Chris Menges

Chris Menges (born September 15, 1940 in Kingston, Herefordshire, England) is a British cinematographer and film director.

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September 15 - 1940 - Kingston - Herefordshire - England

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He began his career in the 1960s as camera operator for documentaries by Adrian Cowell and for movies like Poor Cow by Ken Loach and If.... by Lindsay Anderson. Tes by Ken Loach was his first film as cinematographer. He was also behind the camera on Stephen Frears' first feature film Gumshoe in 1971.

Related Topics:
Poor Cow - If.... - Lindsay Anderson - Tes - Ken Loach - Stephen Frears - Gumshoe

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After several documentaries and feature films like Black Beauty (1971), Bloody Kids (1978), The Game Keeper (1980), Babylon (1980) and Angel (1982) he became notable for more ambitious works which were critically acclaimed.

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In 1983 he received his first BAFTA nomination for the Bill Forsyth movie Local Hero but only one year later he won his first Academy Award for the powerful film The Killing Fields about the genocide in Cambodia. He continued his work with helmer Roland Joffe and he won his second Oscar in 1986 with the historical drama The Mission.

Related Topics:
BAFTA - Bill Forsyth - Local Hero - Academy Award - The Killing Fields - Genocide - Cambodia - Roland Joffe - The Mission

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In 1988 he gave his directional debut with A World Apart. This film was celebrated at the 1988 International Cannes Film Festival and won three major awards.

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His second film as director Criss Cross with Goldie Hawn was a flop. In 1996 he changed back behind the camera and he has shoot the award winning films The Boxer (directed by Jim Sheridan) and Michael Collins (about the first IRA leader). For the latter he received his third Academy Award nomimation in 1997.

Related Topics:
Criss Cross - Goldie Hawn - The Boxer - Jim Sheridan - Michael Collins - IRA

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