Action!
My Life and Career
Will be published approx. on 9. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
354 pages
978-1-915975-32-4 (ISBN)
Description
The
story of David Wickes, one of the most prolific directors of TV and movies in
the 'Golden Age' of entertainment.
In
his own conversational style, David tells how it was to work on iconic series like
The Sweeney, The Professionals, and Van der Valk. He
explains how he moved on to his own Hollywood productions, such as Philip
Marlowe, Private Eye, Jack the Ripper, Jekyll & Hyde and Frankenstein.
Along
the way, there are many surprises. What was it like to interview the President
of France? How come an action director like David made an award-winning film
based on Shakespeare's sonnets? Did his own daughter really choose a popular TV
theme tune?
All
this and much more awaits you, including tales of David's famous magician
father, who knew Charlie Chaplin, and David's early career in the army.
This
is more than one man's tale. It's the story of filmmaking before today's
digital miracles, when everything had to be done for real. Blood, sweat and
tears? Yes, but also lots of fun.
Collaborator Simon J. Ballard also provides an
informal look at David's productions. As a friend and fan of David's, he
promises to be impartial! He also spoke with a number of people who worked with
David including actors Diane Keen, George Sweeney and Patrick Bergin, as well
as his regular composer, John Cameron.
With a foreword by none other than producer of the
James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli.
story of David Wickes, one of the most prolific directors of TV and movies in
the 'Golden Age' of entertainment.
In
his own conversational style, David tells how it was to work on iconic series like
The Sweeney, The Professionals, and Van der Valk. He
explains how he moved on to his own Hollywood productions, such as Philip
Marlowe, Private Eye, Jack the Ripper, Jekyll & Hyde and Frankenstein.
Along
the way, there are many surprises. What was it like to interview the President
of France? How come an action director like David made an award-winning film
based on Shakespeare's sonnets? Did his own daughter really choose a popular TV
theme tune?
All
this and much more awaits you, including tales of David's famous magician
father, who knew Charlie Chaplin, and David's early career in the army.
This
is more than one man's tale. It's the story of filmmaking before today's
digital miracles, when everything had to be done for real. Blood, sweat and
tears? Yes, but also lots of fun.
Collaborator Simon J. Ballard also provides an
informal look at David's productions. As a friend and fan of David's, he
promises to be impartial! He also spoke with a number of people who worked with
David including actors Diane Keen, George Sweeney and Patrick Bergin, as well
as his regular composer, John Cameron.
With a foreword by none other than producer of the
James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Worksop
United Kingdom
Illustrations
18 page colour gallery
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-915975-32-4 (9781915975324)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
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the Projector 5
Foreword
By Barbara Broccoli CBE 9
Reel
One A Century of Shadows 11
Reel
Two 'Plunder and Butchery' 38
Reel
Three 'The Final Madness' 64
Reel
Four The Magic of Showbiz 84
Reel
Five Cathode Ray of Sunshine 93
Reel
Six Making My Marker 108
Reel
Seven Crossing the TV Channels 124
Reel
Eight Euston- We Don't Have a Problem 148
Photo
Gallery
Reel
Nine Cor Blimey, it's The Sweeney 166
Intermission 192
Reel
Ten The BBC Miss Their Target 195
Reel Eleven What They Can't Get
Away With
on Television! 204
Reel
Twelve Enter The Professionals 231
Reel
Thirteen Going Down Chandlertown 244
Reel Fourteen The Hitchhiker's
Guide to Horror
and Suspense 257
Reel
Fifteen Strange Case of D. Wickes and M. Caine 264
Reel
Sixteen Frankenstein, Or More Than a Palimpsest 281
Reel Seventeen "If It Wasn't on the
Morning News,
CI5 Took Care of It Last Night" 293
Post-Production 310
Appendix
I Episode Guide 314
Appendix
II The Satanist Script Breakdown 316
Appendix
III Fantasy TV Schedule 336
the Projector 5
Foreword
By Barbara Broccoli CBE 9
Reel
One A Century of Shadows 11
Reel
Two 'Plunder and Butchery' 38
Reel
Three 'The Final Madness' 64
Reel
Four The Magic of Showbiz 84
Reel
Five Cathode Ray of Sunshine 93
Reel
Six Making My Marker 108
Reel
Seven Crossing the TV Channels 124
Reel
Eight Euston- We Don't Have a Problem 148
Photo
Gallery
Reel
Nine Cor Blimey, it's The Sweeney 166
Intermission 192
Reel
Ten The BBC Miss Their Target 195
Reel Eleven What They Can't Get
Away With
on Television! 204
Reel
Twelve Enter The Professionals 231
Reel
Thirteen Going Down Chandlertown 244
Reel Fourteen The Hitchhiker's
Guide to Horror
and Suspense 257
Reel
Fifteen Strange Case of D. Wickes and M. Caine 264
Reel
Sixteen Frankenstein, Or More Than a Palimpsest 281
Reel Seventeen "If It Wasn't on the
Morning News,
CI5 Took Care of It Last Night" 293
Post-Production 310
Appendix
I Episode Guide 314
Appendix
II The Satanist Script Breakdown 316
Appendix
III Fantasy TV Schedule 336