Lights, camera, action! Film critic's giant collection of 15,000 movies debuts at Lichfield auction

Every week from Monday 20th October

IT’S lights, camera, action as the first instalment of a respected Staffordshire film critic’s epic movie collection goes under the hammer.

Anthony Sherratt, award-winning cinema writer and impassioned film champion, amassed more than 15,000 DVDs, Blu-rays, LaserDiscs and film soundtracks from every era plus comprehensive collections of movie publications and reviews, turning his home into a ‘treasure trove’ celebrating a century of the silver screen.

The sheer range of titles and breadth of genres is too vast to detail, encompassing everything from Hollywood classics to modern blockbusters.

There are westerns, science fiction, action, romance, drama, musicals, comedy, crime, film noir, thrillers, horror, disaster movies, fantasy, superhero, animation, adventure, war, historical epics…

Mr Sherratt passed away on July 1 aged 90 and his impressive film archive is now being offered by Richard Winterton Auctioneers at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.

Auctioneers estimate the gigantic collection could take three or four months to sell, with instalments scheduled to go under the hammer every week starting from Monday, October 20.

“He was passionate about film and had an extensive collection of films on every format, thousands of vinyl soundtracks, and film publications,” said Mr Sherratt’s nephew Jason Garbett.

“You’d go around and there would be a different film on every time – it was a treasure trove of movies.

“He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema and would put together lists matching up double features and tributes to Hollywood stars.

“Tony was as interested in new films and modern cinema as he was in vintage classics.

“Right up until his dying day he was still ordering films from America.”

Born in 1935, Mr Sherratt was at the Tamworth Herald for most of his working life and became the TV and film critic in the mid-1990s, moving into a job where his passion became his work.

As well as the Herald, his columns were a popular feature of sister titles including the Lichfield Mercury.

He spent many years travelling up and down the country visiting film festivals, press screenings and movie premieres, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty and interviewing stars and directors, including Jack Nicholson in 1998 for the Journal magazine in Sutton Coldfield and Walsall, pictured top of page.

The longstanding Tamworth resident was well-known in the community as a champion of film and he played a major role in bringing the UCI multi-screen cinema to the town.

Opening in June 1991, the complex arranged a special screening of Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise in his honour.

A member of the Guild Of Regional Film Writers, Mr Sherratt won The Ainsworth Award For Film Journalism in 1994.

His passion for film also had a life-defining influence on his beloved niece and nephew.

“We loved spending time with Tony,” said Mr Garbett, a 60-year-old retired TV studio director.

“Both of us started our careers inspired by him – my sister Kate works in the film industry on Hollywood blockbusters.”

Mr Sherratt’s favourite genres were westerns and musicals.

He could never commit to a favourite movie but The Godfather and My Fair Lady would have been in the running, suggested Mr Garbett.

“As his favourite film star was Doris Day, it’s fair to say Calamity Jane was also one of his favourite films but he had a special place in his heart for Thelma & Louise, as that was the film shown in his honour at the Tamworth UCI.”

A clip of Calamity Jane was also shown at a movie-themed memorial for Mr Sherratt at Tamworth Assembly Rooms last month, which featured a tribute with Singin’ In The Rain.

The Full Monty is a more recent classic of which the critic was also fond – especially as the original VHS cover quoted his Tamworth Herald film review dubbing it ‘the comedy hit of the year’.

The writer also compiled a large collection of movie magazines including every Picture Show Annual from 1925 to the 1960s; every edition of the Annual Film Review from 1944 to its last edition in 2015; a near complete collection of Picture Goer from the 1920s onwards including the rare war years; and many Empire magazines.

There are also numerous signed photos from movie stars and directors, mainly from the 1980s and 1990s.

The first part of Mr Sherratt’s epic collection debuts under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, in the Antique & Home Sale on Monday, October 20, starting at 9am.

Viewing in person takes place on Friday, October 17, between 10am and 4pm.

Auction catalogues go live a week before each sale and can be viewed via our Auction Calendar.

For more information, to arrange a free valuation of all types of ephemera, jewellery, antiques and collectables, or to enquire about a home visit for large collections or house clearances, email office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.

Pictured top of page: Anthony Sherratt interviewed Jack Nicholson in 1998 during promotion for As Good As It Gets; centre, the writer with a commemorative Tamworth Herald front page.