Lew Grade

Lew Grade, Baron Grade, OStJ (born Lev Winogradsky; 25 December 1906 – 13 December 1998) was a Russian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production began in 1954 when he founded the Incorporated Television Company (ITC; commonly known as ITC Entertainment) to distribute programmes, and following the success of The Adventures of Robin Hood decided to focus on bringing them to the American market. Grade had some success in this field with such series as Gerry Anderson's many Supermarionation series such as Thunderbirds, Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, and Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. Later, Grade invested in feature film production, but several expensive box-office failures caused him to lose control of ITC, and ultimately resulted in the disestablishment of ATV after it lost its ITV franchise. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lew Grade, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Works

All About 'Thunderbirds'

A look at the story behind Thunderbirds (1965).

Release Date2008-01-02

Charactersd (archive footage)

In My Mind

The film recounts one of Chris' early filmmaking experiences: an attempt to interview Patrick McGoohan - something McGoohan had resisted previously - about his enigmatic series for a Channel 4 commissioned documentary. A documentary that didn't quite go to plan. In a series of frank interviews conducted by Chris, most of which ultimately remained unused in the 1983 documentary 'Six Into One-The Prisoner File', McGoohan slowly reveals his innermost thoughts about his concept.

Release Date2017-09-29

Charactersd Himself (archive)

Vote Count7

Heroes of Comedy: Arthur Askey

Documentary about British comedy legend

Release Date1998-01-26

Charactersd Self (as Lord Grade)

The World of Jim Henson

In this episode of PBS' Great Performances, the history and legacy of puppeteer Jim Henson is explored, from his six-second commercial beginnings to a five-season run on ABC of The Muppet Show to several theatrically released films, including five Muppet movies, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth.

Release Date1994-11-23

Charactersd Self (archive footage)

Vote Count7

A Salute to Sir Lew Grade

An All-Star salute to Sir Lew Grade, featuring Julie Andrews, Tom Jones, and the last public performance by John Lennon.

Release Date1975-04-18

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Magic Night

This one hour TV special promoting the release of Can't Stop the Music featured the film's stars (The Village People, Valerie Perrine, Steve Guttenberg and Bruce Jenner) with guest appearances by Cher, Hugh Hefner and others.

Release Date1980-05-01

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Six Into One: The Prisoner File

After Channel 4 screened the finale of their 1984 repeats of The Prisoner, they broadcast this special show to delve into the mysteries about the enigmatic series. Featuring interviews from actors, writers, and directors of the show, it most importantly featured an interview with the man himself, Patrick McGoohan, then living in Canada. The story behind the making of this special was revisited in the 2017 documentary 'In My Mind'.

Release Date1984-01-16

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Father Brown

Based on the short stories by G. K. Chesterton, Father Brown is a Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective.

Release Date1974-09-26

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Vote Count10

Jesus of Nazareth

Dramatizes the Birth, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, largely according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels.

Release Date1977-03-27

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count4

Vote Count561

Autumn Sonata

After a seven-year absence, Charlotte Andergast travels to Sweden to reunite with her daughter Eva. The pair have a troubled relationship: Charlotte sacrificed the responsibilities of motherhood for a career as a classical pianist. Over an emotional night, the pair reopen the wounds of the past. Charlotte gets another shock when she finds out that her mentally impaired daughter, Helena, is out of the asylum and living with Eva.

Release Date1978-10-08

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count715

Clayhanger

Clayhanger is a British television drama based on Arnold Bennett's novel series of the same name, published between 1910 and 1918, dramatised by Douglas Livingstone for ITV. Produced by Associated Television, the 26-episode programme is a coming-of-age story set in 19th century England. Edwin Clayhanger aspires to be an architect but is expected to join his father's printing business. His personal growth, eventual acceptance of the family business, and his romantic entanglement with Hilda Lessways are explored. Clayhanger was ITV's longest-ever drama at the time. While some found the pacing slow, it was nonetheless praised for its faithful adaptation, excellent acting, and atmospheric sets.

Release Date1976-01-01

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Episode Count26

Vote Count2

The Dark Crystal

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil.

Release Date1982-12-17

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count1273

Killer Fish

Jewel thieves attempt to recover treasure from piranha infested waters. Mistrust and betrayals happen amongst the gang in the quest for gold.

Release Date1979-12-07

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count72

The Muppet Movie

The Muppets gather to watch their newly-finished big-budget rich-and-famous feature film: a talent agent persuades Kermit the Frog to leave the swamp to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there, he meets a bear, a pig, a whatever (his future muppet crew), and some special celebrity guest stars, while being chased by the desperate owner of a frog-leg restaurant!

Release Date1979-06-22

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count703

The Domino Principle

Roy Tucker, a Vietnam war veteran with excellent shooting skills, is serving a long prison sentence when a mysterious visitor promises him that he will be released if he agrees to carry out a dangerous assignment.

Release Date1977-03-23

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count79

Mask

A significantly deformed but highly intelligent teenage boy and his biker gang mother attempt to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Release Date1985-03-08

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count498

The Boys from Brazil

Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman discovers a sinister and bizarre plot, masterminded by Dr. Josef Mengele, to rekindle the Third Reich.

Release Date1978-10-05

DepartmentCrew

JobPresenter

Vote Count449

The Great Muppet Caper

Kermit and Fozzie are newspaper reporters sent to London to interview Lady Holiday, a wealthy fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace is stolen. Kermit meets and falls in love with her secretary, Miss Piggy. The jewel thieves strike again, and this time frame Miss Piggy. It's up to Kermit and the rest of the Muppets to bring the real culprits to justice.

