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James Cellan Jones

January 07, 2023

Alan James Gwynne Cellan Jones (13 July 1931 – 30 August 2019) was a British television and film director. From 1963, he directed over 50 television series and films, specialising in dramas.

James Cellan Jones
Born(1931-07-13)13 July 1931
Swansea, Wales
Died30 August 2019(2019-08-30) (aged 88)
Alma materSt John's College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)Television director and producer
Years active1960–2001
Known forThe Forsyte Saga (1967)
Fortunes of War (1987)
TitleHead of Plays, BBC Television
Term1976–1979
PredecessorChristopher Morahan
SuccessorKeith Williams
ChildrenSimon Cellan Jones
Rory Cellan-Jones
Deiniol Cellan Jones
Lavinia Cellan Jones[1]

He was particularly associated with the "Classic Serial" during the golden age of BBC drama,[2] and some of his most significant work was in televising late 19th-century and 20th-century British literary works. Two of his most ambitious and successful directorial adaptations were the miniseries The Forsyte Saga (1967), which became a national and international hit,[1] and Fortunes of War (1987); and he was also known for his award-winning productions of Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974) and Harnessing Peacocks (1993).

Cellan Jones was Head of Plays at BBC Television, chairman of BAFTA, and chairman of the Directors Guild of Great Britain.

Early life and education

James Cellan Jones was born in 1931 in Swansea, Wales, the son of surgeon Cecil Cellan-Jones and his wife Lavinia (née Dailey).[1] James later dropped the hyphen in his surname.[1]

He was educated in England, attending the Dragon School in Oxford, and Charterhouse School in Surrey.[1] From a family of physicians,[2] he studied natural sciences at St John's College, Cambridge, where he received his BA in 1952, later raised to an MA in 1978.[3]

Career

Cellan Jones's true interest was acting and directing rather than medicine, however,[1][2] and he began working at BBC Television in 1955 as a callboy, and rose steadily to become a production manager. In 1960 he began directing for the BBC, and by 1965 was directing several major productions a year. In 1967, he directed seven episodes of the award-winning 26-part adaptation of The Forsyte Saga, which became a massive national and international hit;[1] and his other period dramas included numerous adaptations of works by Henry James and George Bernard Shaw. In the 1970s, he directed two notable historical biographical sagas: the award-winning miniseries Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1976), and the 13-episode miniseries The Adams Chronicles (1976), about the American Adams political family.

From 1976 through 1979, Cellan Jones was Head of Plays at the BBC, where he was responsible for up to 85 productions a year. Upon leaving the post, he became a freelance television director, and continued to work steadily for 20 years. Highlights of this period include the World War II miniseries Fortunes of War (1987) starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, and the award-winning television film Harnessing Peacocks (1993).

Cellan Jones was chairman of BAFTA from 1983 to 1985.[4] He was also chairman and honorary president of the Directors Guild of Great Britain.[5][6][7]

Awards and nominations

For the miniseries Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974), Cellan Jones won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. For The Adams Chronicles (1976) he was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series, and was nominated two years successively for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series.[8]

He received the CableACE Award in 1987 for Best Dramatic Series for his anthology series Oxbridge Blues,[8] first transmitted in the UK in late 1984. His television film Harnessing Peacocks (1993) won the prestigious Golden Nymph award for Best Television Film at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.[9]

Cellan Jones received seven BAFTA TV nominations, for Roads to Freedom (miniseries, 1970); Eyeless in Gaza (miniseries, 1971); Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (miniseries, 1974); A Fine Romance (series, 1981, 1982), which won the Broadcasting Press Guild award for Best Comedy in 1982; Oxbridge Blues (anthology, eponymous episode, 1984); and Fortunes of War (miniseries, 1987).[8]

Personal life

Cellan Jones married television editor and production manager Margot Eavis in 1959, and they had two sons, Simon Cellan Jones, a director; and Deiniol Cellan Jones, a barrister who died in November 2013; and a daughter, Lavinia Cellan Jones.[1]

BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones is also his son, by Sylvia Rich, a BBC secretary, prior to James' marriage to Margot Eavis.[10][1]

He died following a stroke in August 2019.[1]

Selected filmography

Bibliography

  • Heartsease (2014)
  • Forsyte and Hindsight: Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit. Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2006.
  • Novel on the Screen (W.D.Thomas Memorial Lecture) (1992)

Sources

  • Who's Who in Entertainment. Marquis Who's Who, Inc., 1989. Volume 1, p. 106.
  • pp. 18–19.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "James Cellan Jones obituary". The Times. 10 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "James Cellan Jones and the Classic Serial", Screen. November 1969; Vol. 10, Issue 6: pp. 33-44.
  3. ^ University of Cambridge. The Cambridge University List of Members for the Year 1991. Cambridge University Press, 1991. p. 228.
  4. ^ Chairmen – 1947 to Present. BAFTA. BAFTA.org. 28 June 2012.
  5. ^ Cellan Jones, James. Forsyte and Hindsight: Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit. Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2006. Text from back cover and frontispiece.
  6. ^ Screen International: The international film & television directory, Volume 1. EMAP Media Information, 1993. p. 387.
  7. ^ Cellan Jones, James. Forsyte and Hindsight: Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit. Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2006. pp. 167–168.
  8. ^ a b c James Cellan Jones – Awards at the Internet Movie Database
  9. ^ "ITV Wins Major Awards". MediaTel. 11 February 1994.
  10. ^ Cellan Jones, James. Forsyte and Hindsight: Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit. Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2006. pp. 14–15.

