Dirk de Villiers explained

Dirk de Villiers
Other Names:The Godfather
Birth Date:26 July 1924
Birth Name:Dirk de Villiers
Birth Place:Douglas, Northern Cape
Death Place:Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town
Nationality:South African
Years Active:1942–2004
Spouse:Addy (1950–1973)
Miems Swanepoel (1992)
Children:5 including Gys de Villiers
Occupation:Director, producer, writer, editor

Dirk de Villiers (26 July 1924 – 28 December 2009), was a South African filmmaker.[1] Considered as the most prolific filmmaker and 'Godfather' in South African film industry, de Villiers has made several critically acclaimed films in a career spanned for more than six decades.[2] [3]

Personal life

He was born on 26 July 1924 on the farm Villieria in Douglas, Northern Cape, South Africa in a family with five siblings. His mother died when he was four years old and father is a farmer who continued farming inherited from Cornelius Valkenburg de Villiers. After mother died, Dirk and his brother Niel were sent from aunt to aunt. He later grew up on the banks of the Vaal River where he went to several schools in Jagersfontein, Marquard and Bethlehem.

He was married to the actress Addy from 1950 until divorced in 1973. The couple had five children including Gys de Villiers. Gys is also a popular actor and playwright in South African cinema and theater. He had a relationship with Miems Swanepoel for few years since 1992.

On 24 December 2009, he suffered heart attack and rushed into Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town. However, he died on 28 December 2009 at the age of 89, due to lung infection and heart failure.

Career

In 1942, de Villiers started acting in many dramas for the Johannesburg Afrikaans Amateur Actors (JAATS). Then he founded National Theater Organization along with Schalk Theron. Along with drama, he studied mechanical engineering, where he later worked in the Cape Town harbor. Then he went to London for a course in marine engineering. After returning, he became a ship engineer.

He started film career as an actor with the film Kruger Millions directed by Ivan Hall. In the film, he played the role of a traitorous member of the Cavalier suicide commando. He also acted in the films,,, Kniediep, Kruger miljoene en Stadig oor die klippe. Piet my niggie, Kavaliers. He directed his maiden feature film Jy Is My Liefling. The film starred Franz Marx in his first film role and Min Shaw. After the commercial success of the film, he made the blockbuster films, Die Geheim Van Nantes. The film is an adaptation of the famous Springbok Radio serial, starring the entire voice cast. In 1968 he made his first full-length film, You Are My Darling and established as a professional filmmaker.[4]

In 1972, de Villiers made thriller movie My Broer Se Bril. Then in 1974, he directed two films Met Liefde Van Adele and The Virgin Goddess. Meanwhile in 1976, he made his first internationally acclaim movies Glenda and Die diamantjagters. In 1978, he made euthanasia-oriented drama titled Besluit om te sterf. Meanwhile, de Villiers founded Roodepoort Amateur Theater Organization (RATO). Some of his popular feature films include: Geheim van Nantes, Kalahari Harry, Die Spaanse Vlieg, Daan en Doors op die dieggins, My broer se bril, Tant Ralie se losieshuis, Die lewe sonder jou, Die drie Van der Merwes, Met liefde van Adéle, My naam is Dingetjie, Witblits en Peach Brandy, Dingetjie en Idi, Die wit sluier en Kaalgat tussen die daisies.

Apart from cinema, de Villiers also made popular television serials such as Arende, Meeulanders and Jantjie kom huis toe where the latter is considered as the first television series with a brown cast in South Africa. In 1990, he won the Artes Award for Best Director of a Dramatic Work for the serial Arende. The serial also won Artes Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Work and for Best Contribution to Production Services. With numerous awards at local award festivals, Arende later distributed as Cape Rebel in 52 countries. De Villiers then made two more sequels to the serial as well.

