Mike Hodges, director of FLASH GORDON, has passed. Finally saw this movie during the pandemic and it brought me such joy. Have watched it a bunch of times since. Nothing else like it. Rest in Peace, sir. pic.twitter.com/v0YQDBmaFs
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) December 20, 2022
Tributes have been paid to Get Carter director Mike Hodges who has died at the age of 90.
His long-time friend Mike Kaplan confirmed the director's death in Dorset on Saturday, although no further details have been released.
After his gangster classic starring Michael Caine as a man out for justice, which Hodges adapted himself for the screen from the book by Ted Lewis, he reteamed with the star on Pulp the following year.
Among his other credits were Flash Gordon and, with Clive Owen, Croupier and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. Owen told us in an interview he believed that Hodges was "hugely underappreciated".
The second collaboration with Owen would be Hodges last as a director as he went into retirement, although he continued to write noir fiction.
Among those paying tribute was Puss In Boots writer Brian Lynch, who tweeted: "Mike Hodges, director of Flash Gordon, has passed. Finally saw this movie during the pandemic and it brought me such joy. Have watched it a bunch of times since. Nothing else like it. Rest in Peace, sir."
And broadcaster Matthew Sweet, who tweeted about his friendship with the director, wrote: "Just heard the news about Mike Hodges. A true master. A furious restless talent. An unassailable body of work. Loved the films. Loved the man."
Hodges is survived by his wife, Carol Laws, sons Ben and Jake and five granchildren.
