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A loose cannon - a rebel - a maverick - a madman - All these labels have been applied to one of the most prolific film directors in England. This Maverick of mavericks is a talent that has made 22 English feature films, in spite of no support whatever from the British Film Industry and being forced into the film wilderness for 25 years.
A loose cannon - a rebel - a maverick - a madman - All these labels have been applied to one of the most prolific film directors in England. This Maverick of mavericks is a talent that has made 22 English feature films, in spite of no support whatever from the British Film Industry and being forced into the film wilderness for 25 years.
Biography
Lindsay Shonteff was born in Toronto, Ontario and made his directing, producing, editing and screenwriting debut in 1961 with a Canadian made Western (genre) film The Hired Gun/The Last Gunfighter. After the film's release, Shonteff went to England following his friend Sidney J. Furie. Shonteff's English debut was Devil Doll (film) in 1964. This film led to interest from Columbia Pictures but Shonteff walked out of a five picture contract over a disagreement to do with screen tests.
In 1965 Shonteff co-wrote and directed a James Bond type film for producer S.J.H. "James" Ward Licensed to Kill (1965 film) with Tom Adams (actor) as agent Charles Vine. The film was picked up for American and international release by Joseph E. Levine; re-edited and retitled The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World with a new title song performed by Sammy Davis Jr. Reportedly Shonteff was offered a contract by 20th Century Fox but disagreed on conditions. Adams reprised Charles Vine in two more films without his Mauser C96 or Shonteff though Shonteff collaborated again with producer James Ward in Run With the Wind with Francesca Annis in 1966.
With the publicity battle between the rival James Bonds of Albert R. Broccoli's The Spy Who Loved Me (film) and Kevin McClory's projected James Bond of the Secret Service in 1976, Shonteff returned to the secret agent fold with his superspy now calling himself Charles Bind in Number One Of The Secret Service (with Nicky Henson) that was originally titled 008 of the Secret Service, Licensed to Love and Kill (with Gareth Hunt) (1979) and Michael Howe in Number One Gun (1990). All were produced by Shonteff's wife Elizabeth Gray who previously was a production supervisor on many of Shonteff's films. Shonteff also directed Len Deighton's Spy Story in 1976 and filmed How Sleep the Brave a Vietnam war film in England in 1981.
Shonteff died on the last day of production of his final film Angels, Devils, and Men.
‘2AM’ Radio Interview
Recorded not long before he passed away, Shonteff talks about the industry and his film career in this exculsive interview.
Recorded not long before he passed away, Shonteff talks about the industry and his film career in this exculsive interview.
Purchase full interview for only 99p.