​"Four to Skegness, first class."

Don’t get me wrong, I love Billy Liar, and Saturday Night Sunday Morning. I’d read both books long before I saw the films. Which is always a disappointment.
In the case of these films however the screenplays were written by the authors. Alan Sillitoe for Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall for Billy Liar.
This is the ultimate defence against my favourite Philosophers greatest work. Roland Barthes and of course ‘Death of The Author’.
What better way to keep the author alive, than have him write the screenplay to his own novel!
In this battle of author screen plays I would give first place to ‘Billy Liar’. Or is this simply down to a battle of directors?

​Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was directed by Karel Reisz, a Czechoslovakian of Jewish descent who was lucky to escape to England in 1938. Karel Reisz joined the RAF as soon as he was old enough, which was at the later part of WW2. Tragically, both his parents died in Auschwitz. 
After the war Karel Reisz began writing about film. Going on to create a film journal entitled ‘Sequence’, with Lindsay Anderson. He was also writing for Sight and Sound which I’m sure is still around!
 
In contrast 'Billy Liar' was directed by  John Schlesinger, who had started out as an actor. Born in London his early TV appearances in ‘Robin Hood and Ivanhoe were directed by one of  (If Not The) Britain’s finest auteurs -  again… Lindsey Anderson! 
 
The screenplay for ‘The Loneliness of the long Distance Runner’ was, again written by the author. Alan Sillitoe. Anyone who has read a novel, then read a short story. Would agree that the difference is vast. In this case the screen play is an opportunity for the short story writer,  (Alan Sillitoe with a taste for film) to complete his original vision. The only film of the book to expand the plot with the narrative!?!  

​Directing the film of the short story and further screenplay by Alan Sillitoe. Was Tony Richardson. Richardson was already an acclaimed theatre director. You name it, ‘Look Back in Anger’, ‘The Entertainer’ with Laurence Olivier!  
 
Well, Tony Richardson worked a magic on the ‘Lonliness of … Silitoe short story/screenplay. In my opinion of course. 
This film is the basis of much to follow. Certainly Billy Liar benefited from 'The Loneliness of....' ; and later, 'Scum' took the ball and ran a mile with It. There Is an argument that most of the gritty crime caper film, TV series from the mid to late 1965’s owe a debt to this film.
Using genius Juxtaposition, transcending time, place. Film is able to expand on the original short story to create a narrative driven far beyond the constraints of the original story. Barthes 'Death of The Author' wins again? I think yes, in this case helped considerably by the Author? 
One of the only occasions I know, where film delights in its victory over literature. - Best pp x
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