Hollywood hero celebrated as blue plaque unveiled in hometown

Hollywood hero celebrated as blue plaque unveiled in hometown

A giant of the film industry received a posthumous celebration in his hometown last week, with a blue plaque commemorating his life unveiled at Atherton Town Hall.

With two Academy Awards, five BAFTAs, and an Order of the British Empire for his contributions to film, Geoffrey Unsworth is revered as one of the pioneers of cinema, with his style and slick production becoming the benchmark for many future filmmakers.

And while Geoffrey’s career took him to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, it was Atherton where his story began, with the cinematographer born to parents Edith and Benjamin shortly before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for culture at Wigan Council, said: “Geoffrey Unsworth was a huge figure in the film industry and has left an iconic legacy, so it was a privilege to recognise his life and achievements at Atherton Town Hall.

“He worked on some of the biggest films of his time and his achievements cannot be understated, so I hope that this blue plaque inspires the creative people in our borough and serves as a permanent reminder of what people can achieve in the Arts.”

Baptised at St John the Baptist Parish Church in Atherton, Unsworth moved down to London to follow his passion for film, and his work as a cinematographer and Director of Photography led to him working on almost 90 films in a career that spanned more than 40 years.

Responsible for the visual appearance and mood of a film, some of his most notable cinematic work includes 2001: A Space Odyssey, Murder on the Orient Express, Superman, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Cabaret, and Tess, with the latter two leading to Academy Award wins for Best Cinematography.

Unsworth also enjoyed a long and happy marriage with Magaret Shipway, a former ‘continuity girl’ or script supervisor, until his untimely death in 1978, aged 64, when he suffered a heart attack while filming for the Roman Polanski-directed Tess in Paris.

Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, 14 October, Leigh and Atherton MP, Jo Platt said: “Geoffrey Unsworth was one of cinema’s most visionary artists – who rose from humble beginnings in Atherton to become one of the most revered cinematographers in the film history.

“Geoffrey’s work wasn’t just beautiful, it was bold. The films he worked on are a masterclass in visual storytelling, and his incredible legacy lives on through the frames and films that we still love today.

“I hope that Geoffrey’s plaque stands monolith like the legacy he has created and sends a message to the future generations in Atherton and beyond, to embrace their artistic ambitions and dream big.”

With Unsworth’s blue plaque serving as a lasting tribute in his hometown, the ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Wigan Borough, Councillor Jenny Bullen, Wigan Council’s Chief Executive, Alison McKenzie-Folan, Leigh and Atherton MP, Jo Platt, and local councillors, as well as historian Brian Joyce and Maree Houghton, who nominated the cinematographer for the scheme.

Launched in 2018, Wigan Council’s blue plaque scheme sees permanent memorials installed in public places across the borough, highlighting the impact these recipients have made on local heritage and culture.

Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive at Wigan Council, said: “The blue plaque scheme was started in 2018 to shine a light on the prominent people across our borough.

“The scheme helps us to share personal stories and celebrate the lives of people who have gone before us, while also showing how important heritage and culture is to our borough.

“As a council, we are really proud to have a forward-thinking cultural strategy that supports young people and the Arts, and with exciting projects in the pipeline and the borough recognised as a film-friendly region, it is clear to see the legacy that people like Geoffrey have left behind.”