John Boorman

'John Boorman' (qv) attended Catholic school (Salesian Order) although his family was not, in fact, Roman Catholic. His first job was for a dry-cleaner. Later, he worked as a critic for a women's journal and for a radio station until he entered the television business, working for the BBC in Bristol. There, he started as assistant but worked later as director on documentaries, such as _The Newcomers (1964)_ (qv). His friendship with 'Lee Marvin' (qv) allowed him to work in Hollywood (e.g. _Point Blank (1967)_ (qv) and _Hell in the Pacific (1968)_ (qv)) from where he returned to the UK (e.g. _Leo the Last (1970)_ (qv), _Zardoz (1974)_ (qv) or _Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)_ (qv)). He became famous for _Excalibur (1981)_ (qv), _The Emerald Forest (1985)_ (qv) and his autobiographic story _Hope and Glory (1987)_ (qv) where he tells his own experiences as a child after World War II and which brought him another Academy Award Nomination after _Deliverance (1972)_ (qv).::Volker Boehm