Tony Richardson

Lore & Background

In the United Kingdom, the idea of film d'auteur was born in the 1950s with the critic-filmmakers of the review *Sequence*, admirers of the work of Jean Vigo and Jacques Prévert and close to the *Jeunes gens en colère*. Karel Reisz, Lindsay Anderson and Tony Richardson, founders of Free cinema, call for the re-founding of a cinema that breaks with the conventional workmanship of the majority of British productions. The productions derived from it seek to be more authentic, singular and anchored in a certain social reality. When Free Cinema was launched in 1956, Reisz declared: "We work outside the habitual framework of the industry and we have in common social concerns which we try to express in our films." The auteur is therefore an independent creator defined by their commitment and the sharpness of their outlook on society.

Reader's Guide

Tony Richardson's significance lies in his role as a founder of Free Cinema in 1956, alongside Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson. The source states that Free Cinema called for a re-founding of cinema that breaks with conventional workmanship, seeking productions that are more authentic, singular, and anchored in social reality. Reisz's 1956 declaration—"We work outside the habitual framework of the industry and we have in common social concerns which we try to express in our films"—defines the movement's ethos. Richardson, as a Free Cinema auteur, was defined by his commitment and the sharpness of his outlook on society.

Did You Know?

• Tony Richardson was one of the critic-filmmakers of the review *Sequence*, admirers of Jean Vigo and Jacques Prévert.
• He co-founded Free Cinema in 1956 with Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson.
• Free Cinema called for a cinema that breaks with conventional workmanship of the majority of British productions.
• When Free Cinema was launched in 1956, Reisz declared: 'We work outside the habitual framework of the industry and we have in common social concerns which we try to express in our films.'
• The source describes Richardson as an auteur defined by his commitment and the sharpness of his outlook on society.