A website that celebrates the Life and Films of David Watkin
Designed and edited by David Watkin’s friends: designer Rachael Adams and historian Dr Chris Mullen.
It is a few years since David Watkin died in Brighton. His house is now sold to the Chichester Diocese, his Library and personal papers dispersed, and unfortunately, stocks of both volumes of autobiography destroyed.
But his reputation as a wit, scholar and craftsman have not diminished.
This website will further include
• visual and documentary material it was not possible to publish before;
• correspondence with friends, lovers and sparring partners;
• interviews not previously seen;
• unpublished autobiographical writings.
To mark this departure we will make available rare copies of ‘Why is There Only one Word for Thesaurus?’ and ‘Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag?’.
The edition of Thesaurus will be limited to 50 copies (£75.00 per copy)
and that of Clara Schumann to 200 copies (£50.00 per copy)
Each will contain a certificate of authenticity and a short illustrated account of their writing by Rachael Adams and Chris Mullen who saw both volumes through to production before their author’s death.
Further details shortly on this website.
DW ARCHIVE
David asked Rachael to help him archive his letters, photographs and career memorabilia during his last few weeks. The following list (a first draft) was made in order to prepare for the purpose of including these items on his site. Unfortunately after his death the archive was destroyed.
PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS:
#001
Tram, Historical Mews, Paul Mathias, Irene Joyce, Duncan Lustig-Prean’s Ship/Commissioning Ceremony
#002
Negatives (large format) Marine Location, Tony Richardson on ‘Charge’, Six-Sided Triangle on set with Christopher Miles, Roger Burridge drawing, Andrew Wyeth portrait, Mark Neikrug, Don Bachardy (1983), Set photographs, Location photography, snapshot of Dick Lester on set, Mademoiselle, cutting of Terence Donovan
#003
Early documentary location photography (Barry Coward), Tom Heritage (1958), British Transport Films, Crown Film Unit (late 1940’s – late1950’s)
#004
Set and location photography (late 1980’s – late 1990’s) + Mews Interiors
#005
Photographs ordered by DW in plastic sleeves: Positano, Cindy, Tea with Mussolini, Kay Mander, Last picture in Prague, Protest, 6 Sussex Mews, Misc., Margate
#006
Thesaurus & Camerimage Lodz – book illustrations and photographs
FILM MEMORABILIA:
CHARIOTS OF FIRE:
Promotional A3 brochure, 1980 – B&W and Colour
Large format film stills
CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE:
Photostats of original script pages
TRADE MAGAZINES:
Eyepiece: June/July 1998 – Review of ‘Thesaurus’
Eyepiece: Oct/Nov 1992 – Article ‘Long Live Brutes’ by DW
Eyepiece: June/July 1994 – Article by Charles Hewitt about DW
British Cinematographer: Nov 2004 – All Time Greats, DW, page 26/27 + guide to Lodz + Advert
PORTFOLIO (A4):
Southern Region and British Transport + Crown Film Unit
Photostat: tribute to Humphrey Jennings
Photocopies & Misc. Clippings
Negative film register
NFT programmes
BTF Catalogue 1984
LOOSE MATERIAL:
Photostat article by Sidney Samuelson 1997 for BFI 50th anniversary, subject: Newton Sinclair Camera
Large Format Photographs:
Colour, 1994, by Steve [Wrench?]
DW in Courtyard, No.6 Sussex Mews
DW on chaise longue, Music Room, beneath No.8 Sussex Mews
DW wearing his parker coat, by Frank Paulin, 1997
Courtyard fountain, by Yiorgos Nikiteas
The Wendy Light [Elstree Film & Lighting]
Memphis Belle/DW on set, by David Appleby
Return to Oz – publicity shots
Snapshot of DW and his dog, Longuicher
TR & Vaness Redgrave on set
Woman with typewrite & horse
Same woman with typewriter, on beach
Same woman with typewriter, on bombsite
DW and Nick Hand at Bodium Castle
A4 BOX FILE:
CHARIOTS OF FIRE:
NY Film Critics Award, Clippings, Call Sheet, Royal Film Performance, Misc. Clippings, cards etc
OUT OF AFRICA:
Clippings & tear sheets, Press cuttings (inc. Argus), Posters, Congratulatory Telegrams, letters, cards, BAFTA awards x2
FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI
Misc. Clippings, Postcards
MISCELLANEOUS:
Yentl Premiere, John Taylor Obituary, Memphis Belle Clipping, Michael Sundin, Night Falls on Manhattan, British Oscars booklet, Obsession [1996-97], TRhis Boy’s Life, Cenerentola
A4 GREEN WALLETS:
Misc. digital photographs inc. trip to Auschwitz (2004)
TONY RICHARDSON MATERIAL:
A tribute to TR (booklet, civic tribute brochure) 1996 – includes DW’s tribute (anecdote about rabies)
TR’s speech at Sardi’s [restaurant] – loose index cards
Vanity Fair tear sheets re: TR’s death
TR’s obituary [The Times]
Obituary by Peter Burton
Times article on TR [16.11.91] + John Guilgud snippet
Cutting: ‘Death of a master of cinema’
Photostat of ‘Sight & Sound’ article 1992: TR & Charge of the Light Brigade
Large format photograph: TR with parrots in LA – signed by photographer
AWARDS:
1991: The Guild of British Camera Technicians – Honorary Member Certificate
1982: D&AD Silver Award – Most Outstanding 60 second Commercial
1982: D&AD Silver Award – Most Outstanding Direction
1965: D&AD Gold Certificate for Feature Film Titles – Goldfinger [Robert Brownjohn]
Undated: BAFTA – Nominated for Chariots of Fire
1996: BSC – Honorary Full Member
1965: CST – (Francais) Special mention at Cannes – The Knack
1963: Vision Award Winner for Studio Photography commercial ‘A is for Apple’ [Cammell-Hudson Associates Ltd]
1981: NY Film Critics Circle – Best Cinematographer for Chariots of Fire
1985: NY Film Critics Circle – Best Cinematography for Out of Africa
SCRIPTS:
Café Capri: by Roman Voytek
David’s estate was left to one of his companions, Nicky Hand.
I am a cinematographer specializing in aerial work.
I indirectly worked with David Watkin on Masquerade. I have always admired him and his work. I have a copy of Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag and would like to purchase a copy of Thesaurus.
Please advise the best way to go about this.
Thank you,
Brian Heller