Cyril Frankel (1921-) is a retired British television director. Born in Stoke Newington, London, he is known for his directorship of many episodes of popular cult British TV shows, such as The Avengers and directed the pilot Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) episode in 1969.

His career in television began in 1953 and he has directed over 30 different TV shows between then and 1990.

In the early 1970s he also directed several episodes of UFO.

Cyril was also the director of numerous documentaries and feature films, including 'Never Take Sweets From A Stranger' and 'School For Scoundrels' - the latter wrongly attributed to Robert Hamer. He worked with many stalwarts of the cinema and gave their first breaks to the likes of Sean Connery and Richard Harris. His most significant film, 'Man of Africa' - the first cinema film ever to feature an all black cast of unknowns - was denied a release and appeared to have been lost. Miraculously, a complete copy has come to light and has played at various international film festivals. It is hoped that it will finally receive wider recognition in the coming months.

On the documentary side, Cyril produced many of the films that went out under the Monitor banner for the BBC, among which was the first ballet film to be shot and edited to the choreography.

On ceasing to direct (and act as creative consultant) on film series for Monty Berman, Gerry Anderson et al, he continued to make cinema features and to direct for the stage in both the UK and Austria.

The above is only a fraction of his achievemtnts in cinema, television and the arts. He went on to become the ceramics expert for Bonhams before his recent retirement.

His memoir - 'Eye to Eye' - will be published by Bank House Books [http.//www.bankhousebooks.com] early in 2009.

External links

de:Cyril Frankel

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