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Philip French

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He was a brilliant critic whose erudition and judgement were respected by generations of cinema lovers and film-makers alike. He was also a joy to work with, unfailingly warm and generous to colleagues and to the thousands of readers he encountered. He is revered as one of the most astute critics of
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producer. At first he was a producer on the North American service, but the bulk of his BBC career was for domestic radio. He was a BBC talks producer (1961–67) and then a senior producer for the corporation from 1968. In the 1960s he produced
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s theatre critic, was appointed an OBE at the same time as French. Billington recalled: "I ended a congratulatory telephone call with the jokey line, 'See you at the palace.' Quick as a flash, he replied, 'As Dirk Bogarde said to Bill Kerr in
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French's son Sean said, "If readers felt they knew him it's because he put his personality into the writing. He was a very funny man, with a slightly grim comic view of the world and this obsessive thing about puns."
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his generation, whose love of film shone through his lucid and engaging writing. He will be missed sorely, but he will be remembered with affection and respect by his legion of admirers.
162:(28 August 1933 – 27 October 2015) was an English film critic and radio producer. French began his career in journalism in the late 1950s, before eventually becoming a 35: 295:, who felt that it would be impossible for French to be an impartial producer while also working as a regular film critic, but he was over-ruled by his superior, 1206: 482:
said that French was "the doyen of English film critics" and estimated that he had seen some 14,000 films, many of them during the 50 years that he wrote for
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writing team, and another son, Patrick French, is a doctor. His youngest son, Karl, is an editor and author. French had ten grandchildren. He lived in
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After years of ill health, French died at his home from a heart attack on 27 October 2015, aged 82, and his ashes were buried on the eastern side of
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said that French was "a giant figure" in the paper's history and "part of its soul for the past 50 years", adding:
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in 1933. The son of an insurance salesman, he moved frequently throughout his childhood, and was educated at the
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French and his Swedish-born wife Kersti Molin had three sons. Their oldest son, Sean French, is one half of the
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This article is about the British film critic and radio producer. For the former Mayor of New York, see
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James, Nick (2019). "French, Philip Neville (1933–2015), film critic, radio producer, and journalist".
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At the beginning of May 2013 it was announced that French would retire as film critic for
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in 1963, and continued to write criticism regularly there until his retirement in 2013.
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in December 2012. Upon his death on 27 October 2015, French was referred to by his
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actor who, having exchanged life in Hollywood for a typewriter, called his memoir
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Three Honest Men: Edmund Wilson, F.R.Leavis, Lionel Trilling – A Critical Mosaic
958:"That's a wrap: Philip French, Observer film critic, steps down after 50 years" 847:"Philip French OBE, Observer writer of 50 years and film critic extraordinaire" 618: 582: 536: 420: 364: 292: 44: 20: 1241: 1039: 933:"Michael Billington on Philip French: A kind man with an encyclopedic memory" 886: 225: 1221: 1093: 962: 851: 832: 767: 747: 518: 416: 323: 241: 184: 168: 245:
from 1978, but had begun writing for the paper in 1963. He also wrote for
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The Envy of the World: Fifty years of the BBC Third Programme and Radio 3
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where he read Law. He undertook post-graduate study in journalism at
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Censoring the Moving Image: Manifestos for the Twenty-first Century
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for services to film. French was known for his exceptional memory.
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Between 1959 and 1990, when he took early retirement, French was a
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The Movie Moguls: An Informal History of the Hollywood Tycoons
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as "an inspiration to an entire generation of film critics".
