Upon its release in 1973, Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, became a commercially successful and creatively significant film that profoundly impacted British cinema by challenging conventional narrative and visual styles. The film’s psychological horror, masterful and fractured editing (dubbed “Roegian”), and innovative use of montage to intercut time and foreshadow events pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable and expected in a mainstream genre thriller.
Though largely overlooked by the Academy Awards, Don’t Look Now secured significant recognition in its home country, most notably at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). The film was nominated for an impressive seven BAFTAs in 1974, including nominations in the top categories of Best Film, Best Direction for Roeg, Best Leading Actor for Sutherland, and Best Leading Actress for Christie. Its sole win was for Best Cinematography, which went to Anthony B. Richmond for his visual work.
It stands as a high point of 1970s British filmmaking and remains an influential work in the horror and psychological thriller genres. Revisiting the classic, author Justin John Doherty releases Don’t Look Now and Then, a comprehensive archive that unpacks the film’s making. The book is filled with over 400 pages of rare behind-the-scenes photos, production documents, interviews, and memoirs.
Doherty partnered with Studiocanal to release never-before-seen photos from the production and gathered fresh interviews from creatives involved in the making of the film, alongside historic interviews with Roeg, Sutherland, and Christie.
Doherty revisited Venice to interview art director Giovanni Soccol, who granted access to his personal archive of drawings for the book, and Italian maestro Pino Donaggio, who offered insight into composing his first-ever film score for the movie.
Another highlight is a signed letter from a delighted Daphne du Maurier, author of the original 1971 short story, to Roeg after she saw his film for the first time. “It is a strange feeling,” she tells him, “to sit and watch something one half-glimpsed some years ago… and then watch it transformed upon the screen.” “Please, one of these days, find another of my short stories to screen!” she concludes.
Don’t Look Now And Then is available directly from its publisher at DontLookNowBook.com, as well as from the BFI shop (Southbank, London), IDEA books, and other independent retailers
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
P eviously unpublished images of Donald lifting ‘Christine’ out of the water. Two different girls featured here in this scene.
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
Donald Sutherland on set
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Donald Sutherland during opening sequence of the film, in which John’s young daughter, Christine (Sharon Williams), accidentally drowns in a pond on their English countryside property
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Sharon Williams who played Christine Baxter, photographed by the pond at her family’s home in the English countryside during the film’s opening scene. This sequence ends tragically with Christine’s accidental drowning.
‘Don’t Look Now’
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Donald, Julie and Nic in the Royal Suite of the Bauer Hotel. Preparing for the scene in which they are awoken by the news of Johnny’s accident back in England
England. Previously unpublished
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
Julie Christie
‘Don’t Look Now’
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Director Nicolas Roeg and Julie Christie on set
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Julie Christie and David Tree in the scene that likely takes place when Laura is visiting their son, Johnny, at his boarding school in England
‘Don’t Look Now’
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Julie Christie and Hilary Mason
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
Art director Giovanni Soccol’s pre-visualisation of the restaurant scene
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
Donald Sutherland and Frederick Muller (far left photo). Tony Richmond (third photo) shakes hands with an unidentified crew member, suspected to be key grip Spartaco Pizzi
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Pierluigi Praturlon/Studio Canal
The only production photo showing the young Italian boy (uncredited) who doubled as the dwarf
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
On set photos by photographer David Steen
‘Don’t Look Now’
Donald Sutherland
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
A BTS photo from the final, gruesome scene that shows Donald Sutherland and director Nicolas Roeg waiting in the Palazzo Grimani, which is where Donald Sutherland’s character, John Baxter, finally meets his fate.
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Filmstock Press
On set photos by photographer David Steen
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Nicolas Roeg (left), the film’s director, and Julie Christie (center), who played the lead character, Laura Baxter
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Director Nicolas Roeg on set in Venice
‘Don’t Look Now and Then’ Book
Image Credit: Studiocanal
Behind-the-scenes with the crew Andrea Galer, Peter Katz, Nic Roeg, Barry Richardson and Julie Christie