Gandhi

Briley's script for Pope Joan (1972) attracted the interest of Richard Attenborough, although Attenborough was ultimately not involved in that project,^[7] and the film was critically panned.^[8] Several scripts for Attenborough's Gandhi project had been rejected, and Robert Bolt was scheduled to rewrite his own earlier draft when he suffered a stroke.^[7] Attenborough then turned to Briley.^[7] Briley shifted the focus of the narrative away from the point of view of the British in India to that of the Indian independence movement.^[7] He originally opposed Ben Kingsley in the title role, favouring John Hurt, but was later glad that Attenborough had cast Kingsley.^[7] Briley envisaged more emphasis on the relationship between Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, but Kingsley's towering performance came to dominate the finished film.^[7] Briley claims he and Attenborough were personally satisfied with the movie and unconcerned about any critical and commercial success.^[7] In the event, Briley's original screenplay won the Oscar and the Golden Globe.^[1][4][7] Attenborough later said of Briley, "He's a difficult bugger, a bit of a prima-donna, but the bastard's brilliant".^[9]

Later life

In 1985, Briley began developing a musical about Martin Luther King Jr.,^[10][11] writing the book and lyrics^[10] and acting as co-producer, originally for American Playhouse.^[11] He left the project in February 1989 after contract negotiations broke down.^[11] A different version opened in London in 1990. Briley attempted to obtain an injunction, claiming he had paid the King family $200,000 in personality rights.^[11]

In 1987, Briley again teamed up with Attenborough for Cry Freedom, about the South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.^[9] Briley had disagreements with Donald Woods, the journalist whose books formed the basis of the script.^[9] Briley viewed the nonviolence of the Black Consciousness Movement as principled, whereas Woods felt it was a tactical decision.^[9] Although Woods feared Briley lacked an awareness of the complexities of political debate among black South Africans, those shown a preview of the film felt it was realistic.^[9]

In 1993, Briley switched agents from International Creative Management to the William Morris Agency.^[12] In 1998, he was a founding partner of "the Film Makers Company", a venture intended to encourage film production in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was planning to relocate to there.^[13] He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival in 2000.^[14] He died on December 14, 2019, aged 94.^[15]

Unproduced scripts

Unproduced scripts on which Briley worked include: adaptations of Henderson the Rain King,^[2][16] Mister God, This Is Anna,^[2] White Fang,^[2] and his own novel How Sleep the Brave;^[2] biopics of Franz Kafka,^[16] Genghis Khan – to have been directed by Shin Sang-ok,^[16] Tina Modotti (A Fragile Life),^[2][17] Beryl Markham (West with the Night), and Pope John Paul II;^[18] The Cross and the Crescent,^[1] about Francis of Assisi and the Crusades;^[19] and a miniseries about the Italian Renaissance.^[20] Briley's adaptation of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible was dropped when Miller's son Robert secured production rights; Arthur Miller himself wrote the screenplay for the 1996 film.^[21]

Film

Other