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Movie Moguls. An Informal History of the Hollywood Tycoons
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and from 1974 to 1990 he produced its successor programme
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producer, and later a film critic. He began writing for
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I Found it at the Movies: Reflections of a Cinephile
263:(1999) together with Karl French, one of his sons. 16:English film critic and radio producer (1933–2015) 1158: 1239: 1167: 804:"Honorary degrees for film critic and scientist" 789:The Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422–1992 229:between 1967 and 1968 and deputy film critic to 291:was opposed by the then Controller of Radio 3, 217:French entered journalism as a reporter at the 344:in August to coincide with his 80th birthday. 239:for some years. French was the film critic of 1118:. ABC News. Associated Press. 27 October 2015 1086: 974: 972: 718:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 1318:Officers of the Order of the British Empire 920:(Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 11. 879: 783: 781: 779: 777: 648: 646: 644: 642: 930: 563:(BFI Film Classics) (with Kersti French), 311:Officer of the Order of the British Empire 177:Officer of the Order of the British Empire 43: 1323:People educated at Bristol Grammar School 1213:webcast, Brighton Festival, 21 April 2008 969: 828:"We saw the light, but too late for some" 1278:21st-century British non-fiction writers 1268:20th-century English non-fiction writers 910: 799: 797: 774: 639: 439: 389:. French was also fond of recalling the 1234:, with 17 library catalogue records 1136: 1089:"Philip French: my life as a stammerer" 1080: 1060: 980:"Philip French, film critic – obituary" 931:Billington, Michael (28 October 2015). 715:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 397:. It was suggested, in his obituary in 385:that exclusively featured the penis of 1240: 1032: 707: 705: 703: 701: 652: 432:, French wrote about his own stammer. 223:in 1957. He was theatre critic of the 1308:Indiana University Bloomington alumni 794: 724:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.110838 711: 653:Shoard, Catherine (27 October 2015). 426:Prompted by the release of the film, 1168:Catherine Shoard (27 October 2015). 1137:Hayward, Anthony (29 October 2015). 1008:"Meet the perfect partners in crime" 347:French was an Honorary Associate of 287:. His appointment as film critic of 698: 371:he began: "I don't know much about 13: 1087:Philip French (26 December 2010). 515:Westerns: Aspects of a Movie Genre 14: 1339: 1283:21st-century English male writers 1263:20th-century English male writers 1191: 1061:Stewart, Gary (27 October 2015). 1033:French, Sean (26 February 1999). 1288:Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford 1273:21st-century English journalists 1258:20th-century English journalists 410: 1207:In Celebration of Philip French 1130: 1108: 1054: 1026: 1000: 950: 924: 904: 858: 839: 820: 755: 738: 672: 212:Indiana University Bloomington 115:Indiana University Bloomington 1: 632: 1298:Burials at Highgate Cemetery 732:UK public library membership 190: 7: 601:University of Chicago Press 395:Forgive Us Our Press Passes 10: 1344: 458:Speaking after his death, 444:Grave of Philip French in 359:French had a fondness for 309:in 2009. He was appointed 18: 1014:. Glasgow. 10 August 2012 901:. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 815:Lancaster University News 501:Weidenfeld & Nicolson 251:. French's books include 144: 136: 128: 120: 106: 96: 80: 54: 42: 30: 763:"My own cinema paradiso" 599:, (with Julian Petley), 489: 435: 354: 1313:Writers from Birkenhead 809:8 February 2007 at the 787:Dennis Griffiths (ed.) 581:, (with Karl French), 473: 448: 208:Exeter College, Oxford 204:Bristol Grammar School 111:Exeter College, Oxford 101:Bristol Grammar School 468: 443: 334:Appointment in London 315:2013 New Year Honours 302:French was named the 175:French was appointed 155:Philip Neville French 59:Philip Neville French 1303:English film critics 897:16 June 2011 at the 304:British Press Awards 220:Bristol Evening Post 214:, on a scholarship. 