John Glen (born May 15, 1932) is a retired English film director, film editor, and author born in Sunbury-on-Thames.
During The '60s and The '70s, he was an editor and second unit director on films such as The Italian Job, Shout at the Devil, Superman and The Wild Geese. He started working in the same jobs on Eon Productions' James Bond film franchise with On Her Majesty's Secret Service, followed by The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. He then got promoted to director for For Your Eyes Only, and went on to helm all five Bond films of The '80s. He holds the record for most prolific director in the franchise to date.
Not to be confused with the British Conservative politician of the same name, nor the American astronaut and politician John Glenn (note the double "n").
Notable works directed by him:
- Man in a Suitcase (1968, 1 episode)
- James Bond:
- For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- Octopussy (1983)
- A View to a Kill (1985)
- The Living Daylights (1987, plus the a-ha music video)
- Licence to Kill (1989)
- Aces: Iron Eagle III (1992)
- Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)
- Space Precinct (1994-1995, 8 episodes)
- The Point Men (2001)
Tropes and Trivia in his works:
- Bat Scare: All of his Bond films have 007 being suddenly startled by an animal's sudden appearance in the picture (pigeons, cat, tiger, monkey and so on).
- Creator Thumbprint:
- The Bat Scare (see above).
- His James Bond movies also feature the number 10 in various scenes.
- Double Take: The infamous pigeon double take in Moonraker was his idea (he was a second unit director on the film).
- Production Posse: Outside the obvious one within the James Bond series, he went on to cast his favourite Bond girl Maryam d'Abo several times after The Living Daylights.
- Stock Sound Effects: All of Glen's Bond films feature a character who dies by falling from a height, in a sequence commonly accompanied by the same "male scream" sound effect.
