English cinematographer, screenwriter and director.
The first British director photography to win an Academy Award (for Great Expectations, 1948) and co-founder of the British Society of Cinematographers, Guy Green's career in the film industry started immediately after leaving school. His first position was as an assistant projectionist with the Commercial Maritime Film Service. He later opened a photographic studio in London and worked as a camera assistant/clapper boy for Sound City (an advertising agency that also made movies). He was eventually hired by Elstree Studios as a camera assistant, and he progressed through to camera operator. In this position he worked on such films as In Which We Serve (co-directed by Noel Coward and David Lean). He later worked on several Lean films (including Great Expectations and Oliver Twist) and eventually moved into the role of director.
While directing two early pictures, House of Secrets (1956) and Sea of Sand (1960), Green became associated with actors Richard Attenborough and Michael Craig. They soon afterwards made The Angry Silence (1960). It was Britain's first entry at the Berlin Film Festival (and won the International Critic's Award) and helped make Green, Attenborough and Craig internationally famous.
Green followed The Angry Silence with The Mark (1961, starring Rod Steiger). It was critically applauded both in the United States and Europe and received the Samuel Goldwyn International Award among other accolades. Green's first Hollywood film was Light in the Piazza (1962). Later films included: Diamond Head (1963); the much acclaimed Patch of Blue (q.v., 1965), which he adapted as a screenplay from Elizabeth Kata's novel Be Ready with Drums and Bells (q.v.); Luther (1973) and an adaptation of Jacqueline Susann's Once is Not Enough (1974). In addition to his film career Green has also directed a number of well-received made-for-television movies in the USA.
