Leslie Norman began his career at a young age, working in the laboratories and editorial rooms of Warner Brothers Teddington Studios. He started sweeping cutting-room floors and gradually worked his way up to supervising editor and then assistant director.
After serving in the military, Norman joined Ealing Studios, where he became involved in their Australian operation. His first major credit was as supervising editor on the classic outback drama, The Overlanders (1946),starring Chips Rafferty.
Norman continued to work on various projects, including The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947) and Frieda (1947),before reuniting with "Overlanders" director Harry Watt as producer on several of Watt's African and Australian "true-life" adventure dramas. These films included the Technicolor Ivory Hunter (1951) and West of Zanzibar (1954).
In the early 1950s, Norman produced one of the classic British war dramas of the decade, The Cruel Sea (1953),which made a major star out of its lead, Jack Hawkins.
By 1955, Norman had begun directing his own films, starting with the suspenseful The Night My Number Came Up (1955). He followed this with a well-observed Australian-set character drama, The Shiralee (1957),and a sci-fi drama, X the Unknown (1956).
Norman also directed the stiff-upper-lip wartime epic Dunkirk (1958),which was Ealing's most expensive venture to date. His last notable directorial effort was the character study Jungle Fighters (1961),which featured excellent performances from his cast, including Laurence Harvey and Richard Todd.
In addition to his work in film, Norman directed episodes of cult action series, such as The Saint (1962),The Baron (1966),Department S (1969),and The Persuaders! (1971),during the 1960s and 1970s.
