Made his first film, an 8 mm short about a boys' sports club, at the age of 14 (date approximate)

First credit as assistant editor, "On Approval"

Served in Royal Navy

Worked as assitant editor under director David Lean on "The Passionate Friends/One Woman's Story"

Second assignment with Lean, "Madeleine"

First film as editor, "Scrooge/A Christmas Carol"

Last job as editor before embarking on directorial career, "I Am a Camera"; also second film with director Henry Cornelius

Feature directing debut, "The Secret Place"

Turned to TV, directing episodes of the popular "Danger Man" and "Sir Francis Drake" series

Made four half-hour documentaries about India for Granada Television

Short film directing debut, "Weekend in Paris"

Began making commercials for the J Walter Thompson Company; voted best commercials director of the year

Breakthrough film, "Some People", a pop musical with songs by Ron Grainer

Directed film version of Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker"

Scored critically with social satire "Nothing But the Best", which unfortunately failed at box office

First Hollywood film, "What's New Pussycat?", scripted by and starring Woody Allen; film was a commercial success

Co-produced and directed "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush"

Flopped big-time with expensive "Alfred the Great"

First feature film in five years, "Vampira/Old Dracula/Old Drac"

Broadway directing debut, "Kennedy's Children"

Scored critical success with TV-movie "Rogue Male", starring Peter O'Toole as a sporting aristocrat who makes an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler; cast also included Harold Pinter

Helmed "She Fell Among Thieves", the initial presentation of the PBS series "Mystery!"

First collaboration with George C Scott (as Fagin), CBS movie adaptation of "Oliver Twist"

Returned to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" for the CBS TV version starring Scott as Scrooge

Directed the bloated remake of Victor Herbert's operetta "Babes in Toyland" (NBC), starring Drew Barrymore

Last feature film to date, the beautifully photographed period piece "Stealing Heaven"; third collaboration with actor Denholm Elliott (also "Nothing But the Best" and "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush")

Directed "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less", a USA Network miniseries based on the best-selling book by Jeffery Archer

Last TV-movie work to date, the syndicated thriller "Terror Stalks the Class Reunion"