David Korda, British Producer and Scion of Famous Filmmaking Family, Dies at 87

As I reflect upon the life of David Korda, a British film producer and financier who hailed from a dynasty of illustrious filmmakers, I am left in awe of his six-decade long career that spanned various aspects of the cinematic world. His father, Zoltan Korda, was a director of films such as “The Four Feathers” and “Cry, the Beloved Country,” while his mother, Joan Gardner, was an actress known for roles in “The Scarlett Pimpernel” and “Dark Journey.” His uncles, Alexander and Vincent Korda, were also prominent figures in the film industry.

David Korda, a well-known British movie producer and investor with roots in a distinguished line of filmmakers that included his father Zoltan Korda, passed away at the age of 87.

On November 16, film historian Charles Drazin announced on social media that Alexander Korda had passed away. According to Drazin, Korda lost his life at Cromwell Hospital in London on September 18 after a long fight against cancer. Initially, the news of Korda’s demise was shared by The Hollywood Reporter.

Zoltan Korda, a film director recognized for movies like “The Four Feathers” (1939) and “Cry, the Beloved Country” (1951), was the father of the person we’re discussing. Joan Gardner, an actress famous for her roles in films such as “The Scarlett Pimpernel” (1934) and “Dark Journey” (1937), was his mother. Alexander Korda, their uncle, established London Films, a production company that owned British Lion Films. This company produced classics like “The Private Life of Henry VIII” (1933) and “The Third Man” (1949). Vincent Korda, another uncle, was an art director who won an Oscar for his work.

Throughout a career lasting over six decades, David Korda was responsible for creating movies like “Hamburger Hill” (1987) and “After the Rain” starring Paul Bettany in 1999. As a film financier, he collaborated with director Francis Ford Coppola on the production of “The Outsiders” (1983) and “Rumble Fish.

Before studying at Pomona College and Oxford, Korda had previously attended the Lycée in South Kensington and the International School in Geneva. Following his education, Korda established a theater company along with Polish actor-director Wladek Sheybal in 1960. The company received financial backing from Zoltàn and would eventually feature performances by notable actors like Eileen Atkins, Prunella Scales, and Jeremy Brett.

A year after Zoltán’s passing, Korda assisted on Peter Brook’s 1963 film “Lord of the Flies.” For producer Charles H. Schneer, he gathered footage for upcoming films like “Siege of the Saxons,” “East of Sudan,” and “Land Raiders.” Regarding his use of film sequences from “The Four Feathers,” Korda remarked, “I couldn’t help but feel that my father must have been spinning in his grave.

During his later professional years, Korda held positions such as unit manager for the 1967 Paramount musical “Half a Sixpence,” producer for “The Ruling Class” and “Man Friday.” Subsequently, he worked on independent films in production supervisor roles and served as an associate producer for Hemdale Productions on “Sunburn” and “Annie and Little Britches” from the 1970s.

In the year 1980, he took up the position of London-based production executive at Film Finances. While working there, the company backed productions like “The Terminator,” “Romancing the Stone,” and “Nightmare on Elm Street.” He parted ways with Film Finances in 1985 to assume the role of head of production at a reborn RKO.

Korda is survived by a son, Nik, and a daughter, Lerryn.

2024-11-17 00:16

David Korda, British Producer and Scion of Famous Filmmaking Family, Dies at 87

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