Cliff Twemlow

Cliff Twemlow

Birth : 1933-10-16, Manchester, England

Death : 1993-05-05

History

Twemlow was a one time night club bouncer and avid movie fan who entered the film world via working as a stuntman. Based in the Manchester area, Twemlow came into his own by starring in a series of extremely low budget action films mostly shot on videotape. The first, 1983's G.B.H., was a true labour of love for Twemlow in which he not only played the lead role but also produced, co-ordinated the stunts and wrote the music for all under a variety of pseudonyms. It features Twemlow as an embittered former night club bouncer called Steve Donovan a.k.a. 'The Mancunian', drawn back into the violent world of Manchester club land. This was a world Twemlow knew only too well, his autobiography published around the time of the film's video release was called 'Tuxedo Warrior: Tales of a Mancunian Bouncer'. Although boasting fine performances from such curiosities as 3-2-1 voiceover man Anthony Schaeffer and stand up comedian Jerry Harris, most of the cast were merely Twemlow's mates from the local gym and fellow stuntmen. Movie buff Cliff filled the film with references to the likes of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and did the music under the name 'John Agar'. GBH very much set the tone for Cliff Twemlow's unique blend of cinema, with impressive stunt ridden set pieces, heavy emphasis on Manchester settings and Mancunian characters plus lots of very Northern humour. A modest success GBH begat around 13 Twemlow vehicles filmed throughout the 80s and 90s. Mostly directed by David Kent-Watson they include the horror themed The Eye of Satan (1988) and a GBH sequel called Lethal Impact (1991) which was shot in Malta, Liverpool and naturally Manchester. Twemlow was also a horror novelist penning the paperbacks 'The Beast of Kane' and 'The Pike', the latter of which was meant to be made into a film starring Joan Collins which never happened. Sadly Twemlow passed away in 1993, but his two fisted legacy of action films and horror paperbacks is well worth celebrating.

Profile

Cliff Twemlow

Movies

Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life Of Cliff Twemlow
Self (archive footage)
Go back to the 1980s and discover the extraordinary true story of Cliff Twemlow! You’ve never heard of him… but polymath Twemlow was a nightclub bouncer, novelist, composer, singer, screenwriter, producer and actor who was the most prolific indie filmmaker in the UK for a decade! Witness how this 20th-century Renaissance man created his own innovative micro-film industry in Manchester. Shooting his feature films on clunky early pioneering video technology, G.B.H. (1983) was even branded a Video Nasty! A warmly hilarious portrait that will take you back to an era where literally anything could happen. And did!
The Eye of Satan
Kane
Since the beginning of time man has always had an inherent fear of darkness, haunted by the belief that hidden in the black chambers of night, dark and powerful satanic forces are watching and waiting to strike some poor unsuspecting soul. Now the belief becomes reality in the form of Kane, soldier of Satan. He is here to prepare for his masters return. Kane must also recover the Eye of Satan taken from a ritual chamber somewhere in Africa. The jewel posses strange demonic powers. Kane always travels in the company of a black panther. Harry Bronstien underworld gang lord, manages to locate the jewel and persuades Kane to eliminate the opposition in return for the information. Kane accepts the offer. Bronstien is soon to realise the power of Kane.
Bad Weekend
Screenplay
Deep in the woods lives a hermit called Taggett who thinks that aliens inhabit the woods, On the way through the woods A group of local ruffians encounter Taggett and a fight ensues as He thinks they are aliens, Later Hawk decides to rape Kim Ferguson, and then her Father ( David Rankin ) seeks revenge.
Bad Weekend
Hawk
Deep in the woods lives a hermit called Taggett who thinks that aliens inhabit the woods, On the way through the woods A group of local ruffians encounter Taggett and a fight ensues as He thinks they are aliens, Later Hawk decides to rape Kim Ferguson, and then her Father ( David Rankin ) seeks revenge.
Lethal Impact
Steve Donovan
After the death of his niece Catherine who was raped and murdered by a paedophile ring, Steve Donovan goes on the trail of every member and in true death wish tradition, blows them all to kingdom come.
Predator: The Quietus
Writer
A New York reporter investigates disappearances in an English village, where she must overcome their distrust while dealing with a evil force.
Predator: The Quietus
Kane
A New York reporter investigates disappearances in an English village, where she must overcome their distrust while dealing with a evil force.
The Ibiza Connection
Wolf Svenson
A story within a story about the making of a movie called "Thunderflash" about a specially designed car called "Striker"
G.B.H.
Music
Superstar bouncer Steve Donovan is pulled back into the world of gang violence when he accepts the role of door protector at an upmarket club in Manchester.
G.B.H.
Producer
Superstar bouncer Steve Donovan is pulled back into the world of gang violence when he accepts the role of door protector at an upmarket club in Manchester.
G.B.H.
Writer
Superstar bouncer Steve Donovan is pulled back into the world of gang violence when he accepts the role of door protector at an upmarket club in Manchester.
G.B.H.
Steve Donovan
Superstar bouncer Steve Donovan is pulled back into the world of gang violence when he accepts the role of door protector at an upmarket club in Manchester.
Tuxedo Warrior
Writer
A jaded soldier-of-fortune who runs a bar in Zimbabwe aids a bank-robbing couple in their attempt to evade the authorities.
Tuxedo Warrior
Chaser
A jaded soldier-of-fortune who runs a bar in Zimbabwe aids a bank-robbing couple in their attempt to evade the authorities.
Mary Millington's True Blue Confessions
Music
A tribute to Britain's number one sex symbol of the 1970's - Mary Millington. Made a year after her tragic death, this film uses archive footage from all aspects of her life, from intimate interviews to adult modelling.