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Peter Graham Scott at the Hammer at Bray III
event, Bray Studios, August 4, 2007.
image © Robert JE Simpson 2007.
All rights reserved |
We're
saddened to have to report the sudden death of director
Peter Graham Scott, director of Hammer fan-favourite
Captain Clegg.
Scott was
born on 27 October 1923 in East Sheen, and embarked on a
lengthy film and television career following an early
experience with Hitchcock. Following lessons at the
Italia Conti acting school, he had a two-line part in
Hitchcock's Young and Innocent (1937) which
opened his eyes to the power of the director's role.
He worked
his way through the ranks after the war, from editor on
the likes of Brighton Rock (1947) through
writing, producing and directing. His credits include
episodes of London Playhouse, Sir Francis
Drake, The Avengers, Dangerman, and
the cult children's science fiction series Children
of The Stones.
In
September 1961, Scott was brought on board to direct
Hammer's swashbuckling adventure The Curse of Captain
Clegg - an adaptation of Russell Thorndike's Dr.
Syn novels. The resulting film, Captain Clegg
(retitled Night Creatures in the US) was an
enthralling adventure, filled with smugglers and
skulduggery. Scott's sequences of the ghost riders on
Romney Marsh standing out as a visual highlight of the
film.
Captain
Clegg may have been his sole Hammer credit, but it
was one which the fans never let him forget. Scott was a
guest at the Hammer at Bray III event at Bray Studios on
Saturday 4th August 2007, amiably chatting to fans about
his work on the lawn outside the studio. According to
his daughter, who accompanied him to the event, he
enjoyed the day and the attention.
Sadly
Peter Graham Scott died the following day, on the morning
pf 5 August, 2007. Our thoughts are with his family at
this time. |
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