Meanwhile, de Villiers moved to direct English films, such as The Snake Dancer, which was based on the life of the famous stripper Glenda Kemp. Kemp herself played the lead role in the film. In the English film That English Woman, de Villiers discussed on the life of Emily Hobhouse and then in Abakoshobezi on the life of a black physician returning to his homeland after qualification.

In 2008, de Villiers was honoured at the Klein Karoo Arts Festival for his contribution to the South African film industry. He has made 25 feature films and 13 documentaries. In 2010, he was posthumously honored by the South African Film and Television Industry (Safta) for his lifetime dedication and contribution towards South African cinema.

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref.
1963 Huis op Horings Actor: Manie Film
1964 Piet my Niggie Actor: Hendrik Tallerman Film
1966 Kavaliers Actor: Gen. de Wet Film
1967 Kruger Miljoene Actor: van der Lindt Film
1967 The Cape Town Affair Actor: Officer at security briefing Film
1967 Hoor My Lied Actor: Former patient of Dawid Film
1968 Jy is My Liefling Director, writer, Actor: van der Merwe Film
1969 Geheim van Nantes Director, screenplay Film
1969 Stadig oor die Klippe Actor: Bosman Film
1970 Die 3 v.d. Merwes Director Film
1971 A New Life Director Film
1972 Die Lewe Sonder Jou Director, writer, Actor: Martin Film
1972 My Broer se Bril Director, writer Film
1973 Die Wit Sluier Director, screenplay, Actor: Dr. Fritz Film
1974 Pens en Pootjies Director, executive producer Film
1974 La diosa virgen Director, producer, writer, Actor: Flint Film
1974 Tant Ralie se Losieshuis Director, Actor: Tommy Film
1974 Met Liefde van Adéle Director, producer, story, screenplay Film
1975 My Naam is Dingetjie Director, Actor: Mr. Roberts Film
1975 The Kingfisher Caper Director, Actor: Les Film
1975 Daan en Doors Oppie Dieggins Director, story, screenplay, Actor: Rival digger Film
1976 Snake Dancer Director, producer Film
1977 Die Ryk Weduwee Director TV series
1977 Crazy People: 'n Mal Mensdom Director, Actor: Afrikaans narrator Film
1977 Dingetjie & Idi Director, producer Film
1978 Die Spaanse Vlieg Director Film
1978 Decision to Die Director Film
1978 Witblits & Peach Brandy Director, screenplay Film
1979 Charlie Word 'n Ster Director, screenplay Film
1979 Herfsland Actor: Senator Gideon Scheepers TV series
1980 Nie Vanweë die Duisternis Actor TV series
1980 April 1980 Actor: Gaffie Krige TV series
1981 Interster Producer TV series
1984 Jantjie Director TV series
1986 Suidpunt-Hotel Director TV series
1986 You Gotta Be Crazy! Director, Actor: HimselfTV series
1986 Ou Grote Director TV series
1986 Abashokobezi Director TV series
1989 Cape Rebel Director, producer TV series
1990 That Englishwoman: An Account of the Life of Emily Hobhouse Director, producer Film
1991 Die Allemans Producer TV series
1992 Arende II: MoordenaarsKaroo Director, producer TV series
1993 Arende III: Dorsland Director, producer, Actor: Crazy man TV series
1994 Kalahari Harry Director, producer, screenplay Film
1994 Arende Director Film
1996 Meeulanders Producer TV movie
1997 Kaalgat Tussen die Daisies Producer, Actor: Kowus Pelzer TV series
1999 Hunt for the Man in the Moon Producer TV series
2001 Lied van die Lappop Director, producer TV series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DIRK DE VILLIERS: DIRECTOR, ACTOR, PRODUCER . MUBI . 14 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Dirk de Villiers: The credits roll for pioneering SA filmmaker . Sunday Times . 14 October 2020.
  3. Web site: BREAKING. Dirk de Villiers dies, was The Godfather of South African film industry. . teeveetee . 14 October 2020.
  4. Web site: FILMS DIRECTED BY Dirk De Villiers . letterboxd . 14 October 2020.