Director, producer, screenwriter, film critic. Tony Richardson (1928-1991) held every one of these distinctions over his long and prolific career, but he's best remembered as a leading figure of the Free Cinema and British New Wave movements, which produced many great filmmakers and shed light on the plight of England's post-war working class in the late 50s and early 60s. His films Look Back in Anger, The Entertainer, A Taste of Honey, and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner helped define this era of "kitchen sink" realism, their shared cynical, bleak tone lamenting Britain's decline from an industrialized Western powerhouse to a shell of its former self.

We'll revisit these beloved films, Richardson's tumultuous marriage to the great Vanessa Redgrave, his role in the prison break of a former British spy, and more in today's episode. Listen, subscribe, and comment on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, and don't forget to stay up to date with the show by following on Instagram @closedsetpodcast. Kisses many.