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Richard Lester

Highest Rated: 100% Ring-A-Ding Rhythm (1962)

Lowest Rated: 29% Superman III (1983)

Birthday: Jan 19, 1932

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

A visually dazzling and witty filmmaker whose hyperkinetic films helped to shape the look and pace of 1960s-era cinema, Richard Lester was the creative force behind the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" (1964) and "Help!" (1965), as well as such crowd-pleasing hits as "The Knack And How to Get It" (1965), "The Three Musketeers" (1973) and "Superman II" (1981). After cutting his teeth on American television, Lester relocated to England, where he attracted the attention of Peter Sellers. Their numerous collaborations included the Oscar-nominated short "The Running Jumping Standing Still Film" (1959) which featured many of his trademark flourishes, including visual non-sequiters, a taste for unbridled slapstick and absurdity, and a rapid but precise editing style that won numerous fans, including The Beatles. His work with the pop icons made him a leading figure in British film, where his youthful, anarchic approach found favor around the world. A brief career spiral was thwarted by the success of the big-budget "Musketeers" films, as well as "Superman II." Lester's exuberance and experimentation were later adopted by countless filmmakers, as well as the music video genre, which borrowed wholesale from his Beatles films. Lester's best work brimmed with an energy and charm that remained untouchable, even after five decades.

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Highest-Rated Movies

100% Ring-A-Ding Rhythm
Watchlist 98% 89% A Hard Day's Night Watchlist
93% 86% Superman: The Movie
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89% 77% The Three Musketeers
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88% 51% The Mouse on the Moon
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86% 86% Help!
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85% 81% Petulia
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83% 76% Superman II
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83% 57% Juggernaut
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83% 77% A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
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Richard Lester

Richard Lester HOW I WON THE WAR, director Richard Lester on set, 1967 HELP!, Beatles and Director Richard Lester, 1965 HELP!, Director Richard Lester, 1965 A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, from left: George Harrison (holding child), John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, director Richard Lester on set, 1964, hardaysnight1964-fsct07(hardaysnight1964-fsct07) A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, The Beatles, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney candid on the set with director, Richard Lester, 1964. A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, The Beatles, 1964, candid on the set with John Lennon reviewing the script and George Harrison talking with director, Richard Lester. PETULIA, Julie Christie, George C. Scott on set with director Richard Lester, 1968 PETULIA, Julie Christie (left), director Richard Lester (behind camera), on location, San Francisco, California, 1968 SUPERMAN II, director Richard Lester, 1980 View more photos

Filmography

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The Corpse Grinders 3 2012 Gualtieri Bodyguard Actor Get Back 82% 1991 Director The Return of the Musketeers 60% 34% 1989 Director Finders Keepers 25% 1984 Director Superman III 29% 23% 1983 Director Superman II 83% 76% 1980 Director Butch and Sundance: The Early Days 33% 51% 1979 Director Cuba 45% 29% 1979 Director Superman: The Movie 93% 86% 1978 Producer Robin and Marian 73% 53% 1976 Director The Ritz 62% 79% 1976 Director Royal Flash 50% 64% 1975 Director The Four Musketeers 72% 74% 1975 Director Juggernaut 83% 57% 1974 Director The Three Musketeers 89% 77% 1973 Director Bed Sitting Room 64% 62% 1969 Director, Producer Petulia 85% 81% 1968 Director How I Won the War 44% 60% 1967 Director, Producer A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 83% 77% 1966 Director The Knack... and How to Get It 72% 68% 1965 Director Help! 86% 86% 1965 Director A Hard Day's Night 98% 89% 1964 Director The Mouse on the Moon 88% 51% 1963 Director Ring-A-Ding Rhythm 100% 1962 Director
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