Alan Hackney

Who was Alan Hackney?

Alan Charles Langley Hackney was an English novelist and screenwriter. He was educated at Thornleigh College, Bolton, and while at Manchester University was called up to the army. After demobilisation he proceeded to New College, Oxford where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics under the tutelage of Isaiah Berlin.

He was best known for his two novels Private's Progress and Private Life, which were both adapted into films, the former as Private's Progress and the latter as I'm All Right Jack. Hackney also co-wrote the script of I'm All Right Jack, which was a satire of trade unions. He was also a frequent contributor to Punch.

At around this time the British film industry collapsed and Hackney’s career was never to hit such heights again. A further two children meant that he had to travel to write and he had spells in Canada, Italy, and Hollywood as well as working for British television and continuing to contribute to Punch.

In recent years he worked with the composer Howard Blake on a musical version of I'm All Right Jack. His best-remembered films are Two-Way Stretch, starring Peter Sellers, and You Must Be Joking, directed by Michael Winner.