Nicolas Roeg

Nicholas (Jack) Roeg (b. 15/08/1928) is an English cinematographer and one of Britain's most adventurous film directors. As a cinematographer, his inventive style first attracted critical attention on films such as Roger Corman's "The Masque Of The Red Death" (1964), Francois Truffaut's "Fahrenheit 451" (1965) and Richard Lester's "Petulia" (1968).

He moved into direction in 1968, paired with the painter and writer Donald Cammell, on "Performance" starring Mick Jagger and James Fox. However, the subject matter and overall tone of the film led to Warner Bros. executives delaying the film's release by over two years.

This, and his other pictures ,are renowned for their use of the "cut-up technique", a device more commonly used by the writers William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin. Often Roeg may photograph his tales in disconnected, disorganized, almost incoherent ways that will only make sense as the film draws to a close and a vital piece of information comes to light. This formula, along with Roeg's uniquely premonitory sense of atmosphere, is what makes Roeg's work stand out, both in comparison to, but also as a twisted contrast to, other filmmakers' efforts.

The finally-released, and much-lauded, "Performance" found Roeg in Australia on the set of his solo debut, "Walkabout" (1970), but his biggest success came three years after with "Don't Look Now" (1973), a bizarre supernatural story by Daphne Du Maurier and starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie.

However, at the top of his game with acclaim and kudos lumped on him equally and liberally, his subsequent films have been uneven. "The Man Who Fell To Earth" (1976) followed, starring David Bowie , using the star's weirdness very cleverly when he was cast as an unhappy alien. But around about three-quarters of the way through the films not inconsiderable 133 minutes, things begin to lose direction and the denouement is for the film to peter out rather than having its loose ends tied neatly

Controversy struck again with "Bad Timing" (1980) starring Art Garfunkel and star of several subsequent films, and second-wife, Theresa Russell. This frank depiction of cruelty and sexual perversion upset the Rank organisation so much that they preferred to lose their initial, fairly substantial investment rather than show the film in its cinemas.

And a similar fate befell 1982's "Eureka!", starring Gene Hackman. MGM argued that Roeg had not delivered the film he had originally promised, and its expected wide release was quartered.

Roeg's next films include "Insignificance" (1985), with Tony Curtis, "Castaway" (1986), with Oliver Reed, and his final mainstream movie was an adaptation of Roald Dahl's "The Witches" (1989), starring Anjelica Huston.

His later films seem to possess a more limited appeal, and have been met with a colder reception by the public."Track 29" (1988) taken from a Dennis Potter story and originally intended for that other cinematic auteur, Joseph Losey, was followed by a disappointing adaptation of Brian Moore's "Cold Heaven" (1992), and the truly oppressive, almost depressing tale of romantic obsession, "Two Deaths" (1995); his subsequent features were made for cable TV.

Roeg's decline, though regrettable, has not affected the earlier works' potency, and have done his reputation no ill whatsoever. Indeed, his career has given inspiration to a whole new generation of cineastes and film-makers.

Roeg has been married three times; to Susan Stephen (1957-1977, 4 children); Theresa Russell (1982 - ?, 2 children); and currently to Harriet Harper (2004 onwards). He lives in London.


What members say | Filmography

Nicolas Roeg - what members say

Nicolas Roeg - filmography

5 most recent films

Puffball - 2.0 stars
Bible, The - Samson And Delilah - 3.0 stars
Two Deaths - 2.5 stars
Sweet Bird Of Youth - 2.0 stars
The Witches - 3.5 stars

5 highest-rated films

The Witches - 3.5 stars
Walkabout - 3.5 stars
Performance - 3.5 stars
Don't Look Now - 3.0 stars
The Man Who Fell To Earth - 3.0 stars

5 lowest-rated films

Sweet Bird Of Youth - 2.0 stars
Two Deaths - 2.5 stars
Insignificance - 3.0 stars
Puffball - 2.0 stars
Eureka - 2.5 stars

Most frequent co-stars

Theresa Russell - 4 times - show films
Michael Gambon - 2 times - show films
Harvey Keitel - 2 times - show films
Seymour Cassel - 2 times - show films
Art Garfunkel - 2 times - show films

Most frequent directors

Donald Cammell - 1 times - show films