John Merritt was a British film and television editor, writer, and director. He was born on June 9, 1920 in London. He died on July 6, 1999 in Bristol, England. While John Merritt has a list of 20 credits on IMBD in all three of the categories listed above, he is most famous for his work as an editor.
Notable Works
Merritts first major work came in 1963 on John Boorman's 5 part docuseries Citizen 63 this series was produced by BBC West, and followed five British individuals "as they confronted and conformed to the problems and pressures of everyday life in Britain in 1963." According to the book "The Cinema of John Boorman" this docu series was "the most popular and influential of Boorman's BBC projects." This early work helped Merritt to cultivate a good relationship with Boorman. Merritt would go on to work with Boorman on some of his most famous films, the first being the now infamous cult classicZardoz. After working on Zardoz with Boorman, Merritt was hired by Boorman again to the editorial crew of , the sequel to one of the most famous horror movies of all time The Exorcist. Apparently Boorman was happy with Merritt's work thus farm as he hired him again four years later as the head editor for his retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, Excalibur. This film was based on the 15th-century Arthurian romanceLe Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. While Excalibur did not do very well with critics, the New York Times said it "lumbers along" and "accumulates no momentum." it has done quite well with audiences as it currently has 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. While John Merritt is not widely known, his working repeatedly with infamous writer/director John Boorman is a statement to his great skill in the editorial field.
Filmography
Editor
The Lively Arts - But Still We Sing In Deepest Britain -Web of the Waterways Sea Tales: The Return -Miss Barraclough
Demolition Man Country Tales -The Gallops Man A Secret Place Zardoz The French Way -Desastre, Catastrophe, Cataclysme, Apocalypse -The Blacksmith, the Baker, the Black Pudding Maker -Goosey, Goosey, Gander Sunday Night -The Quarry: Portrait of a Man as a Paralysed Artist Grass Roots The Newcomers -Waiting -A Celebration -Out There in the Night -The Good Life -The Beginning Citizen 63 -Frank George -Marion Knight -Richard Callicott -Barry Langford In View -The Big Stride -Six Days to Saturday Look -Seaquaria -South of the Roaring Forties -The Story of a Hyena The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp
