David Leland

Writing

David Leland

Born 1947-04-20 · Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

David Leland (20 April 1947 - 24 December 2023) was a director, screenwriter and actor who came to international fame with his directorial debut Wish You Were Here in 1987.

Acting credits

Time Bandits poster
6.6

Young history buff Kevin can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being, they've purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon, Robin Hood and King Agamemnon before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

Time Bandits

1981

Scars of Dracula poster
5.9

The Prince of Darkness casts his undead shadow once more over the cursed village of Kleinenberg when his ashes are splashed with bat's blood and Dracula is resurrected. And two innocent victims search for a missing loved one... loved to death by Dracula's mistress. But after they discover his blood-drained corpse in Dracula's castle necropolis, the Vampire Lord's lustful vengeance begins.

Scars of Dracula

1970

Personal Services poster
6.0

Fed up with working hard just to scrape by, Christine Painter comes up with a bold plan to become the madam of a brothel and earn her financial freedom: she opens a house of spanking to fabulous reviews.

Personal Services

1987

Julius Caesar poster
5.9

All-star cast glamorizes this lavish 1970 remake of the classic William Shakespeare play, which portrays the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, and the resulting war between the faction led by the assassins and the faction led by Mark Anthony.

Julius Caesar

1970

The White River Kid poster
5.1

Two con men are traveling through the American South when they are held hostage by a serial killer who is running from the authorities.

The White River Kid

1999

The Pied Piper poster
5.9

Greed, corruption, ignorance, and disease. Midsummer, 1349: the Black Death reaches northern Germany. Minstrels go to Hamelin for the Mayor's daughter's wedding to the Baron's son. He wants her dowry to pay his army while his father taxes the people to build a cathedral he thinks will save his soul. A local apothecary who's a Jew seeks a treatment for the plague; the priests charge him with witchcraft. One of the minstrels, who has soothed the Mayor's daughter with his music, promises to rid the town of rats for the fee. The Mayor agrees, then renigs. In the morning, the plague, the Jew's trial, and the Piper's revenge come at once.

The Pied Piper

1972

When Saturday Comes poster
5.8

Jimmy Muir comes from a typical gritty, northern town where there are only two options: working down the pit or in a factory. But Jimmy has other ideas — he dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Confronted by a bitter and unsupportive father, hard-drinking friends and a lifetime of bad habits...has Jimmy the will to achieve his ultimate goal?

When Saturday Comes

1996

The Missionary poster
5.6

In 1905, after 10 years of missionary work in Africa, the Rev. Charles Fortesque is recalled to England, where his bishop gives him his new assignment - to minister to London's prostitutes.

The Missionary

1982

The Making of 'Band of Brothers' poster
7.0

Interviews made of the various actors and cast members that provide the knowledge and production skills and sets required to make the film a success.

The Making of 'Band of Brothers'

2001

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades poster
5.4

Posing as a dancer for the Ballets Russes in Barcelona, Indy meets old friend Pablo Picasso, and narrowly outwits inept German spies. Dashing off to Prague, he then arranges for a telephone installation to await an important call, which becomes a bureaucratic nightmare until Franz Kafka intervenes.

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades

2000

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas poster
NR

Boasting an amazing selection of the most watched, most influential and most highly acclaimed programmes ever made, The 50 Greatest Television Dramas presents a long overdue assessment of the rich heritage television drama has to offer. Channel 4 invited over 200 of Britain's top television drama professionals – writers, directors, producers and commissioners – to take part in an exclusive poll to discover what they consider the finest dramas ever produced.

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007

Victoria Wood: Seen on TV poster
NR

A look back at Victoria Wood's hugely successful television career. Featuring sketches, stand-up, characters and songs from her incredible repertoire as well as exclusive interviews with Victoria and friends and fans, including Dawn French, Julie Walters and Sir Roger Moore.

Victoria Wood: Seen on TV

2009

The Love-Girl and the Innocent poster
5.6

The prisoner Nemov is an honest man serving ten years for violations of Article 58. Nemov falls in love with Lyuba, who is having sex with the camp doctor Mereshchun, in exchange for better food and living conditions.

The Love-Girl and the Innocent

1973

Gawain and the Green Knight poster
5.0

The medieval legend of a supernatural knight who challenges the king's men to kill him.

Gawain and the Green Knight

1973

An Accidental Studio poster
6.4

Charts the early years of HandMade Films seen through the eyes of the filmmakers, key personnel, and the man who started it all: former Beatle George Harrison.

An Accidental Studio

2019

Alan Clarke: Out of His Own Light poster
NR

A multi-part documentary about Alan Clarke, featuring interviews with various actors, writers and producers.

Alan Clarke: Out of His Own Light

2016

Golden Gordon poster
8.0

Barnestoneworth United is the worst football team of 1935, who lose every match. Gordon Ottershaw is, however, their loyal fan, determined to prevent them from being disbanded after their final game. To this end he recruits the players from the renowned winning team of 1922 who turn up to defeat rivals Denley Moor.

Golden Gordon

1979

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain poster
9.0

Drama documentary which takes the form of an up-dated version of Pygmalion. With a special music score by jazz group Working Week, with real "society" characters and locations from 1984.

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain

1985

One Brief Summer poster
7.5

The story deals with the situation of a mature man, his mistress, his daughter and a young girl who comes into their lives.

One Brief Summer

1971

No artwork available
5.5

A British short film about World War I, directed by Stephen Weeks and starring Timothy Bateson, David Leland, and Geoffrey Davies.

