michael_gothard_archive

Scream and Scream Again: informal photo

2026-03-05T22:05:00Z

In this photo, you can see the Austin-Healey driven by Keith (Michael Gothard) in "Scream and Scream Again." You can also spot Michael and one of Keith's intended victims, Helen, played by Judy Bloom.

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Feature in "Fabulous 208" magazine

2026-02-26T22:57:18Z

Fabulous 208 was a British pop music magazine published between 1964 and 1980. To the right of this feature about Michael Gothard, was one featuring the pop group, Mud, and beneath it, one about Elton John.

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Warrior Queen: Episode 6: screencaps

2026-02-26T13:24:35Z

Roman Governor Suetonius Paulinus (Stanley Meadows) wonders whether the gods are against him, and begs Mithras for a sign.

The Iceni celebrate their victory. But Boudicca's daughter Camora (Veronica Roberts) is worried.
( Read more... )

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Satan's Slave: a part not taken

2026-01-13T11:41:39Z

In 1975, Michael Gothard was cast as one of the main protagonists, Stephen Yorke, in "Satan's Slave." This horror/sexploitation film involved occult ceremonies, rape and murder, and was filmed between 1 and 20 December 1975, on an extremely low budget.

Of the role of Stephen Yorke, Director, Norman J Warren said, "Michael Gothard (The Devils) was going to do our film, but right at the last minute, he backed out. We were in a desperate position so rang round some agents and they suggested Martin Potter ... He just became the character. It’s a part that if you got it wrong, it would be very silly, and it’s like a controlled madness. You just never know when he’s going to change.”

It seems like a role which - while Michael could have performed it to perfection - would have further cemented the type-casting which he wanted to avoid, as a villain with a touch of religion and a dose of insanity. Whether this, or one of his intermittent periods of depression, was the reason he pulled out of the role, is unknown.

It may be that this was the project to which his musician friend Xavier was referring, when he said that Michael "could go for weeks on end just not wanting to join the rest of the world, and that at one time he’d had to drop out of a project in the early stages, because he just couldn’t force himself to go to the studio."

The film seems to have been fairly grim to watch, and received mixed reviews.

Full article in Starburst magazine.

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Warrior Queen: episode 5: screencaps

2026-01-13T11:06:55Z

Boudicca's daughter Camora (Veronica Roberts) finds that Kuno (Darien Angadi) has killed his two companions.
She follows his trail, and watches.

He meets with Roman Governor Suetonius Paulinus (Stanley Meadows).
( Read more... )

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Warlords of Atlantis: lobby cards

2026-01-13T10:52:32Z

The above lobby card was from German fansite

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Emile Leopold Locque collectors' cards

2026-01-11T18:21:59Z

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For Your Eyes Only: Mad magazine spoof

2026-01-11T17:14:20Z

In March 1982, Mad Magazine spoofed "For Your Eyes Only."

Here are the panels feature Emile Leopold Locque's alter-ego, Emile Loxx.

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Saxophone recording with Jan Dukes de Grey

2026-01-11T14:57:25Z

During 1976-77, Michael was invited to play the tenor saxophone on an album entitled "Strange Terrain", with a band known as "Jan Dukes De Grey."

According to Discogs, he features on a single track, "Darker Shade of Grey."

From the Wikipedia entry for the band:

In the meanwhile, starting in late 1975, Noy had renewed acquaintance with Pink Floyd and had begun discussing the possibility of a solo-project on the side. This new incarnation of Jan Dukes de Grey would consist primarily of Noy, with Dellar, McElroy, and the newly added keyboardist Peter Lemer providing backup. Additional guests including former Jan Dukes de Grey members as well as a slew of other musicians and personalities would also contribute to songs in an ad hoc manner.

At the time, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason was heavily involved with Britannia Row Studios and Noy was offered a production deal in 1976 for a new Jan Dukes de Grey album to be recorded at Britannia Row. The third Jan Dukes de Grey album, Strange Terrain took just over a year to complete and cost nearly £100,000 to make.

Guest performers on various tracks included Ray Cooper, actor Michael Gothard (playing saxophone), and actress Lydia Lisle, among others. The album was never released and the band dissolved for good shortly afterward. The third and final album at last saw a release in 2010 under the Cherrytree label.”

Michael's love of Pink Floyd's music may have helped persuade him to appear on this album.

