Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott was born on the 30th of November 1937 in South Shields. His father Francis Percy Scott served as a Colonel in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War. The family moved frequently across England, Wales, and Germany while his father worked for the Allied Control Council after the war. They eventually settled on Teesside where Ridley attended Grangefield Grammar School in Stockton on Tees. He obtained a diploma in design at West Hartlepool College of Art before studying at the Royal College of Art in London. During his time in Stockton he played rugby for the Stockton Rugby Football Club. His interest in science fiction began with reading H.G. Wells novels as a child. Films like It! The Terror from Beyond Space influenced him but Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey truly captured his imagination. He stated that once he saw that film he knew what he could do.
Scott secured a job as a trainee set designer with the BBC after graduating in 1963. He worked on popular television series including Z-Cars and Out of the Unknown. He was originally assigned to design the second Doctor Who serial called The Daleks but a schedule conflict led to Raymond Cusick replacing him. In February 1963 he appeared in title credits as Designer for the BBC programme Tonight. By 1965 he began directing episodes for the BBC though only one episode of Adam Adamant Lives! remains available commercially. In 1968 he founded Ridley Scott Associates with his brother Tony Scott. They produced many commercials during the 1970s including the famous 1973 Hovis bread advertisement filmed in Gold Hill Shaftesbury Dorset. This commercial used Dvořák's New World symphony and became the UK's favourite commercial in a 2006 poll. He also directed Chanel No. 5 advertisements throughout the 1970s and 1980s which revitalized the brand through surreal fantasy imagery.
The Duellists marked Ridley Scott's first feature film as director in 1977. It was shot in continental Europe and nominated for the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival where it won Best Debut Film. Based on Joseph Conrad's short story The Duel the film follows two French Hussar officers named D'Hubert and Feraud played by Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. Their quarrel over a minor incident turns into a bitter feud spanning fifteen years against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Although it had limited commercial impact internationally it received acclaim for its historically authentic portrayal of military conduct. Scott then accepted the job to direct Alien released in 1979. He made the decision to switch Ellen Ripley from a standard male action hero to a heroine played by Sigourney Weaver. The final scene involving John Hurt's character has been named one of the most memorable in cinematic history. Alien earned over $104 million worldwide making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 1979.
Scott's work is identified for its striking visuals with detailed production design and innovative atmospheric lighting. James Cameron commented that he loves the beauty of the photography and the visceral sense of presence in Scott's films. Scott commonly uses slow pacing until the action sequences begin as seen in both Alien and Blade Runner. He claims to have an eidetic memory which aids him in visualizing and storyboarding scenes. He developed a method for filming intricate shots swiftly using a minimum of three cameras. Artificial intelligence appears as a recurring theme in several of his films including Blade Runner, Alien, and Prometheus. The 2013 book The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott discusses how these films explore questions about what it means to be human through characters like the Nexus-6 Replicants and androids such as Ash and David 8. His visual style incorporating urban environments spanning from 2nd-century Rome to futuristic cityscapes has influenced subsequent generations of filmmakers.
Gladiator released in 2000 proved to be one of his biggest critical and commercial successes. It won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe who starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix. The film was dedicated to Oliver Reed who died during filming so The Mill created a digital body double for his remaining scenes. Black Hawk Down released in 2002 featured Tom Hardy in his film debut and followed stranded US soldiers fighting in Somalia. Scott received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for this film set in contemporary Mogadishu. Kingdom of Heaven released in 2005 depicted the Crusades with Orlando Bloom starring. The Moroccan government sent cavalry as extras for battle scenes though the theatrical version faced criticism before he supervised a director's cut released on DVD in 2006. He also directed Robin Hood in 2010 which starred Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett but received mixed reviews despite a respectable box office performance.
Scott was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2003 New Year Honours for services to the British film industry. He received his accolade from her at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on the 8th of July 2003. In the 2024 New Year Honours King Charles III appointed him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for Directing for Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. Ridley and his brother Tony received the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema in 1995. In 2018 he received the highest accolade from BAFTA known as the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement. Scott was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2007. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. In 2012 he appeared on Sir Peter Blake's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover celebrating British cultural figures. On the 3rd of July 2015 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Royal College of Art.
The Martian released in 2015 became Scott's highest-grossing film to date earning over $630 million worldwide. It starred Matt Damon as Mark Watney and featured Jessica Chastain as the mission commander. Blade Runner 2049 premiered in London on the 4th of May 2017 with Denis Villeneuve directing while Scott served as executive producer. The sequel received universal acclaim and Harrison Ford reprised his role appearing only in the third act. All the Money in the World filmed between May and August 2017 involved replacing Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer after sexual assault allegations emerged. Scott began re-shooting Spacey's scenes with Plummer on the 20th of November 2017 at Elveden Hall in west Suffolk England. Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby was released on the 22nd of November 2023 before streaming on Apple TV+ on the 1st of March 2024. Gladiator II starring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington was released on the 22nd of November 2024.
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Common questions
When and where was Ridley Scott born?
Ridley Scott was born on the 30th of November 1937 in South Shields. His father Francis Percy Scott served as a Colonel in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War.
What film marked Ridley Scott's first feature directorial effort?
The Duellists marked Ridley Scott's first feature film as director in 1977. It was shot in continental Europe and nominated for the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival where it won Best Debut Film.
Which movie became Ridley Scott's highest-grossing film to date?
The Martian released in 2015 became Ridley Scott's highest-grossing film to date earning over $630 million worldwide. It starred Matt Damon as Mark Watney and featured Jessica Chastain as the mission commander.
When did Ridley Scott receive his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II?
Scott was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2003 New Year Honours for services to the British film industry. He received his accolade from her at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on the 8th of July 2003.
Who directed Blade Runner 2049 while Ridley Scott served as executive producer?
Blade Runner 2049 premiered in London on the 4th of May 2017 with Denis Villeneuve directing while Ridley Scott served as executive producer. The sequel received universal acclaim and Harrison Ford reprised his role appearing only in the third act.