Born July 21, 1926, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia; died of a blood disorder, November 25, 2002, in London, England. Film director, producer, and writer. Acclaimed Czech filmmaker Reisz gained international success for directing TheFrench Lieutenant's Woman, which featured actress Meryl Streep. Reisz began his film career in Britain in the 1950s. A key figure in the Free Cinemamovement, Reisz made his directorial debut in 1955 with Momma Don't Allow, a documentary short film he codirected with Tony Richardson. He then coproduced the documentary Every Day Except Christmas, directed by fellowFree Cinema director Lindsay Anderson. Reisz directed and produced the documentary We Are the Lambeth Boys in 1959 before directing his first feature film, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, in 1960. Reisz followed the successful working-class drama with the 1964 remake of Night Must Fall, which he also coproduced. In 1966 Reisz directed Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment, and in 1968 he directed Isadora. Reisz's next and first U.S. film was The Gambler, released in 1974. Reisz directed Who'll Stop the Rain? in 1978 before directing and coproducing the critically acclaimed The French Lieutenant's Woman in 1981. He directed two additional feature films, Sweet Dreams (1985) and Everybody Wins (1990), before turning to stage work. In 1991 Reisz directed Gardenia, an off-Broadway production, and the London revival of The Deep Blue Sea. Reisz made his Broadway directorial debut in 1995 with Moonlight. Prior to his filmmaking career, Reisz worked as a grammar school instructor in London and as a film critic for the publications Sequence, whichhe also cofounded, and Sight and Sound. He also coauthored The Technique of Film Editing in 1953.
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