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Links to various sites pertaining to Michael Gothard

2026-01-11T12:28:30Z

Filmography on IMDB

Britmovie discussion board

Find-A-Grave memorial

Amnesty International Remembrance Wall: remembrance notice in memory of Michael Gothard is the 11th message from the bottom.

Susie Morgana’s Tribute site on Weebly

Tribute group on Facebook

Photos on Rex Features

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Links to Michael's work available on Youtube

2026-01-11T12:11:36Z

Career Retrospective by Thomas Jahnsen

2026-01-11T11:48:23Z

Thomas Jahnsen has produced this wonderful look at Michael Gothard's film career.

The Actor in the Machine (Career Retrospective)

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The Four Musketeers: still

2025-03-30T17:45:56Z

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Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? - lobby card

2024-07-21T20:49:44Z

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The Devils: French lobby card

2024-06-14T21:09:32Z

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The Last Valley: Chinese publicity

2024-02-17T21:51:13Z

It is perhaps unsurprising that a film of this epic scope and quality would appeal to the Chinese market.

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Plot synopsis discrepancy

2024-01-25T12:40:47Z

In the plot synopsis supplied in press pack, the death of Michael Gothard's character, Hansen, is described as follows:

"Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him."

However, this is not how Hansen dies - in fact, we don't witness his death on film.

The Captain does fire a shot, hitting either Hansen or his horse, which falls on top of him. Hansen then struggles out from under his horse, barely able to stand.

The child soldier, Julio, then runs from cover, and hits Hansen from behind, with a vicious blow from a flail. Hansen goes down, writhing on the ground, half-paralysed.

Hansen calls out for Vogel, obviously seeing him as the most compassionate of the triumvirate that now rules the village, and begs him: “Give me a knife. Don’t leave me alive. Please Vogel”, but Vogel is unmoved.

Hansen then calls to Father Sebastian: “Help me. I’m a Catholic, please for the love of God”, but the priest is equally impassive.

Then Hansen manages to turn to look at The Captain, saying, “He’s the Devil incarnate!”

The Captain just calls for one of his men, Graff, who stands over Hansen, and draws a small knife from his hat.

The Captain had already stated that the penalty for rape would be castration, and we are left to imagine what subsequently occurs.

Full plot synopsis as supplied:

Vogel (OMAR SHARIF), once a teacher, is now wandering, begging. He comes upon a beautiful village, untouched by the ravages and the Thirty Years’ War.

A band of ruthless mercenaries led by their captain (Michael Caine) surrounds the village and shortly thereafter Vogel begins a verbal battle for his life and the survival of the village. He convinces the Captain to spare these people and winter there away from the war, to protect the village in return for comfortable lodgings. After the Captain tells his men of the new plan, some of them rebel against it.

Inge Hoffman (MADELINE HINDE), innocent and very beautiful, and Erica (FLORINDA BOLKAN), elegant and fascinating, are returning to the village unaware of the soldiers’ presence. Some of the mercenaries begin to molest Inge, but she is led away by her father (ARTHUR O’CONNELL).

At the Captain’s request to see Gruber (NIGEL DAVENPORT), who is head of the village, Vogel finds him with his family and Father Sebastian (PER OSCARSSON), the village priest, at the shrine. Vogel tells him of the Captain’s bargain, and in spite of objections from the priest, Gruber agrees.

Vogel becomes very ill and is nursed back to health by Inge, Erica and Frau Hoffman (IRENE PRADOR).
The Captain himself wants Erica but she is Gruber’s mistress. Erica becomes his property when he challenges Gruber at dice and wins.

Tensions begin to tighten. Led by Father Sebastian, the villagers and Catholic soldiers are angered when the Captain moves the holy shrine. Vogel cools their tempers.

That evening at the shrine Hansen (MICHAEL GOTHARD) tries to rape Inge, but Vogel saves her. Later, Hansen and his men try unsuccessfully to ambush the Captain. They flee from the village, but Hansen vows to return with more men.

Inge tells Andreas (CHRISTIAN ROBERTS), her childhood sweetheart, that she will not marry him. She is in love with Vogel. The Captain, who falls in love with Erica, suspects her of witchcraft and questions her about her past.

Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him. The village is at peace for a short while. Then with news of approaching armies, the Captain prepares for war again and leaves with his men.

