2013 (Production)

2013-10-05 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Tony Walton
Interviewer: Sienna McLean LoGreco

Professional production

United States

Tony Walton is interviewed by Sienna McLean-LoGreco at his home in New York City in 2013. This is a co-production with the Art Directors Guild. Walton describes growing up during WWII and how his initial success designing sets and costumes for theatrical productions in England led to a lifelong career in design for motion pictures. Prominent films he discusses include MARY POPPINS (1964), MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), THE WIZ (1978), and ALL THAT JAZZ (1979).

Tony Walton is interviewed by Sienna McLean-LoGreco at Walton’s home in New York City on October 5, 2013. He begins by describing his upbringing in the suburban town of Walton-on-Thames, about 20 miles southwest of London. He shares what it was like growing up with a father who was a distinguished surgeon, and he affectionately remembers his parents’ loving relationship. He offers firsthand accounts of WWII in London, describing in vivid detail his memories of the Blitz; running to dugout shelters, German aircrafts flying overhead and wailing air raid sirens.

Recalling his early experiences of film and theater, Walton speaks of his childhood adoration for going to the movies and his initial fascination with art and design. He shares his memories of attending art school where he designed the lighting and made the marionettes and the scenery for numerous theatrical productions. Beginning with these early college days, Walton chronicles his career as a designer, sharing his influences and inspirations. He describes his move to America in the 1950s with his then wife Julie Andrews, his early encounters with Noel Coward, and his deep admiration for the design work of Cecil Beaton, Oliver Messel and Sean Kenny.

Walton shares his experience on the Broadway stage and describes working as set designer for Coward’s CONVERSATION PIECE (1957), upon arriving in New York. He remembers the first time he met Walt Disney, who after seeing Walton’s design work in the original Broadway production of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (1962), immediately hired him as costume designer and art department consultant on MARY POPPINS (1964). Walton received his first Academy Award nomination for his work on this film. Throughout this interview, Walton details in great length his work as a designer for many of the great theater and film directors, such as Bob Fosse, Sidney Lumet, Francois Truffaut and Mike Nichols. He offers personal anecdotes as to what makes for a successful career, citing his work on a number of films including MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), THE WIZ (1978) and ALL THAT JAZZ (1979).

Tony Walton (1934-2022) was a British production designer and costume designer known for his work on MARY POPPINS (1964), MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), EQUUS (1977) and THE WIZ (1978). Walton was born in Walton-on-Thames, England. His artistic career was deeply rooted in the theater having worked extensively in set and costume design for both New York and London theaters. He made his Broadway debut working as the set designer for Noel Coward’s production of CONVERSATION PIECE (1957). Walton was the winner of three Tony Awards, as well as 16 Tony nominations. His work as the designer and visual consultant for Walt Disney’s MARY POPPINS (1964) marked his entry into the world of motion pictures, and also his first Academy Award nomination. Throughout his lifetime he worked for film and theater directors Bob Fosse, Sidney Lumet, Paul Newman, Mike Nichols, Ken Russell, Volker Schlöndorff and François Truffaut. Walton won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction–Set Decoration for Bob Fosse’s ALL THAT JAZZ (1979) and received four other nominations; three for Best Costume Design for MARY POPPINS (1964), MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), and THE WIZ (1978) and one for Best Art Direction–Set Decoration also for THE WIZ. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Art Directors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

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