Michael Powell

“I make films for myself. What I express I hope most people will understand. For the rest, well, that's their problem”. Michael Powell was a notable British film director and producer, best remembered for his collaborations with Emeric Pressburger and progenitor of the contemporary slasher film. He entered the industry in 1925, doing still photography, and it was during those years that he met Hitchcock, with whom he shared a friendship. Later, he had directing responsibilities in different films, but he got his first credit as a director in Two Crowded Hours (1931). Years later, he met Emeric Pressburger and although they were very different, they considered that they had the same vision about films, and that they could work well together. The Spy in Black (1939) was the first collaboration between the two, who then, under the label “The Archers”, produced a series of classics of English cinema between 1940 and 1970. Many of these films were major commercial successes, while others generated critical debate. Among his most notable works were The Thief of Baghdad (1940) and The Red Shoes (1948). Powell directed Peeping Tom (1960), a highly controversial film for its time, considered disturbing, violent and morally questionable. The strong criticism he received hindered his career, although his reputation was restored years later and today, he is considered a masterpiece. Together with Emeric, they are considered one of the most outstanding duos of all time and have had a significant influence on leading film figures such as Martin Scorsese.