A reassessment of the life and work of Stanley Baker
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Department Name: Film and Media
Abstract
Stanley Baker is one of only a hand full of welsh-born actors to have a become a major film star. His rise to fame took him from an impoverished childhood in south Wales to international stardom in films such as Zulu and accident. As well as being an important figure in from of the camera, he became a producer and film executive, whilst never losing his links with his welsh background. This study offers the first in-depth examination of his life and career, on that sheds considerable light on the image of Welsh national identity and masculinity which he projected.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Robert Shail (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Robert Shail
(2010)
Don't Look Now: British Cinema in the 1970s
Shail Robert
(2008)
Stanley Baker: A Life in Film
| Description | I was able to write the first comprehensive account of the work of a key cultural figure in Wales in the twentieth century. Baker's impact went beyond stardom and covered film production, television (as a founder of HTV) and politics (as a media consultant for the Labour Party) |
| Exploitation Route | The history of Welsh cinema has been covered in terms of a broad overview but there remain many neglected figures who have played a role in projecting Wales internationally. I hope that my work will be followed by further studies which take scholarship beyond the familiar topic of Richard Burton. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | The major use of my findings was the publication of a monograph, Stanley Baker: A Life in Film (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008). In addition, I have published a related article in an edited collection, given several conference papers and public talks based on this work and been interviewed for national media outlets on the subject. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | 'Stanley Baker and British Lion: A Cautionary Tale' at the Don't Look Now?: British Cinema in the 1970s conference, University of Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference paper at major event on 1970s British cinema which led to publication of the paper in an edited collection. See above. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | 'Stanley Baker and Changing Masculinities in British Cinema', invited paper at Swansea University. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An invited paper at Swansea University. Attended by academic colleagues from another Welsh university which led to extended discussions on the topic. Wider appreciation of the work of Stanley Baker among professional colleagues in Wales. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | 'Stanley Baker's Zulu and the Mythology of Welsh Heroism' at Film and History Conference: Film and Myth, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A conference paper at a major international event. Created a great deal of interest among American academics not familiar with the subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | 'Stanley Baker: A Life in Film', public talk at Welsh arts centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A public talk at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan with Q & A session. Aroused considerable interest in my monograph. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Introduction to 50th anniversary screening of Zulu at Chapter Arts, Cardiff. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Introductory talk to the public at a commemorative event for Stanley Baker with strong attendance. Much discussion afterwards with members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Various interviews for television and radio. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I have taken part in a number of radio programmes for BBC Wales in relation to the career of Stanley Baker including for the Histories of Wales series broadcast in 2012. I was advisor to BBC Wales for the television programme on Baker as part of the Welsh Greats series (2010). I have also given interviews to BBC Radio 4's The Film Programme. Most recently I was interviewed for an ITV Wales programme on Stanley Baker broadcast in the spring of 2014. Wide dissemination of information on Baker occurred as a result of these activities and his public profile was maintained and extended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2009,2010,2012,2014 |