1917

1970

Behind the camera

Virgin Territory poster
5.0

In Black Death era Tuscany, as in the Decameron, ten young Florentines take refuge from the plague. But instead of telling stories, they have lusty adventures, bawdy exchanges, romance, swordplay, randy nuns, Saracen pirates, and a sexy cow.

Virgin Territory

2007

Virgin Territory poster
5.0

In Black Death era Tuscany, as in the Decameron, ten young Florentines take refuge from the plague. But instead of telling stories, they have lusty adventures, bawdy exchanges, romance, swordplay, randy nuns, Saracen pirates, and a sexy cow.

Virgin Territory

2007

Concert for George poster
8.1

As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitable Foundation. The film was shot using discreet cameras from over twelve locations.

Concert for George

2003

Concert for George poster
8.1

As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitable Foundation. The film was shot using discreet cameras from over twelve locations.

Concert for George

2003

Mona Lisa poster
6.9

George is a small-time crook just out of prison who discovers his tough-guy image is out of date. Reduced to working as a minder/driver for high class call girl Simone, he has to agree when she asks him to find a young colleague from her King's Cross days. That's when George's troubles just start.

Mona Lisa

1986

Personal Services poster
6.0

Fed up with working hard just to scrape by, Christine Painter comes up with a bold plan to become the madam of a brothel and earn her financial freedom: she opens a house of spanking to fabulous reviews.

Personal Services

1987

The White River Kid poster
5.1

Two con men are traveling through the American South when they are held hostage by a serial killer who is running from the authorities.

The White River Kid

1999

Made in Britain poster
7.0

16-year-old skinhead Trevor has no regard for authority, and would rather spend his time stealing cars than sitting in the detention centre to which he is sent. Social worker Harry Parker tries his best, but Trevor is only interested when there's something in it for him. The centre authorities try to conform Trevor to the norms of society, but he takes no notice, and would rather speak in a torrent of four-letter words and racial abuse.

Made in Britain

1983

The Big Man poster
4.8

An unemployed Scottish miner is forced into bare-knuckle boxing to make ends meet.

The Big Man

1990

Wish You Were Here poster
6.4

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. Rebellious Lynda has been swearing constantly from an early age. At sixteen, she becomes more exhibitionist and seeks out sexual encounters challenging the prevailing lower-middle class attitudes to sex.

Wish You Were Here

1987

Wish You Were Here poster
6.4

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. Rebellious Lynda has been swearing constantly from an early age. At sixteen, she becomes more exhibitionist and seeks out sexual encounters challenging the prevailing lower-middle class attitudes to sex.

Wish You Were Here

1987

The Land Girls poster
6.0

During World War II, the organisation "The Women's Land Army" recruited women to work on British farms while the men were off to war. Three such "land girls" of different social backgrounds - quiet Stella, young hairdresser Prue, and Cambridge graduate Ag - become best friends in spite of their different backgrounds.

The Land Girls

1998

The Land Girls poster
6.0

During World War II, the organisation "The Women's Land Army" recruited women to work on British farms while the men were off to war. Three such "land girls" of different social backgrounds - quiet Stella, young hairdresser Prue, and Cambridge graduate Ag - become best friends in spite of their different backgrounds.

The Land Girls

1998

Checking Out poster
4.4

When his best friend dies of a heart attack, Ray Macklin becomes a man obsessed with his own mortality. Convinced that all his aches and pains are an indication of his imminent death, Ray's life turns into a slapstick farce of health-crazed anxiety and hypochondria.

Checking Out

1988

Birth of a Nation poster
7.8

A new teacher at a highly problematic comprehensive school feels that corporal punishment may just be inflaming the problems, and so begins to campaign against it.

Birth of a Nation

1983

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain poster
9.0

Drama documentary which takes the form of an up-dated version of Pygmalion. With a special music score by jazz group Working Week, with real "society" characters and locations from 1984.

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain

1985

Beloved Enemy poster
8.0

A cool hard study of 'the art of the deal' on a global scale. Sir Peter, the chillingly affable chief exec of big British multi-national UKM, learns that the Soviet Union's chief scientists are in London with government credit to spend. He's keen to flog them a tyre-production plant. based in the Ukraine, which will unshackle UKM from bothersome unions at home. But at the negotiating table, it fast becomes apparent that the Soviets are more interested in the laser technology UKM employs to vulcanise their tyres; and Peter starts to foresee a new future in military aerospace for his ever fiexible firm.

Beloved Enemy

1981

Psy-Warriors poster
3.0

Three British soldiers are caught and interrogated by terrorists, unaware that they're in fact being put through mind-unhinging training as part of a new phase of military research modelling itself on the US example.

Psy-Warriors

1981

No artwork available
NR

A forensic psychologist is enlisted to delve into the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of thirty-two adults in an exclusive gated community in the desert outside Los Angeles and the disappearance of their children. Based on the controversial novella of the same name by J.G. Ballard

Running Wild

Flying Into the Wind poster
8.0

The Wyatts wish to educate their children at home, but the education authorities have other ideas. Moving between 1969 and 1980, we see how this affects the various individuals and attitudes.

Flying Into the Wind

1983

R.H.I.N.O.; Really Here in Name Only poster
6.7

An isolated, overweight girl with a penchant for shoplifting, gets pushed from pillar to post as the authorities struggle to know what to do with her.

R.H.I.N.O.; Really Here in Name Only

1983