Film Critic and Presenter David Stratton Passes Away at 85

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David Stratton has died at the age of 85.

The English-Australian film critic, writer, presenter and educator’s death was announced by his family on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement shared by the ABC, Stratton’s family said he died peacefully in a hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains in NSW.

They said Stratton’s “passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives”, and that he was “adored as a husband, father, grand and great-grandfather and admired friend”.

Stratton joined SBS in 1980, working as a film consultant and regularly introducing the SBS Cinema Classics and Movie of the Week broadcasts.

Throughout a lengthy media career, Stratton hosted film review shows alongside close collaborator Margaret Pomeranz for 28 years.

Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton standing near each other, each holding a glass.

David Stratton hosted film review shows with Margaret Pomeranz for many years. Source: AAP / Nikki Short

He and Pomeranz co-hosted The Movie Show on SBS from 1986 to 2004, and At the Movies with Margaret and David on ABC from 2004 to 2014.

Stratton was born in the UK in 1939, arriving in Australia in 1963 as part of the ‘ten pound pom’ migration scheme.

From 1966 until 1983, he was the director of the Sydney Film Festival, and served as a jury member for many prestigious international festivals throughout his career.

Stratton also wrote film reviews for the Weekend Australian for more than 30 years, and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education.

He retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career that spanned 57 years.

Albanese pays tribute

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Stratton.

“With dry humour and sharp insight, David Stratton shared his love of film with our country,” he said in a post on X.

“All of us who tuned in to ‘At the Movies’ respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on. May he rest in peace.”

Stratton’s family issued a special request to moviegoers, asking that they celebrate his “remarkable life and legacy” by watching their favourite movie, or Stratton’s favourite movie, Singin’ in the Rain.

“David’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime,” his family said.

Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon.

— Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.