William Girdler

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William Brent Girdler (born October 22, 1947 in Louisville , Jefferson County , Kentucky , † January 21, 1978 in Manila , Philippines ) was an American film director , screenwriter and film producer , who was primarily known for his trashy horror and science fiction Films made in the 1970s, including Grizzly , Panic in the Sierra Nova and The Manitou .

life and career

William Girdler, born in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1947, was a great childhood film enthusiast. When he was only five years old, he experimented with the first film camera and was only rarely allowed to put these technical tools down during his lifetime. The first film recordings were made in his youth. After high school , he first served in the US Air Force , where he learned the professional basics of filmmaking, documentaries, and educational shorts. He then started his own production company called Studio One Productions in his hometown of Louisville. Girdler began making TV commercials for local business people and asked them to help financially make feature films. In addition to working on his own scripts, he also wrote the music for three of his films.

His early films include Asylum of Satan (1972), Three on a Meathook (1973), The Zebra Killer (1974), Abby (1974) and Sheba Baby (1975).

After the phenomenal commercial success of Steven Spielberg's horror classic Jaws at the box office in 1975, Girdler jumped on this trend and in 1976 had his own box office hit with Grizzly , which brought in the production costs of the film many times over. Christopher George , Andrew Prine and Richard Jaeckel were seen in the leading roles . In the same year, Project Kill was created , an action drama with Leslie Nielsen , Gary Lockwood and Nancy Kwan .

In 1977 he made the science fiction film Panic in the Sierra Nova with the cast Christopher George , Leslie Nielsen , Lynda Day George and Richard Jaeckel . Girdler trusted his actors and gave them a lot of freedom. He often hired proven actors with whom he had already worked. In 1978 he directed and produced the horror film The Manitou based on his own script. Tony Curtis he was able to win for the lead role. Again he went back to the composer Lalo Schifrin , who had already written the music for Panik in the Sierra Nova .

When new locations were being sought for his next film project The Overlords in the Philippines, he got into the helicopter himself with the camera. During a low flight over Manila, the rotor blades caught in power lines and the helicopter crashed. The pilot and Girdler were killed. William Girdler died on January 21, 1978. He was only 30 years old.

Filmography (selection)

Film director

  • 1972: Asylum of Satan
  • 1973: Three on a Meathook
  • 1974: The Zebra Killer
  • 1974: Abby
  • 1975: Sheba Baby (Sheba, Baby)
  • 1976: Grizzly
  • 1976: Project Kill - A man wants out (Project: Kill)
  • 1977: Panic in the Sierra Nova (Day of the Animals)
  • 1978: The Manitou (The Manitou)

Screenwriter (selection)

  • 1972: Asylum of Satan
  • 1973: Three on a Meathook
  • 1974: The Zebra Killer
  • 1974: Abby
  • 1975: Sheba Baby (Sheba, Baby)
  • 1978: The Manitou (The Manitou)

film producer

  • 1974: Abby
  • 1978: The Manitou (The Manitou)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Biographical data from William Girdler in: The A to Z of Horror Cinema , by Peter Hutchings, 2009, p. 144
  2. ^ William Girdler in: Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks: Conversations with 24 Actors, Writers, Producers and Directors from the Golden Age , by Tom Weaver, McFarland, 2004, p. 206
  3. ^ William Girdler in: Nightmare, USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents , Stephen Thrower, FAB Press, 2007, p. 413
  4. ^ William Girdler in: Film-Dienst , Volume 31, Issues 6-26, The Institute, page xxxv
  5. ^ William Girdler in: Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film , by David J. Hogan, 1997, p. 293
personal data
SURNAME Girdler, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Girdler, William Brent (maiden name); Billy (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American film director, screenwriter and film producer
DATE OF BIRTH October 22, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH Louisville , Jefferson County , Kentucky , USA
DATE OF DEATH January 21, 1978
Place of death Manila , Philippines