External links

  • James Cellan Jones at IMDb
  • at the British Film Institute
  • James Cellan Jones in the Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors (2009)
  • James Cellan Jones at Diamond Management
  • James Cellan Jones discusses his career at the BFI October 2010
  • Obituary at The Telegraph
  • Obituary at BAFTA

January 07, 2023
james, cellan, jones, alan, james, gwynne, cellan, jones, july, 1931, august, 2019, british, television, film, director, from, 1963, directed, over, television, series, films, specialising, dramas, born, 1931, july, 1931swansea, walesdied30, august, 2019, 2019. Alan James Gwynne Cellan Jones 13 July 1931 30 August 2019 was a British television and film director From 1963 he directed over 50 television series and films specialising in dramas James Cellan JonesBorn 1931 07 13 13 July 1931Swansea WalesDied30 August 2019 2019 08 30 aged 88 Alma materSt John s College CambridgeOccupation s Television director and producerYears active1960 2001Known forThe Forsyte Saga 1967 Fortunes of War 1987 TitleHead of Plays BBC TelevisionTerm1976 1979PredecessorChristopher MorahanSuccessorKeith WilliamsChildrenSimon Cellan JonesRory Cellan JonesDeiniol Cellan JonesLavinia Cellan Jones 1 He was particularly associated with the Classic Serial during the golden age of BBC drama 2 and some of his most significant work was in televising late 19th century and 20th century British literary works Two of his most ambitious and successful directorial adaptations were the miniseries The Forsyte Saga 1967 which became a national and international hit 1 and Fortunes of War 1987 and he was also known for his award winning productions of Jennie Lady Randolph Churchill 1974 and Harnessing Peacocks 1993 Cellan Jones was Head of Plays at BBC Television chairman of BAFTA and chairman of the Directors Guild of Great Britain Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Awards and nominations 4 Personal life 5 Selected filmography 6 Bibliography 7 Sources 8 References 9 External linksEarly life and education EditJames Cellan Jones was born in 1931 in Swansea Wales the son of surgeon Cecil Cellan Jones and his wife Lavinia nee Dailey 1 James later dropped the hyphen in his surname 1 He was educated in England attending the Dragon School in Oxford and Charterhouse School in Surrey 1 From a family of physicians 2 he studied natural sciences at St John s College Cambridge where he received his BA in 1952 later raised to an MA in 1978 3 Career EditCellan Jones s true interest was acting and directing rather than medicine however 1 2 and he began working at BBC Television in 1955 as a callboy and rose steadily to become a production manager In 1960 he began directing for the BBC and by 1965 was directing several major productions a year In 1967 he directed seven episodes of the award winning 26 part adaptation of The Forsyte Saga which became a massive national and international hit 1 and his other period dramas included numerous adaptations of works by Henry James and George Bernard Shaw In the 1970s he directed two notable historical biographical sagas the award winning miniseries Jennie Lady Randolph Churchill 1976 and the 13 episode miniseries The Adams Chronicles 1976 about the American Adams political family From 1976 through 1979 Cellan Jones was Head of Plays at the BBC where he was responsible for up to 85 productions a year Upon leaving the post he became a freelance television director and continued to work steadily for 20 years Highlights of this period include the World War II miniseries Fortunes of War 1987 starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson and the award winning television film Harnessing Peacocks 1993 Cellan Jones was chairman of BAFTA from 1983 to 1985 4 He was also chairman and honorary president of the Directors Guild of Great Britain 5 6 7 Awards and nominations EditFor the miniseries Jennie Lady Randolph Churchill 1974 Cellan Jones won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing Drama Series and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award For The Adams Chronicles 1976 he was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing Drama Series and was nominated two years successively for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series 8 He received the CableACE Award in 1987 for Best Dramatic Series for his anthology series Oxbridge Blues 8 first transmitted in the UK in late 1984 His television film Harnessing Peacocks 1993 won the prestigious Golden Nymph award for Best Television Film at the Monte Carlo Television Festival 9 Cellan Jones received seven BAFTA TV nominations for Roads to Freedom miniseries 1970 Eyeless in Gaza miniseries 1971 Jennie Lady Randolph Churchill miniseries 1974 A Fine Romance