Wikipedia

Peter R. Hunt

Peter Roger Hunt(11 March 1925 – 14 August 2002) was a British director, editor and producer of film and television, best known for his work on theJames Bondfilm series, first as an editor and then as asecond unit director.He finally served as director forOn Her Majesty's Secret Service.His work on the series helped pioneer an innovative, fast-cutting editing style.

Peter R. Hunt
Born
Peter Roger Hunt

(1925-03-11)11 March 1925
London,England
Died14 August 2002(2002-08-14)(aged 77)
Santa Monica,California,U.S.
Occupation(s)Film director, film editor, film producer
Years active1940–1991
Known forJames Bondseries
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1942–1947
RankStaff Sergeant
Battles/warsWorld War II

Biography

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As an infantryman, Hunt served inSalerno,Italy, in 1943.[1]

After undertaking several forms of employment, Hunt worked as an assistant cutter forAlexander Korda,before working as an assembling editor onThe Man Who Watched Trains Go By.After severalB-movies,he served as the supervising editor onA Hill in Korea.The following year, Hunt editedThe Admirable Crichton(directed and co-written byLewis Gilbert), becoming good friends withJohn Glen.Hunt continued his collaboration with Gilbert on films such asFerry to Hong KongandSink the Bismarck!.

In the 1960s, Hunt signed on as an editor on the first James Bond film,Dr. No(1962), and he editedFrom Russia with Love(1963) andGoldfinger(1964). On those three films, Hunt developed an editing technique in which he utilized quick cutting, allowing camera swings during action and inserts interleaving other elements.[2][3]He also worked withHarry SaltzmanandAlbert R. Broccolion theBob HopefilmCall Me Bwana(1963), and with Saltzman and a few other Bond veterans on the non-Eon thrillerThe IPCRESS File(1965).Call Me Bwanawas the only film produced by the James Bond production companyEon Productionsthat was not a Bond film until 2014.

After editingThunderball(1965), Hunt asked to directYou Only Live Twice(1967) but was passed over in favor ofLewis Gilbert.Although Hunt initially quit in protest, Broccoli and Saltzman persuaded him to stay as second unit director on the understanding that he would be promoted to director in a future Eon film.[4]Saltzman and Broccoli were impressed with his quick cutting skills and felt he had set the style for the series.[5]Hunt directed the "Little Nellie" sequence of the film.[4]When Gilbert passed on the opportunity to directOn Her Majesty's Secret Service(1969), Broccoli and Saltzman selected Hunt as director.[4][5]Hunt also asked for the position during the production ofChitty Chitty Bang Bang(1968), and he brought along with him many crew members, including cinematographerMichael Reedand editor John Glen.[6]Hunt was concerned to put his mark on the production – "I wanted it to be different than any other Bond film would be. It was my film, not anyone else's."[7]

On Her Majesty's Secret Servicewas the last James Bond film on which Hunt worked. Hunt was asked to direct numerous other Eon Bond films — includingLive and Let Die,The Spy Who Loved Me,andFor Your Eyes Only— but always declined.[4]In 1971, Hunt directed episodes ofThe Persuaders!with Bond star,Roger Moore;he also directed Moore inGold(1974) andShout at the Devil(1976) withLee Marvin.Although approached byKevin McClory,he refused to directNever Say Never Again(1983) afraid that Broccoli would consider him disloyal. His last films includedWild Geese II(1985) and theCannon Filmthrillers,Death Hunt(1981) andAssassination(1987), both starring Charles Bronson. He also directed the epic television miniseriesThe Last Days of Pompeii(1984).

Personal life

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Hunt spent his later years living in the United States.[1]He was gay and lived with his partner, Nicos Kourtis, from 1975 until his death.[8][9]He died ofheart failureon 14 August 2002 at his home inSanta Monica, California,at the age of 77.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Editor Director Other Notes
1940 The Thief of Bagdad No No Yes As associate editor
1943 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp No No Yes
1949 Badger's Green No No Yes
1950 They Were Not Divided No No Yes
Gone to Earth No No Yes
1951 Cheer the Brave No No Yes
1952 The Man Who Watched Trains Go By Yes No No
1953 Wheel of Fate No No Yes As sound editor
House of Blackmail No No Yes As assistant editor
1954 Orders Are Orders No No Yes
Burnt Evidence No No Yes
Stranger From Venus Yes No No
1956 The Secret Tent Yes No No
Doublecross Yes No No
A Hill in Korea Yes No No
1957 The Admirable Crichton Yes No Yes Assecond unit director
1958 Next to No Time Yes No No
A Cry from the Streets Yes No No
1959 Ferry to Hong Kong Yes No No
1960 Sink the Bismarck! Yes No No
There Was a Crooked Man Yes No No
1961 The Greengage Summer Yes No No
On the Fiddle Yes No No
1962 H.M.S. Defiant Yes No No
Dr. No Yes No No
1963 Call Me Bwana Yes No No
From Russia with Love Yes No No
1964 Goldfinger Yes No Yes Assecond unit director
1965 Thunderball Yes No Yes
The Ipcress File Yes No No
1966 Strange Portrait Yes No No
1967 You Only Live Twice Yes No Yes Assecond unit director
1968 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang No No Yes As title sequence director
1969 Arthur! Arthur! Yes No No
On Her Majesty's Secret Service No Yes No
1974 Gold No Yes No
1976 Shout at the Devil[11] No Yes No
1977 Gulliver's Travels No Yes No
1980 Rough Cut No Uncredited No Replaced byDon Siegel
Night Games Yes No No
1981 Death Hunt No Yes No
1983 The Jigsaw Man No No Yes Assecond unit director
1985 Wild Geese II No Yes No
1986 Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star No Yes No
1987 Assassination No Yes No

Television

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Year Title Editor Director Notes
1971 The Persuaders! Yes Yes Episode: "Chain of Events"
1972 Shirley's World Yes Episode: "Always Leave Them Laughing"
1978 The Beasts Are on the Streets Yes Television film
1983 Philip Marlowe, Private Eye Yes 2 episodes
1984 The Last Days of Pompeii Yes 4 episodes
1991 Eyes of a Witness Yes Television film

References

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  1. ^ab"Peter Hunt".The Daily Telegraph.London. 21 August 2002.Retrieved22 May2010.
  2. ^Peter Hunt (2000).Inside Dr. No(DVD). MGM Home Entertainment Inc.Retrieved4 August2007.
  3. ^Peter Hunt, Norman Wanstall (2000).Inside From Russia with Love(DVD). MGM Home Entertainment Inc.Retrieved4 August2007.
  4. ^abcdField, Matthew (2015).Some kind of hero: 007: the remarkable story of the James Bond films.Ajay Chowdhury. Stroud, Gloucestershire.ISBN978-0-7509-6421-0.OCLC930556527.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^abStutz, Collin (2007).James Bond Encyclopedia.London: Dorling Kindersley.ISBN978-1-4053-3427-3.
  6. ^"Director John Glen - James Bond Crew".007james.Retrieved14 February2019.
  7. ^NTR."De 'vergeten' 007".Andere Tijden(in Dutch).Retrieved14 February2019.
  8. ^Bergan, Ronald (16 August 2002)."Peter Hunt".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved25 December2023.
  9. ^"Queer re-view: On Her Majesty's Secret Service".Licence to Queer.Retrieved25 December2023.
  10. ^"Peter R. Hunt, 77, Film Editor And Director of a 007 Movie".The New York Times.25 August 2002.Retrieved14 April2009.
  11. ^Maçek III, J.C. (7 October 2013)."From Heart of Darkness to All Out War: 'Shout at the Devil'".PopMatters.
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