1328:The Observer people 1293:BBC radio producers 1232:Library of Congress 985:The Daily Telegraph 864:Humphrey Carpenter 855:, 29 December 2012. 561:"Wild Strawberries" 479:The Daily Telegraph 400:The Daily Telegraph 195:French was born in 917:The London Gazette 449: 349:London Film School 319:Michael Billington 307:Critic of the Year 988:. 31 October 2015 730:(Subscription or 627:978-1-84777-129-2 609:978-1-905422-55-5 591:978-1-86205-172-0 573:978-0-85170-481-4 545:978-0-85635-299-7 527:978-0-670-75727-5 509:978-0-297-76266-9 453:Highgate Cemetery 446:Highgate Cemetery 429:The King's Speech 363:. In an essay on 152: 151: 129:Years active 1335: 1185: 1184: 1182: 1180: 1165: 1156: 1155: 1153: 1151: 1134: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1123: 1112: 1106: 1105: 1103: 1101: 1084: 1078: 1077: 1075: 1073: 1058: 1052: 1051: 1049: 1047: 1030: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1019: 1004: 998: 997: 995: 993: 976: 967: 956:Vanessa Thorpe, 954: 948: 947: 945: 943: 928: 922: 921: 908: 902: 883: 877: 862: 856: 843: 837: 824: 818: 801: 792: 785: 772: 771:, 13 April 2008. 759: 753: 752: 742: 736: 735: 727: 709: 696: 695: 693: 691: 676: 670: 669: 667: 665: 650: 329: 277:BBC Home Service 161: 87: 68: 66: 47: 28: 27: 1343: 1342: 1338: 1337: 1336: 1334: 1333: 1332: 1238: 1237: 1194: 1189: 1188: 1178: 1176: 1166: 1159: 1149: 1147: 1144:The Independent 1135: 1131: 1121: 1119: 1114: 1113: 1109: 1099: 1097: 1085: 1081: 1071: 1069: 1059: 1055: 1045: 1043: 1031: 1027: 1017: 1015: 1006: 1005: 1001: 991: 989: 978: 977: 970: 955: 951: 941: 939: 929: 925: 909: 905: 899:Wayback Machine 884: 880: 863: 859: 845:Philip French, 844: 840: 836:, 24 June 2007. 826:Philip French, 825: 821: 817:, January 2007. 811:Wayback Machine 802: 795: 786: 775: 761:Philip French, 760: 756: 744: 743: 739: 729: 710: 699: 689: 687: 678: 677: 673: 663: 661: 651: 640: 635: 555:Faber and Faber 492: 464:John Mulholland 438: 413: 357: 327: 248:Sight and Sound 193: 157: 113: 107:Alma mater 92: 91:London, England 89: 85: 84:27 October 2015 76: 70: 64: 62: 61: 60: 50: 38: 33: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1341: 1331: 1330: 1325: 1320: 1315: 1310: 1305: 1300: 1295: 1290: 1285: 1280: 1275: 1270: 1265: 1260: 1255: 1250: 1236: 1235: 1225: 1214: 1204: 1193: 1192:External links 1190: 1187: 1186: 1157: 1129: 1107: 1079: 1067:Liverpool Echo 1053: 1025: 999: 968: 949: 923: 903: 892:Roll of Honour 878: 857: 838: 819: 793: 773: 754: 737: 697: 671: 637: 636: 634: 631: 630: 629: 619:Carcanet Press 611: 593: 583:Pavilion Books 575: 565:BFI Publishing 557: 551:Malle on Malle 547: 537:Carcanet Press 529: 511: 491: 488: 437: 434: 421:Dartmouth Park 412: 409: 365:British cinema 356: 353: 293:Stephen Hearst 281:Critics' Forum 231:David Robinson 192: 189: 150: 149: 146: 142: 141: 138: 134: 133: 130: 126: 125: 122: 118: 117: 108: 104: 103: 98: 94: 93: 90: 88:(aged 82) 82: 78: 77: 71: 69:28 August 1933 58: 56: 52: 51: 49:French in 2013 48: 40: 39: 34: 31: 21:Phillip French 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1340: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1319: 1316: 1314: 1311: 1309: 1306: 1304: 1301: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1286: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1276: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1251: 1249: 1246: 1245: 1243: 1233: 1229: 1228:Philip French 1226: 1224: 1223: 1218: 1217:Philip French 1215: 1212: 1208: 1205: 1203: 1199: 1198:Philip French 1196: 1195: 1175: 1171: 1164: 1162: 1146: 1145: 1140: 1133: 1117: 1111: 1096: 1095: 1090: 1083: 1068: 1064: 1057: 1042: 1041: 1040:New Statesman 1036: 1029: 1013: 1009: 1003: 987: 986: 981: 975: 973: 966:, 5 May 2013. 965: 964: 959: 953: 938: 934: 927: 919: 918: 913: 907: 900: 896: 893: 889: 888: 887:Press Gazette 882: 875: 874:0-7538-0250-3 871: 867: 861: 854: 853: 848: 842: 835: 834: 829: 823: 816: 812: 808: 805: 800: 798: 790: 784: 782: 780: 778: 770: 769: 764: 758: 750: 749: 745:"Birthdays". 