Release Date1981-06-26

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count346

Moses the Lawgiver

Moses the Lawgiver (Italian: Mosè) is a six-part 1975 television miniseries directed by Gianfranco De Bosio and starring Burt Lancaster as Moses. Produced by ITC and RAI, the Italian-British co-production was filmed in Rome and on location in Israel and Morocco. Inspired by the Ten Commandments, Moses embarks on an arduous journey to freedom, determined to escape slavery and spread the Word of the Lord.

Release Date1974-12-22

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Episode Count7

The Royal Variety Performance 1977

The 49th Royal Variety Performance, held at the London Palladium on the 21st of November, 1977. Presented by Bob Hope, includes his own performances, Julie Andrews, Paul Anka, Pam Ayres, Harry Belafonte, Brotherhood of Man, Tommy Cooper, Alan King, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, John Williams, Little and Large, Shirley MacLaine, Jim Henson's Muppets, Rudolf Nureyev, Jack Parnell with special visits from Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, Prince of Wales

Release Date1977-11-29

DepartmentCrew

JobPresenter

Green Ice

A down on his luck engineer gets involved in an adventure with a mysterious woman and an emerald magnate.

Release Date1981-05-21

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count22

Raise the Titanic

To obtain a supply of a rare mineral, a ship raising operation is conducted for the only known source, the Titanic.

Release Date1980-08-01

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count117

The Big Sleep

Private eye Philip Marlowe investigates a case of blackmail involving the two wild daughters of a rich general, a pornographer and a gangster.

Release Date1978-03-13

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count102

The Legend of the Lone Ranger

When the young Texas Ranger, John Reid, is the sole survivor of an ambush arranged by the militaristic outlaw leader, Butch Cavendich, he is rescued by an old childhood Comanche friend, Tonto. When he recovers from his wounds, he dedicates his life to fighting the evil that Cavendich represents. To this end, John Reid becomes the great masked western hero, The Lone Ranger. With the help of Tonto, the pair go to rescue President Grant when Cavendich takes him hostage.

Release Date1981-08-06

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count48

The Salamander

An Italian policeman investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. The policeman begins to suspect these murders are linked to a plot to seize control of the government.

Release Date1981-04-25

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count28

James Paul McCartney

«James Paul McCartney» is a 1973 television special produced by ATV and starring English musician Paul McCartney and his then current rock group Wings. It was first broadcast on 16 April 1973 in the United States on the ABC network, and was later broadcast in the United Kingdom on 10 May 1973. «James Paul McCartney» was McCartney's first such special since the Beatles' 1967 television film «Magical Mystery Tour» and was intended to showcase his versatility as an artist and entertainer.

Release Date1973-04-16

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count1

The Lady and the Highwayman

During one of his robberies, a highwayman, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, falls in love with an aristocratic lady. Now, he is forced to choose between his true love or his true cause.

Release Date1988-12-03

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count16

Duel of Hearts

Lady Caroline Faye meets Lord Vane Brecon and is attracted to him. When she finds out that he is being accused of a murder he did not commit, she sets out to prove him innocent

Release Date1992-01-01

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count3

From the Life of the Marionettes

An account of the events before and after a murder committed by a disturbed businessman in a strained marriage, and what led him to perform such a shocking act.

Release Date1980-10-08

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count116

The Very Best of the Muppet Show

Play the music! Light the lights! The Best of the Muppet Show is now available on DVD--and what a show it is! All non-human life is here in a muppet-fest of music and comedy: from pigs in space to talking rats, singing chickens to a chocolate "moose". The initial 50-minute feature has all the best bits from this inspirational, celebrational 1970s show including Kermit's sensitive rendering of "It's Not Easy Being Green" and Miss Piggy's less sensitive take on Wonder Woman.

Release Date1999-05-17

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count2

Something to Believe In

Reports of a weeping Madonna in Italy reach Las Vegas, where blackjack dealer Maggie has just learnt she has only weeks to live. With a massive leap of faith she convinces herself that seeing the Madonna with her own eyes could lead to her salvation, and travels to Europe to find it. Hitching through Italy, she meets pianist Mike, who is also en route to what he believes could be a life-changing event - a performance at the Barbarina concert in Naples.

Release Date1998-05-08

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count3

The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2

Highlights from the sensational, muppetational seventies series. Kermit the Frog hosts a selection of top clips, including episodes of the classic sci-fi saga 'Pigs in Space' and surgical soap 'Veterinarian's Hospital'.

Release Date1999-05-17

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count2

The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3

This third edition of 'The Very Best of the Muppet Show' is a collection of three Muppet Show episodes. In the 'Linda Carter Episode', Wonder Woman inspires Fozzie, Scooter and other cast members to become apprentice heroes. In the 'Diana Ross Episode', the soul diva helps Kermit win over a tough crowd, shows Fozzie how to tell a joke and performs 'Love Hangover' and 'Reach Out and Touch'. Finally in the 'Johnny Cash Episode', the country singer joins Kermit and friends for a live radio show on Muppet station WHOG and sings some favourites like 'Orange Blossom Special' and 'Ghost Riders in the Sky'.

Release Date2001-07-17

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

The Performers Act V - Kai

For the latest short film in collaboration with GQ and Vogue, director Lucy Luscombe encouraged Kai—member of K-Pop supergroup EXO—to travel back through time and place, an exercise that proved to uncover personal memories about his family and the origins of his love for dance and choreography.

Release Date2019-12-11

DepartmentSound

JobSound Mixer

Just a Song and Dance

Documentary about television company ATV and its founder Lew Grade.

Release Date1987-12-29

Vote Count1