Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Freddie Young, cinematographer, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of the film director Sydney Samuelson - while being presented with a blue plaque by the actor Peter O'Toole at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square.

Freddie, who was born in London, began his career in the film industry after leaving school at 14 when he joined Gaumont British film studios as an apprentice lab technician. By 18, he was an assistant cameraman. As a news cameraman at 21, he filmed the first ever Wembley Cup final in 1923, and in the same year, supervised the first ever talkie, White Cargo, at Elstree Studios.

In 1937, he made Victoria the Great - Britain's first feature using colour. During the Second World War, he made training films for the Army before spending 15 years as chief cameraman at MGM Studios. His collaboration with director David Lean won him 3 Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Ryan's Daughter.

"I've waited a long time for this, ladies and gentlemen - and I've finally got it! This is my life!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 951
• Subject No: 926
• Broadcast date: Fri 11 Oct 1996
• Broadcast time: 8.00-8.30pm
• Recorded: Sun 7 Jul 1996
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 37
• Edition: 4
• Code name: Lens

on the guest list...

• Joan - wife
• David - son
• Barbara - daughter
• Nick - grandson
• Chris - grandson
• Veronica - granddaughter
• Sydney Samuelson
• Omar Sharif
• Harvey Harrison
• Chili Bouchier
• Rita Tushingham
• John Mills
• Mary Hayley Bell
• Joss Ackland
• Lesley-Anne Down
• Rachel - great-granddaughter
• Giles - great-grandson
• Charles - brother
Filmed tributes:
• Rod Steiger
• Lynn Redgrave
• David Puttnam

related appearance...

• Sydney Samuelson - Jun 1994

production team...

• Researcher: Avril Norton
• Writer: Alec Lom
• Director: Rick Gardner
• Associate Producer: Sue Green
• Executive Producer: Gill Stribling-Wright
• Producer: John Graham

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

Reel Life

cinematic celebrations

Ratings slump sounds death knell for This Is Your Life

Press speculation on the future of This Is Your Life

Chili Bouchier

John Mills

Lynn Redgrave

Omar Sharif

Rita Tushingham

Screenshots of Freddie Young This Is Your Life