741: 733: 725: 721: 717: 716: 708: 706: 704: 702: 685: 681: 680:"Index entry" 675: 660: 656: 649: 647: 645: 643: 638: 628: 624: 620: 616: 612: 610: 606: 602: 598: 594: 592: 588: 584: 580: 576: 574: 570: 566: 562: 558: 556: 552: 548: 546: 542: 538: 534: 530: 528: 524: 520: 516: 512: 510: 506: 502: 498: 494: 493: 487: 485: 481: 480: 472: 467: 465: 461: 456: 454: 447: 442: 433: 431: 430: 424: 422: 418: 411:Personal life 408: 406: 402: 401: 396: 392: 388: 384: 383: 382:Self-Portrait 378: 374: 370: 366: 362: 352: 350: 345: 343: 338: 336: 335: 326: 325: 320: 316: 313:(OBE) in the 312: 308: 305: 300: 298: 294: 290: 286: 282: 278: 274: 269: 264: 262: 258: 254: 250: 249: 244: 243: 238: 237: 232: 228: 227: 226:New Statesman 222: 221: 215: 213: 209: 205: 202: 198: 188: 186: 182: 178: 173: 171: 170: 165: 160: 156: 147: 143: 139: 135: 131: 127: 123: 119: 116: 112: 109: 105: 102: 99: 95: 83: 79: 74: 57: 53: 46: 41: 37: 32:Philip French 29: 26: 22: 1222:The Observer 1220: 1177:. Retrieved 1174:The Guardian 1173: 1148:. Retrieved 1142: 1132: 1120:. Retrieved 1110: 1098:. Retrieved 1094:The Observer 1092: 1082: 1070:. Retrieved 1066: 1056: 1044:. Retrieved 1038: 1028: 1016:. Retrieved 1011: 1002: 990:. Retrieved 983: 963:The Observer 961: 952: 940:. Retrieved 937:The Guardian 936: 926: 915: 906: 885: 881: 865: 860: 852:The Observer 850: 841: 833:The Observer 831: 822: 814: 788: 768:The Observer 766: 757: 748:The Guardian 746: 740: 713: 690:22 September 688:. Retrieved 683: 674: 662:. Retrieved 659:The Guardian 658: 614: 596: 578: 560: 550: 532: 519:Viking Press 514: 496: 484:The Observer 483: 477: 474: 469: 460:The Observer 459: 457: 450: 427: 425: 417:Nicci French 414: 398: 394: 380: 358: 346: 342:The Observer 341: 339: 332: 324:The Guardian 322: 306: 301: 297:Howard Newby 289:The Observer 288: 280: 272: 265: 260: 256: 252: 246: 242:The Observer 240: 234: 224: 218: 216: 201:direct grant 194: 185:Mark Kermode 180: 174: 169:The Observer 167: 154: 153: 140:Kersti Molin 86:(2015-10-27) 25: 1253:2015 deaths 1248:1933 births 912:"No. 60367" 579:Cult Movies 387:John Lennon 369:Post Office 337:in 1953'." 285:BBC Radio 3 273:The Critics 261:Cult Movies 255:(1969) and 124:Film critic 1242:Categories 1179:31 October 1150:18 January 1122:30 October 1072:31 October 1046:30 October 1018:30 October 1012:The Herald 992:31 October 942:28 October 876:), p. 324. 734:required.) 664:27 October 633:References 197:Birkenhead 183:successor 121:Occupation 73:Birkenhead 65:1933-08-28 373:philately 268:BBC Radio 236:The Times 191:Biography 164:BBC Radio 132:1957–2013 97:Education 75:, England 1100:17 April 895:Archived 807:Archived 553:, (ed.) 549:1993, 535:, (ed.) 377:Yoko Ono 367:and the 257:Westerns 206:then at 181:Observer 145:Children 684:FreeBMD 462:editor 405:stammer 391:B-movie 275:on the 872:  728: 625:  613:2011, 607:  595:2008, 589:  577:1999, 571:  559:1995, 543:  531:1980, 525:  513:1974, 507:  495:1969, 137:Spouse 1211:BAFTA 686:. ONS 490:Works 436:Death 379:film 355:Style 328:' 1202:IMDb 1181:2015 1152:2021 1124:2015 1102:2015 1074:2015 1048:2015 1020:2015 994:2015 944:2015 870:ISBN 692:2024 666:2015 623:ISBN 605:ISBN 587:ISBN 569:ISBN 541:ISBN 523:ISBN 505:ISBN 361:puns 81:Died 55:Born 1230:at 1219:at 1200:at 720:doi 283:on 233:at 159:OBE 36:OBE 1244:: 1209:, 1172:. 1160:^ 1141:. 1091:. 1065:. 1037:. 1010:. 982:. 971:^ 960:, 935:. 914:. 890:, 849:, 830:, 813:, 796:^ 776:^ 765:, 700:^ 682:. 657:. 641:^ 621:, 617:, 603:, 585:, 567:, 539:, 521:, 517:, 503:, 499:, 486:. 455:. 423:. 407:. 351:. 321:, 299:. 1183:. 1154:. 1126:. 1104:. 1076:. 1050:. 1022:. 996:. 946:. 726:. 722:: 694:. 668:. 148:3 67:) 63:( 23:.

Index

Phillip French
OBE

Birkenhead
Bristol Grammar School
Exeter College, Oxford
Indiana University Bloomington
OBE
BBC Radio
The Observer
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mark Kermode
Birkenhead
direct grant
Bristol Grammar School
Exeter College, Oxford
Indiana University Bloomington
Bristol Evening Post
New Statesman
David Robinson
The Times
The Observer
Sight and Sound
BBC Radio
BBC Home Service
BBC Radio 3
Stephen Hearst
Howard Newby
British Press Awards
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

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