainous ruffian, adventure and mishap are never far away. As the two enter a world of body-snatchers, private lunatic asylums, and travelling fairs, they find friendship in the most unlikely places.

Black Jack

1979

Cathy Come Home poster
7.0

Cathy and Reg are a couple with three young children, who find their life spiralling into poverty when Reg loses his well-paid job. Gripping and emotional, Cathy Come Home remains a truly ground-breaking piece of dramatic fiction, engaging viewers with social issues, such as homelessness, unemployment and the rights of mothers to keep their own children.

Cathy Come Home

1966

Drums Along The Avon poster
10.0

A liberal white man becomes a Muslim to promote racial harmony.

Drums Along The Avon

1967

No artwork available
NR

Steven is a beautiful, lovable little boy, but there is something about him that sets him apart.

Steven

1974

Family Life poster
7.2

A young woman, Janice, is living with her restrictive and conservative parents, who lead a dull working-class life and consider their daughter to be “misbehaving” whenever she’s trying to find her own way in life.

Family Life

1971

The Big Flame poster
6.8

After a prolonged industrial dispute in the Liverpool Docks, the striking workers reject management demands of a return to work and decide instead to occupy the docks and run the operation themselves.

The Big Flame

1969

The Golden Vision poster
6.4

The obsessive supporters of Everton FC forsake wives, families and God to follow their beloved team. Meanwhile, the club and its players try to live up to their expectations.

The Golden Vision

1968

Old Chums poster
5.9

A man on crutches bumps into an old acquaintance who relentlessly bombards him with small talk.

Old Chums

1982

No artwork available
10.0

The life and passions of a speaker at Hyde Park Corner.

The Voices in the Park

1967

In Two Minds poster
7.0

Kate, a young girl under psychiatric examination, suffers from a lack of confidence, self-esteem and self-control – telling of the “bad Kate” who commits immoral acts. Could the hypocrisy, selfishness and weakness of those around her have led to this state of mind or can Kate simply be diagnosed and dismissed as a schizophrenic?

In Two Minds

1967

Prostitute poster
5.5

The tale of two women: Sandra, an ambitious but naive Birmingham working girl who moves to London with the hope of securing wealthier patrons, and Louise, her social worker friend, who is fighting to change the antiquated and hypocritical prostitution laws. As both strive to achieve their goals, a cold dose of reality dashes their hopes, and the built-in biases against women in society are unmasked.

Prostitute

1980

Prostitute poster
5.5

The tale of two women: Sandra, an ambitious but naive Birmingham working girl who moves to London with the hope of securing wealthier patrons, and Louise, her social worker friend, who is fighting to change the antiquated and hypocritical prostitution laws. As both strive to achieve their goals, a cold dose of reality dashes their hopes, and the built-in biases against women in society are unmasked.

Prostitute

1980

Prostitute poster
5.5

The tale of two women: Sandra, an ambitious but naive Birmingham working girl who moves to London with the hope of securing wealthier patrons, and Louise, her social worker friend, who is fighting to change the antiquated and hypocritical prostitution laws. As both strive to achieve their goals, a cold dose of reality dashes their hopes, and the built-in biases against women in society are unmasked.

Prostitute

1980

The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People poster
6.0

The workers of Milton Colliery prepare for a royal visit from Prince Charles.

The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People

1977

Hard Labour poster
6.7

A quiet and put-upon house cleaner breaks her silence.

Hard Labour

1973

The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality poster
5.8

A month after the royal visit, the workers at Milton Colliery are brought crashing back down to earth by an underground explosion.

The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality

1977

The Body poster
4.6

A psychedelic documentary of the body electric, with music by Pink Floyd. The film was directed and produced by Roy Battersby. The film's narrators, Frank Finlay and Vanessa Redgrave, provide commentary that combines the knowledge of human biologists and anatomical experts. The film's soundtrack, Music from the Body, was composed by Ron Geesin and Roger Waters.

The Body

1970

Born Kicking poster
9.0

Roxanne (known as Roxy) is a star performer in her local soccer team. Her natural talent is noticed by local team owner Victor Grace who signs her up. However it's not so easy being the only female professional soccer star in the country.

Born Kicking

1992

Handgun poster
5.8

Shortly after moving to Dallas, a young woman is raped at gunpoint. Her intense anger drives her to seek revenge, and she becomes a hunter on a vengeance mission.

Handgun

1983

Handgun poster
5.8

Shortly after moving to Dallas, a young woman is raped at gunpoint. Her intense anger drives her to seek revenge, and she becomes a hunter on a vengeance mission.

Handgun

1983

Handgun poster
5.8

Shortly after moving to Dallas, a young woman is raped at gunpoint. Her intense anger drives her to seek revenge, and she becomes a hunter on a vengeance mission.

Handgun

1983

This Life +10 poster
8.1

A decade on, Egg, Milly, Warren, Anna and Miles meet again at Ferdy's funeral. Egg is a writer, Milly a mum, Anna's still a lawyer, while Warren and Miles have 'business' careers.

This Life +10

2007

The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final poster
6.0

A slow-witted couple decide to start a family.

The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final

1982

The Save the Children Fund Film poster
7.0

Director Ken Loach explores the politics of race, class and charity in a capitalist society in this documentary funded by the Save the Children foundation.

The Save the Children Fund Film

1971

The Spongers poster
10.0

In the days leading up the Queen's Silver Jubilee, Pauline, a recently separated single mother, receives a visit from a bailiff and is given 15 days to address her overdue rent payments. Meanwhile, the local council is under pressure to cut expenditure, and their decisions result in Pauline's mentally handicapped daughter Paula being transferred from a care home for special needs children to an old people's home, where she is all alone.

The Spongers

1978

No artwork available
5.9

A window cleaner fancies a sausage roll, but all is not well in the sausage roll factory.

A Light Snack

1982

Probation poster
5.9

A boy goes to see his probation officer.

Probation

1982

Afternoon poster
5.8

A couple of old friends drown their sorrows together while reveling in the naivety of a young newly-wed.

Afternoon

1982

The Gorge poster
8.0

A reluctant teenager accompanies his family on a day out to a local beauty spot.

The Gorge

1968

The Parachute poster
NR

As the Nazis grow ever more powerful in Germany, Werner grows up in an aristocratic household, hating his domineering father and making enemies in high places.

The Parachute

1968

The Lump poster
NR

The Lump is an uncompromising exploration of exploitation and resistance within the building trade.

The Lump

1967

Blooming Youth poster
NR

An improvised character piece, overseen by Les Blair and Tony Garnett set in the everyday life of a group of polytechnic students.

Blooming Youth

1973