Jack Bond, a renowned British film producer and director, was born in 1937. He is best known for his work on The South Bank Show and his creative partnership with the talented British writer, actor, and director Jane Arden between 1965 and 1979.
Bond's work with Arden included the documentary film Dali in New York, which was released in 1965. The film featured an in-depth interview between Arden and the legendary surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, and explored Dalí's creative process. The film was shot on location in New York City, where Dalí had been based with his wife Gala since the 1930s. The film showcased Dalí's artistic process, as well as his social life and work, including the preparation of two exhibitions of his work and a book, as well as various performance art displays.
Bond's work with Arden also included the award-winning film Separation, which was released in 1967. He also produced The Other Side of the Underneath in 1972 and co-directed Anti-Clock in 1979. These three films were reissued by the British Film Institute on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009.
In an interview, Bond recalled how he took Anti-Clock to America after it was refused screening in the UK. The film received a five-star review from a prominent critic, which led to its success in the USA and approaches from UK distributors who had previously turned it down. Bond, however, rejected these offers.
In 1988, Bond directed the feature-length film It Couldn't Happen Here, which featured the Pet Shop Boys. The film was initially conceived as a compilation of interrelated music videos, but expanded into a full-fledged feature film after Bond was appointed as producer, co-writer, and director. Since Arden's death, Bond has primarily worked as a director of TV documentaries, including episodes of The South Bank Show, where he covered topics such as Roald Dahl and Catherine Cookson. It Couldn't Happen Here marked a return to drama filmmaking for Bond.
