Michael Winner

Known for Directing

10/30/1935

London, England, UK

Biography

Michael Robert Winner was a British film director, producer and food critic. He is perhaps best known for directing several movies starring Charles Bronson, including three of the five Death Wish films.

Known For (26 credits)

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

7.8

Movie

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

2020

With his grizzled moustache and chiselled features, Charles Bronson is the embodiment of a slightly archaic, brooding and almost reactionary virility. But who is he really? Often hired to play marginalised Native American or Mexican characters before he was typecast as the image of a lone killer, Bronson was a major figure in the popular cinema of the 1960s and 70s and his stony-faced, physical acting and career are worthy of a second look.

7.0

Movie

Dear Censor…: The Secret Archive of the British Board of Film Classification

2011

Lifting the lid on the world of cinema censorship, this programme has unique access to the files of the British Board of Film Classification. Featuring explicit and detailed exchanges between the censor and film-makers, 'Dear Censor' casts a wry eye over some of the most infamous cases in the history of the board. From the now seemingly innocuous Rebel Without a Cause, the first 'naturist' films and the infamous works of Ken Russell, and up to Rambo III, this frank and surprisingly warm documentary demonstrates how a body created by the industry to safeguard standards and reflect shifts in public opinion has also worked unexpectedly closely with the film-makers themselves to ensure that their work was able reach an audience.

6.1

Movie

Burke & Hare

2010

Two 19th-century opportunists become serial killers so that they can maintain their profitable business supplying cadavers to an anatomist.

5.9

Kate Garraway's Life Stories

2009

Celebrities open up to Kate Garraway in intimate and moving interviews.

Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the 80s

7.0

Movie

Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the 80s

2007

Looking back to the 1980's at the celebrities in the press and on television for all the wrong reasons doing all the wrong things. It doesn't matter whether what they did was embarrassing, stupid, ridiculous, career ruining (or sometimes boosting), dangerous or illegal, they were all caught and filmed or photographed, and we will never forget them. Narrated by Isla Blair, with contributions by Simon Donald, Russell Grant, Christine Hamilton, Lauren Harries (also as James Harries), James King, and Michael Winner. These moments included It's a Royal Knockout, Rob Lowe's sex tape, Boy George's heroin problems, Drew Barrymore's childhood meltdown (including taking drugs at a very young age), the many mistakes at The Brits 1989 and many more. Good!

Movie

Who Got Diana Dors's Millions?

2003

British cinema's original sex symbol, Diana Dors, left her £2 million fortune in various bank accounts, their details and locations revealed by an apparently uncrackable cipher. In this documentary, everyone from her son Jason Dors Lake to the legendary code-breakers of Bletchley Park try to solve the mystery.

5.4

Fifth Gear

2002

Getting viewers up to speed on all the latest automotive information, with new car reviews, second hand bargains and industry tidbits being the focus of this magazine show.

Movie

The Real Oliver Reed

2000

A documentary portrait about the life and times of the infamous hellraiser, who died in May 1999, having starred in more than 100 films.

7.5

Brass Eye

1997

Investigative reporter Chris Morris puts modern Britain under the spotlight, and smacks the issues of the day till they bleed. He tackles weighty issues including animals, drugs, sex and skewered celebrities and politicians alike - and in a later episode in 2001, paedophiles.

6.4

The Mrs Merton Show

1995

The Mrs Merton Show is a mock chat show starring Caroline Aherne as the elderly host Mrs Merton. It ran from 10 February 1995 to 2 April 1998 and was produced by Granada Television and aired on the BBC. The writers included Aherne, Craig Cash, Dave Gorman and Henry Normal. Prior to TV success, Aherne's Mrs Merton character appeared on Frank Sidebottom's album "5/9/88", then made her TV debut on the 1991 Channel 4 gameshow Remote Control, hosted by Anthony H Wilson. The chat show was followed up by a sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm, based on Mrs Merton and her son Malcolm, who was played by Craig Cash.

6.3

Room 101

1994

Fast-moving game show meets talk show, which sees Frank Skinner refereeing three celebrities each week as they compete to banish their top peeve or worst nightmare to the depths of Room 101.

7.0

Movie

Calliope

1994

A writer begins to discover that his femme fatale character has come to life in the real world.