He was born in the district of Edgeley in Stockport, Cheshire. In the 1930s he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably on The Lady Vanishes (1938), Alfred Hitchcock's last British film. His directorial debut was Millions Like Us (1943). From 1945 he also worked as a producer, starting with The Rake's Progress, which he also wrote and directed.
He often worked with Frank Lauder, with whom he made over 40 films, most famously the four St Trinian's School comedies.
Gilliat's considerable achievement was to transmute this unlikely source into a true comedy.
Gilliat has accurately described Green For Danger as "a film presented in quotation marks." He allows the viewer to share his evident discomfort at trading in stereotypes, but without nudges or winks he establishes a bond with the audience and never breaks faith.
Gilliat steadfastly refuse to condescend to his material and by sheer imagination transcends the genre.
SidneyGilliat (February 15, 1908–May 31, 1994) was a British film director, producer and writer.
He was born in the district of Edgeley in Stockport, Cheshire.
While Launder concentrated on directing their comedies, most famously the four St Trinian's School films, Gilliat showed a preference for comedy-thrillers and dramas, including Green for Danger (1946), London Belongs to Me (1948) and State Secret (1950).
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