A British director of Czech origins, born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (currently Czechoslovakia). During World War II, he flew with the Czech unit in the Royal Flying Corps. He studied natural sciences at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, after serving in the armed forces. Subsequently, he started penning articles for periodicals and newspapers. He was a hired by the British Film Institute in the 1950s. During that time, he was also well-known for showcasing a variety of artistic works.