Editorial Staff
Peter Yates, who rose from menial behind the scene jobs to become one of cinema’s most celebrated directors, died today in London at the age of 81. No cause of death was given.
Born in England in 1929, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked for a time in regional theatre wherever needed, both on and back stage. In his early 20s he began working on motion pictures, starting as a dubbing assistant. In 1959 he worked his way up to assistant director, aiding Guy Hamilton on “A Touch of Larceny.” He then began a three film run in that position with Tony Richardson (“Sons and Lovers,” “The Entertainer” and “A Taste of Honey”) and assisted J. Lee Thompson on the classic “The Guns of Navarone.”
His first feature film was 1963’s “Summer Holiday,” a musical featuring Cliff Richard. His next film was an adaptation of the play “One Way Pendulum,” which he had also directed on stage. He spent the next few years directing episodic television shows, including “The Saint” and “Secret Agent,” then returned to the big screen with “Robbery,” which was a telling of the infamous 1963 “Great Train Robbery.” The film earned Yates and his co-screenwriters the Writer’s Guild of England’s Best British Original Screenplay Award. But it was his next film that cemented his reputation: 1968’s “Bullitt.” Starring Steve McQueen and a 1968 Ford Mustang 390GT. The film features what is believed to be the chase scene all other films strive to have, featuring McQueen and car driving the streets of San Francisco. His direction earned him a BAFTA nomination as Best Director. He then followed with a string of successful films, working with the best talent in the business: Dustin Hoffman in “John and Mary,” Peter O’Toole in “Murphy’s War,” Robert Redford in “The Hot Rock,” and Barbra Streisand in “For Pete’s Sake.” In 1977 he earned his biggest box office hit when “The Deep,” starring Robert Shaw and Nick Nolte, was released that summer. His next film was both a critical and box office success, the Oscar winning “Breaking Away.” The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including two nominations for Yates as director and producer.
He began the 1980’s with the crime drama “Eyewitness” and then took a stab at fantasy with 1983’s “Krull.” He followed that film with another five time Oscar nominee, “The Dresser,” which starred Albert Finney and Tom Courtney. Again, Yates received Academy Award nominations as both director and producer and also received BAFTA nominations in the same categories. Among his later films: “Suspect,” starring Cher, and “An Innocent Man” with Tom Selleck. His last film was the television movie “A Separate Peace,” which earned Yates an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Children/Youth/Family Special.
If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare I urge you to take a look at the classic chase scene from “Bullitt:”
