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THE ACCLAIMED BRITISH director Sir Alan Parker has died.
He was 76.
Parker is perhaps best known here for directing beloved 1991 comedy The Commitments and the 1999 adapation of Frank McCourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes.
Across his long career, he also directed Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Fame, Mississippi Burning and Angel Heart.
A statement from a spokeswoman, sent on behalf of the family, said Parker died this morning “following a lengthy illness”.
Film director David Puttnam paid tribute to Parker, saying: “Alan was my oldest and closest friend, I was always in awe of his talent. My life and those of many others who loved and respected him will never be the same again.”
Director Nick Murphy described him as a “huge talent” in a tweet, writing: “Alan Parker made so many wonderful movies. Just wonderful. A huge talent. As I’m sure you know. RIP Alan Parker.”
Nick Murphy / TwitterAlan Parker made so many wonderful movies. Just wonderful. A huge talent. As I’m sure you know.
— Nick Murphy (@nickmurftweets) July 31, 2020
RIP Alan Parker pic.twitter.com/QAGJgW9WCg
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Great man. Great legacy. Midnight Express!!! What a movie…. RIP
@Sven Gilmore: A brilliant film, as is Mississippi Burning.
@Alan McArdle: As a huge Pink Floyd fan, he made a good fist of The Wall. RIP.
@Sven Gilmore: brilliant film midnight Express based true story & some good films, rip Alan
The Commitments is a classic Irish movie. What a legacy to have behind you. RIP Sir!
@Spiderman: “Say it loud, we’re black and we’re proud”
@Spiderman:
Irish movie? The British/Americans made this movie.
@Just Some Guy: written by an Irish man with all Irish actors, i think we can claim a lot of it
@Just Some Guy: Filmed in a now long hone
@Michael Kavanagh:
That went funny! Meant a now long gone Dublin!
@Wheresmyjumper:
Roddy Doyle can say thanks to the British and Americans for making this into a movie.
@Just Some Guy: i’m sure he did
@Just Some Guy: you are missing the point…. the people who fund movies are investors who decide to take a chance.. a they come from all over the world… high risk in movies but they are vital to the industry . Braveheart/ Saving Private Ryan were made in Ireland and had many Irish investors….. swings and roundabouts
@Just Some Guy: the amount of British films made with Hollywood money and they’re never described as anything else but British films. We have to fund it completely and have zero foreigners apparently!
@London-Irish Senator: It’s a clown who has been trolling most articles today. Ignore it.
Actually Olivia. I made two comments today and they are on this article. That is not trolling most articles. Do you always make things up?
Mississippi Burning and Midnight Express are the standout movies, The Commitments will always be special to Irish audiences, what a soundtrack. RIP Alan.
Remember him getting us all to laugh in the heroin scene in the church hall in the Commitments when I was an extra. Such a nice man and very down to earth. Made everyone feel so at ease. RIP.?
I once watched The Commitments in a hostel in Lima, Peru, with about 30 other people from many different countries. It was playing on Peruvian TV. They all loved it. Cracking film.
Mississippi Burning would be one of the best movies of the 80′s – poignant and still relevant.
An enormously talented director.
RIP
Midnight Express, Birdy, Angel Heart; great moviea. R.I.P
@King Willie’s Voodoo Gang: Louis Cipher
He made some great films…..and The Commitments
Love Mississippi Burning RIP.
@Pat O’Leary: yes and its never on the telly, great film
@Wheresmyjumper: Probably banned with all the nonsense going on now in the world.
@Olivia Smith: blazin’ saddles was on rte last week, so there might be some hope or maybe a film4 season
@Garreth mc mahon: Hopefully Garret but If not I have the commitments recorded so can watch when ever I like.
Evita is pretty good too
Glad the Life of David Gale is off that list, the only one of his films worth erasing from history.
Angelas Ashes and the Commitments, what more needs to be said, hes a legend in Ireland just for that one two combo. Never forgotten.
Did he do Tommy for the Who as well ?
@Eddie O’Reilly: that was Ken Russell
Bugsy Malone and The Wall will remain great classics as well as most of hos filmography. A sad loss.
RIP
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