Director John Schlesinger to speak about his career

October 10, 1986

Media contact: Ruth Baily, University Events Office, 534-4090, or Alixandra Williams, Public Information Office, 534-3120

John Schlesinger, the Academy Award-winning director of such films as "Midnight Cowboy," and "The Falcon and the Snowman," will talk about his career at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in Mandeville Auditorium at the University of California, San Diego.

Schlesinger's appearance, which is sponsored by the UCSD University Events Office's Speakers Forum, will include film clips from many of his most popular films.

Prior to making the Oscar-winning film "Midnight Cowboy" in 1968, Schlesinger's career was already riding a crest in Britain with the success of the films "A Kind of Loving" (1962, Golden Bear Award-Berlin Film Festival), "Billy Liar" (1963), and "Darling" (1965, New York Critics award), which catapulted actress Julie Christie to fame.

Schlesinger's early experience as an actor has proved helpful to him in directing dialogue scenes. Christie won an Academy Award for her role in "Darling," and Dustin Hoffman and John Voight made cinema history in "Midnight Cowboy."

"Marathon Man" (1968), again starring Dustin Hoffman, won Schlesinger an Academy Award for directing, while also winning Best Film of 1968. In 1983, Schlesinger directed "An Englishman Abroad," which featured Alan Bates. The film charmed critics and viewers alike, winning several British Academy awards. Schlesinger has also directed seven plays and two operas: "Les Contes d'Hoffman" and "Der Rosenkavalier."

Schlesinger was decorated commander, Order of the British Empire in 1970 and, in 1981, he was made Honorary Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Since 1973, Schlesinger has been associate director of the National Theatre, London.

Tickets for John Schlesinger's lecture are available from the UCSD Box Office and from TicketMaster outlets. General admission is $8, seniors, $7, and students, $5. For more information call 534-4559.

(October 10, 1986)