David Robinson

Who is David Robinson?

David Robinson is a British film critic and author.

He began to write for Sight and Sound and the Monthly Film Bulletin during the 1950s, becoming Assistant Editor of Sight and Sound and Editor of the Monthly Film Bulletin in 1957-1958. He was film critic of The Financial Times from 1958 to 1973, before taking up the same post at The Times in 1973. He remained the paper's main film reviewer until around 1990 and a regular contributor until around 1996.

His books include Hollywood in the Twenties and The History of World Cinema which was expanded and revised as World Cinema: A Short History. Robinson is the official biographer of Charlie Chaplin and his book, Chaplin: His Life and Art, was first published in 1985. Published in a revised form in 1992 and 2001, it is regarded as the definitive book on its subject. He has also written a book on Buster Keaton.

In 1973 he was the head of the jury at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival. He is the Director of the Giornate del cinema muto silent film festival, which takes place in Pordenone, northern Italy every October.

Robinson is also a supporter of the UK based silent film society Bristol Silents and the Slapstick Silent Comedy Festival, also based in Bristol every January.