Happy 90th Birthday, Lord Attenborough!


We salute this special birthday of one of the greats of British cinema, both in front and behind the camera, with a mere sniff at his work - nine of his most memorable films, one for each decade... what did we miss?





  • Brighton Rock (1947)


    Richard Attennborough is the embodiment of squeaky-clean evil as gangster Pinkie in this black and white version of Graham Greene's classic novel.




  • Dr Dolitte (1967)


    Attenborough starred as Albert Blossom opposite Rex Harrison in this fairytale of a vet who can, quite literally, talk to the animals.




  • 10 Rillington Place (1971)


    John Christie is an unassuming, middle aged man who, along with his wife Ethel, manages the apartment building at 10 Rillington Place. His unassuming demeanour masks his hidden predilections.




  • Gandhi (1982)


    Richard Attenborough's finest, largest hour, when he went behind the camera to bring to the screen the story of India's revolutionary pacifist. Attenborough won an Oscar, as did lead Ben Kingsley.




  • Cry Freedom (1987)


    Another directing tour de force, this time telling the story of journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline), forced to flee South Africa after the murder of activist Steve Biko (Denzel Washington).




  • Chaplin (1992)


    Attenborough was arguably the first director to bring Robert Downey Jr's true talents to the fore, with his engrossing depiction of the comedian's early days in Victorian England.




  • Shadowlands (1993)


    Another true-life story brought to the screen - this one, the romantic but tragic tale of writer C.S. Lewis and his disarming American wife. Not a dry eye in the house for this one.




  • Jurassic Park (1993)


    The same year saw Attenborough back in front of the camera, in the capable hands of Steven Spielberg, for his dinosaur blockbuster. Attenborough made millions more fans as the obsessed scientist John Hammond.




  • Miracle on 34th Street (1994)


    A Christmas feel-gooder for all the family. Attenborough played Kris Kingle... or Santa Claus, if you believe in fairy tales. Perfect casting.