series 1981 1982 which won the Broadcasting Press Guild award for Best Comedy in 1982 Oxbridge Blues anthology eponymous episode 1984 and Fortunes of War miniseries 1987 8 Personal life EditCellan Jones married television editor and production manager Margot Eavis in 1959 and they had two sons Simon Cellan Jones a director and Deiniol Cellan Jones a barrister who died in November 2013 and a daughter Lavinia Cellan Jones 1 BBC journalist Rory Cellan Jones is also his son by Sylvia Rich a BBC secretary prior to James marriage to Margot Eavis 10 1 He died following a stroke in August 2019 1 Selected filmography EditEsther Waters TV series 1964 4 episodes The Ambassadors TV movie 1965 The Scarlet and the Black TV miniseries 1965 An Enemy of the State TV miniseries 1965 The Hunchback of Notre Dame TV miniseries 1966 Quick Before They Catch Us TV series 4 episodes 1966 The Forsyte Saga TV miniseries 1967 Z Cars 2 episodes 1967 Albinos in Black Theatre 625 1968 The Portrait of a Lady TV miniseries 1968 Detective TV series 2 episodes 1968 The Way We Live Now TV movie 1969 Solo TV serial 2 episodes 1970 Little Gidding A Selection from E E Cummings W Somerset Maugham TV miniseries 2 episodes 1969 1970 The Roads to Freedom TV miniseries 1970 The Piano Play for Today 1971 Eyeless in Gaza TV miniseries 1971 A Midsummer Night s Dream Play of the Month 1971 The Golden Bowl TV miniseries 1972 The Edwardians TV miniseries 1972 1973 Bequest to the Nation aka The Nelson Affair 1973 Away from It All TV anthology one episode A Work of Genius 1973 Secrets TV movie 1973 Jennie Lady Randolph Churchill TV miniseries 1974 The Adams Chronicles TV miniseries 1976 Caesar and Cleopatra Hallmark Hall of Fame 1976 The Madness TV movie 1976 Sea Change Centre Play Showcase 1976 The Ambassadors Play of the Month 1977 You Never Can Tell Play of the Month 1977 Kean Play of the Month 1978 A Touch of the Tiny Hacketts Play for Today 1978 School Play BBC2 Playhouse 1979 The Day Christ Died TV movie 1980 C2 H5 OH Play for Today 1980 Unity BBC2 Playhouse 1981 A Fine Romance TV series 1981 The Kingfisher TV movie 1983 The Comedy of Errors BBC Shakespeare 1983 Oxbridge Blues TV anthology 4 episodes 1984 Slip Up TV movie 1986 Fortunes of War TV miniseries 1987 Arms and the Man Theatre Night 1989 The Bill TV series 5 episodes 1989 1999 A Little Piece of Sunshine TV movie 1990 A Perfect Hero TV miniseries 1991 The Gravy Train Goes East TV miniseries 1991 Maigret TV series 3 episodes 1992 Rumpole of the Bailey TV series 1 episode 1992 Brighton Belles TV series 1 episode 1993 Scene TV anthology 1 episode Pig Boy 1993 Harnessing Peacocks TV movie 1993 Class Act TV series 2 episodes 1994 La musique de l amour Chouchou TV movie 1995 The Vacillations of Poppy Carew TV movie 1995 McLibel TV miniseries 1997 Ruth Rendell Mysteries TV series 2 episodes 1997 Holby City TV series 2 episodes 2001 Bibliography EditHeartsease 2014 Forsyte and Hindsight Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit Kaleidoscope Publishing 2006 Novel on the Screen W D Thomas Memorial Lecture 1992 Sources EditWho s Who in Entertainment Marquis Who s Who Inc 1989 Volume 1 p 106 James Cellan Jones Director BFI Southbank October 2010 pp 18 19 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j James Cellan Jones obituary The Times 10 September 2019 a b c James Cellan Jones and the Classic Serial Screen November 1969 Vol 10 Issue 6 pp 33 44 University of Cambridge The Cambridge University List of Members for the Year 1991 Cambridge University Press 1991 p 228 Chairmen 1947 to Present BAFTA BAFTA org 28 June 2012 Cellan Jones James Forsyte and Hindsight Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit Kaleidoscope Publishing 2006 Text from back cover and frontispiece Screen International The international film amp television directory Volume 1 EMAP Media Information 1993 p 387 Cellan Jones James Forsyte and Hindsight Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit Kaleidoscope Publishing 2006 pp 167 168 a b c James Cellan Jones Awards at the Internet Movie Database ITV Wins Major Awards MediaTel 11 February 1994 Cellan Jones James Forsyte and Hindsight Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit Kaleidoscope Publishing 2006 pp 14 15 External links EditJames Cellan Jones at IMDb James Cellan Jones at the British Film Institute James Cellan Jones in the Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors 2009 James Cellan Jones at Diamond Management James Cellan Jones discusses his career at the BFI October 2010 Obituary at The Telegraph Obituary at BAFTA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Cellan Jones amp oldid 1094068240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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