Father Sebastian and Gruber, fearful of the situation, go into hiding. Father Sebastian discovers Erica praying to Satan and condemns her to be burned as a witch. A mercenary left behind to protect the village fights with the priest and they fall into the fire to die with Erica.

When the Captain badly wounded, returns to the village, he meets Inge and Vogel in the forest, who warn him of an ambush ordered by Gruber. But he dies, before the attack. Vogel leaves the village alone and the valley is safe once more …

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Memories of Michael from former girlfriend, "Ange."

2023-11-24T12:15:31Z

Ange has kindly shared these memories with this archive.

I had a short relationship with Michael in the 1960s, and adored him, but it did not have much of a future. He was exquisitely sensitive; I tend to be over-sensitive too, so it was not a good match.

I think he tortured himself about everything when I first met him - typical of a man who grew up without his dad. Even when you are beautiful, you feel just as ugly as the ugliest person, if you are not sure you are acceptable. Makes no difference what you see in the mirror as you only see the imperfections and mind distortions.

We always think we are the one to heal this, but it seems no one did enough. Some men have gay friendships with an older man to work through it, but Mike was very fond of females!

I think I went to the upstairs venue with him for one of the lunchtime productions in Kentish Town or that area, and he was full of it, but I did not see it. I think maybe it was just over.

Hard to see him as a head boy or great athlete. Maybe he did a lot of marijuana or something in the interim, as he seemed far too moody and arty to have ever been that sort of person when I knew him. Mike was prone to sulks if he did not have all the attention.

I cared for him much more than most men I met, and he remains one of the big might-have-beens of my life. I tried to make it up with him after a row about nothing, but could not make out whether he wanted to or not.

I never forgot him, and seeing his floppy-haired, tall figure in the street now and then – we both were in Hampstead – used to cheer me up a lot, but we never talked. People round Hampstead used to say he looked like Mick Jagger but he was cuter than Jagger to look at! I suppose the reason I never met him socially again, after the end of round one, was that he had gone to live over Kentish Town way.

About 10 - 15 years later, I met him somewhere or other, and we stayed up talking all night – until he left in a mood, looking cross. I can't remember anything we talked about, except that when we first met, he had told me his dad was Swedish, but when I mentioned this, he looked bemused and puzzled, and said his dad was a doorman, at a theatre or hotel, I think, in London. Perhaps he had located his dad as an adult.

I was devastated to hear of his death. I am inclined to think Sean McCormick is right - I am sure the pills killed him, as I have seen it so often with people. We moody buggers usually cope with being down, because we know we will feel happy again at some point. But add pharmaceuticals to the mix ...

It is good that someone has made a memorial for him. I hope he knows he is not forgotten, and has a strong web presence. It is so sad he did not live into a philosophical and respected older age, to appear in The Grand Marigold Hotel. Imagine that!

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Publicity photo

2023-07-19T21:36:51Z

This is a publicity photo sent out by the William Morris Agency - exact date, and photographer, unknown.

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Memories of working with Michael Gothard on "The Excavation", from Natasha Pyne

2021-12-04T18:07:17Z

Despite the fact that it was 55 years since she had appeared in "The Excavation", Natasha Pyne very kindly responded to a request for any memories of the production.

This is what she said:

"‘The Excavation’ was a play for BBC TV, producer Graeme McDonald, director James Ferman, that was transmitted live in the Thirty Minute Theatre slot in 1966.

Michael and I had a good, mutually supportive working relationship which helped hugely during the rigours and unpredictability of live television.

I remember that we had the amazing Bessie Love as voice coach which gave us the confidence to play with the Southern States accent of the young couple of dubious reputation that we were playing. We both enjoyed working with David Bauer.

The play was a three-hander and as far as I recall we all three survived... but I couldn't swear to that!!

And that’s about all I can remember about the job which happened a long time ago during a very busy period in my young career.

Best wishes, NP"

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"The Gondola", by Alfred Hayes, transcribed in play format: Act Two

2021-12-04T17:48:00Z

WARNING: the transcriber has retained all the dialogue present in the original story, including the racist and sexist language, which was in common use when the story was published in 1961.

Act 2

Twenty minutes later. Justin, carrying a quart bottle of rye in a brown paper bag, knocks on the door of Grady and Jackie’s flat, and enters.

Jackie: He took Rex out for a walk.

