David Leland, the writer and director who passed away at the age of 82, was known for his grittiness and compassion. He wrote several uncompromising films that kickstarted the careers of Cathy Tyson, Emily Lloyd, and Tim Roth. Leland’s writing had a distinctly British flavor, but it avoided being too narrow-minded, making it widely relatable.
In 1986, Leland wrote a rough version of Mona Lisa, a crime story that delves into the dynamic between a prostitute (played by Tyson) and her chauffeur (Bob Hoskins). This initial draft was more gritty and brutal than the final version of the film. Leland collaborated with Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan to develop the screenplay.
He also wrote Personal Services and Wish You Were Here (both 1987), a pair of breezy comedy-dramas inspired by the life of Cynthia Payne, who famously handed out luncheon vouchers as tokens to be used for sexual favours at the brothel she ran from her suburban home in south London.
Leland spent a considerable amount of time interviewing Payne while sharing poached eggs and tea, but his retellings were not entirely accurate. He believed that real-life experiences do not translate well into films, so he instead used the details he gathered to create a new and unique story. His hard work and creativity earned him the Peter Sellers award for comedy from the Evening Standard.
Terry Jones, part of the Monty Python group, directed Personal Services which centers on the actions that led to Payne’s infamy and a half-year imprisonment. Julie Walters portrays Christine Painter, who hosts sexual gatherings attended by respected figures such as priests, politicians, and lawyers, and even includes her own father in the aging customer base. Derek Malcolm from the Guardian noticed “a subtle bitterness that makes it a highly effective commentary on society.” Pauline Kael from the New Yorker praised the film’s “spirited and comical energy.”
She also admired Wish You Were Here, which was inspired by Payne’s own experiences as a motherless teenager on the south coast of England after World War II. Kael praised the film for its satirical and dreamlike feel. In his directorial debut, Leland brought out a captivating performance from 16-year-old Lloyd as the rebellious Lynda, known for her catchphrase, “Up yer bum!” Similar to Personal Services, this film presented a sane and empathetic portrayal of non-conformity – a common theme in Leland’s work.
Leland utilized the same method in his film Made in Britain (1983), featuring 21-year-old Roth as Trevor, a wild skinhead with a burning passion and a swastika on his forehead. The film was helmed by director Alan Clarke, who had previously worked with Leland on Beloved Enemy, a story about a British-Soviet trade agreement, and Psy-Warriors (both 1981), adapted from Leland’s own play about government-sanctioned psychological torment.
Made in Britain was the last of his quartet of television films on the theme of education, which were broadcast over consecutive Sundays in June and July 1983, and known subsequently as Tales Out of School. Preceding it were Birth of a Nation, directed by Mike Newell, with Jim Broadbent as an unconventional new teacher at a comprehensive school; Flying Into the Wind, about parents prosecuted for home-schooling their children; and RHINO (Really Here in Name Only), a study of a female truant.
Although the films received widespread praise, they also faced criticism. The Telegraph drew a comparison between Birth of a Nation and the 1955 American film Blackboard Jungle, expressing concern that Leland may have favored the “jungle” over the “blackboard”.
Margaret Matheson, the head of drama at Central Television, had given him complete freedom to mold the films according to his own vision. When he expressed concern about the use of profanity by the children in the film, she reassured him by saying, “Your responsibility is to write it, mine is to make it happen.”
The captivating energy of Made in Britain, filmed with a smooth, prowling Steadicam, captured the audience’s interest. Roth’s sharp intellect in his performance also drew attention. However, it would have lacked depth without Leland’s thoughtful writing, which portrayed Trevor as a result of a flawed system unable to recognize his merits. Made in Britain received the Prix Italia award. Leland described the film as “so unfamiliar that it made people want to check behind the set to make sure it was connected properly; in other words: ‘How did this end up on our screens?'”
He was asked about creating a follow-up story about Trevor’s future. During the Thatcher era, the author speculated that Trevor may have been employed in the City, possibly as one of the wealthy individuals who would order expensive champagne in a bar after a successful business deal.
David was born in Cambridge to Doris (formerly known as Francis) and Jack Leland. He grew up in the nearby village of Waterbeach on the outskirts of the Fens. Unfortunately, his education at Soham grammar school was not satisfactory. In 1983, he stated, “I had a major disadvantage because of the school I attended. When I left at 15 without any qualifications, it was assumed that I was incapable of achieving anything.”
He started his career as a trainee electrician at his dad’s electrical business. Disliking it almost as much as school, he befriended students at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology and joined them, taking up English literature courses part-time and joining the drama club. He received training in London at the Central School of Speech and Drama and later at the Drama Centre before pursuing acting as a profession. Among his many TV roles, he appeared in a 1971 miniseries based on The Last of the Mohicans.
Following his transition into directing, he took on the role of resident director at the Sheffield Crucible. In 1975, he enlisted the talents of Jones and fellow Monty Python member, Michael Palin, to write a collection of short plays titled “Their Finest Hours.” He also oversaw the creation and direction of Victoria Wood’s debut play, “Talent,” after being impressed by the plot she hastily scribbled on an envelope and delivered to him.
After spending three years at the Crucible, Leland relocated to London. He served as co-director for Tennessee Williams’s play The Red Devil Battery Sign, featuring Pierce Brosnan, at the Roundhouse before spending a few years at the Royal Court.
In 1991, he was in charge of the production of the stage performance A Tribute to the Blues Brothers. He also worked on music-related projects such as creating videos for the Traveling Wilburys, a super-group composed of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. Additionally, he directed Concert for George (2003), a movie documenting the tribute concert held at the Royal Albert Hall to commemorate the first anniversary of Harrison’s passing.
One of the movies he directed was The Big Man (1990), with Liam Neeson playing a bareknuckle boxer and Billy Connolly as his coach. He also directed The Land Girls (1998), a story about farming volunteers during wartime that was written by Leland and starred Rachel Weisz. He worked with Roth again on Virgin Territory (2007), a comedy based on Boccaccio’s Decameron.
He received an Emmy award for his direction of an episode in the 2001 World War II series Band of Brothers, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Additionally, he was the show’s runner, writer, and director for episodes of the vibrant historical drama The Borgias (2012), collaborating once again with Jordan.
After he started writing, acting became a rare occurrence in his life. However, there were a few exceptions, such as his small role as Danielle in Personal Services where he played a shy party guest wearing an ordinary dress.
His most impressive moment was in the 1979 installment of Palin and Jones’s show “Ripping Yarns” titled “Golden Gordon”. In this episode, Leland portrays Mr. Dainty, the manager of the struggling soccer team Barnstoneworth United. During a speech, he scolds his players for being concerned about their uniforms. He emphasizes, “Shorts are not important, it’s what’s inside them that truly matters!”
Palin’s goal for the speech was to have a “Shakespearean, Henry V-esque essence”. In his journal, he praised David’s performance as “impressive and comical…the crew and spectators cheered as he sprinted away with his pants down.” Leland described the role as “a treasure for any comedic actor, particularly one with a good sense of humor and slender legs.”
His third wife, Sabrina Canale, and four daughters, one son, and six grandchildren survive him.
Source: theguardian.com
