Sidney Gilliat, a renowned English director, screenwriter, and producer, was born on February 15, 1908, in Edgely, Cheshire, England. His career in screenwriting commenced during the silent movie era, where he wrote inter-titles for films such as Honeymoon Abroad (1928),Champagne (1928),and Week-End Wives (1929),although his contributions went uncredited.
Gilliat's first collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock took place on The Manxman (1929),where he provided uncredited research. A decade later, he would contribute to the dialogue of Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn (1939). As his career progressed, he began to receive credited screenwriting roles in the 1930s, with A Gentleman of Paris (1931) being one of his notable works.
Sidney Gilliat partnered with Frank Launder, with whom he shared a long-standing working relationship. Their partnership began uncredited on The Greenwood Tree (1929),and they went on to write, direct, and produce nearly 40 films together, starting with their first credited collaboration, Facing the Music (1933),and concluding with The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966),which they also co-directed. For Hitchcock, they co-wrote the classic The Lady Vanishes (1938). They also wrote Night Train to Munich (1940) for Carol Reed.
The duo's most notable collaboration was the St. Trinian's film series, which includes The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954),directed by Launder and featuring a standout performance by Alastair Sim. Sim also starred in their The Green Man (1956),which earned them their second consecutive Best British Screenplay nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Sidney Gilliat passed away on May 31, 1994, in Wiltshire, England, at the age of 86.