Justin takes off his coat and puts it on a chair.

Jackie: Is it colder out?

Jackie goes to the window and draws down the blind, then returns to the bed and sits down. Justin takes the bottle of rye out of the bag.

Justin: What did you decide?

Jackie: Grady’s thinking about it.

Justin: Does he always take the dog for a walk when he wants to think?

Jackie: Sometimes.

Justin: Shall I open this?

Jackie: Yeah.

Justin: There’s something I want you to understand, Jackie.

Jackie: What’s that?

Justin: I’m not here to judge you. We do what life’s made us do. We’re all, in a way, victims.

Jackie: How do you mean, victims?
( Read more... )

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"The Gondola", by Alfred Hayes, transcribed in play format: Act One

2021-12-04T17:45:44Z

WARNING: the transcriber has retained all the dialogue present in the original story, including the racist and sexist language, which was in common use when the story was published in 1961.

Act 1

A low rent part of town. A lawyer mounts the stairs to a flat, and knocks on the door. When no one answers, he knocks more insistently. The door opens a crack, and Grady’s blue eye looks out suspiciously.

Grady: Who is it? What do you want?

Justin: Grady Boland?

Grady: Boland?

Justin: Yes, Boland; because you’re Grady Boland, aren’t you?

Grady: Boland … Ain’t nobody here called Boland.

Justin: Except yourself; yourself and Jackie.

Grady: Jackie?

Justin: Yes, Jackie. Jackie Tarr.

Grady: Boland ... Boland? Boland …

Justin: The hall’s uncomfortable. Do you mind?

Grady admits Justin to the flat. A dog is present in the room. A female voice comes from the bathroom.

Jackie: Grady, who is it?
( Read more... )

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Herostratus shown at the Berlin International Film Festival, 1968

2021-11-02T14:01:22Z

On the last day of the Berlin International Film Festival, 2 July 1968, "Herostratus" was shown three times, at 15:00, 18:00 and 20:30. This is the press book produced for the film.

The English text reads:

Herostratus is the first feature film by Don Levy whose short films have been distinguished by their original technique and penetrating approach to their subject.

Herostratus is in the same tradition. The story, on the surface, seems simple. A young man wants to commit suicide publicly and in the presence of as many people as possible. He persuades a public relations firm to exploit the event … then he changes his mind … but by this time other forces are active and he is no longer in control of the situation.

Levy exposes his characters and their motives layer by layer. He does so in the context of a society whose aims and aspirations are centred on private gain and personal success, virtually at any price; in this society the idealism and humanism which can unify a country after a war are rapidly displaced by destructive self-interest. It is not enough, in Levy’s view, to say that war is hell. One must go deeper, find the causes, and attack them.

Herostratus, essentially a films d’auteur, is technically dazzling, but never in a gratuitous or bravura sense. Levy alternates “one-take” scenes (designed to gain the greatest response from the actors, who improvised their dialogue) with short scenes and “threshold” sequences making, in Levy’s words, an intricate network of emotional references.

Herostratus takes its title from the legendary figure who burnt down the temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the world, in a bid to achieve immortality by some great feat of destruction in the manner of the conquerors. On the same night Alexander the Great was born.

Archive comment:

It seems that the producers of the press book were struggling to make this film seem relevant. It is stated that, "It is not enough, in Levy’s view, to say that war is hell. One must go deeper, find the causes, and attack them", but it would be hard to pinpoint anywhere in the film where this message is obvious. The story, non-linear as it is, mostly seems to show that advertising executives are ruthless, cruel, and twisted individuals who can't be trusted.

The grandiosity of the last paragraph, which ends, "On the same night Alexander the Great was born", is totally out of keeping with bathos of the story's end, in which the struggling poet not only reneges on the deal he made, but accidentally kills the camera operator, while saving his own life, then flees the scene.

Disappointingly, they fail to give the excellent and visceral performances of the three principal actors the credit they deserve.

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9 January 1968: early showing of Herostratus

2021-10-31T13:27:01Z

According to "Variety" (17 January 1968), "Herostratus" was shown at Knokke-Le-Zoute International Experimental Film Festival in Belgium, on 9 January 1968.

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The Storyteller: still

2021-10-31T13:22:51Z

Brian (Michael Gothard), a "strange young man" in "The Storyteller."

Brian with Jan (Frances White).

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