Veteran British director Lewis Gilbert owes it all to his wife. Back in 1964 after more than a decade of impressive homegrown war pictures like "Reach for the Sky" and "Sink the Bismarck!", he was lured to Hollywood by Paramount. However, his big break hit a snag when the shooting of the proposed historical epic "Khartoum" (the story of General Charles Gordon) was halted by a revolution in Sudan.

Paramount asked if he had anything else. His wife Hylda had seen Bill Naughton's play "Alfie" on the London stage and Gilbert had duly optioned it. He offered it to Paramount, they allowed him to cast relative unknown Michael Caine as the Jack-the-lad lead and history was made. "Alfie" not only made a star of Caine and put Gilbert on the international map, it actually changed censorship laws in the US with its candid treatment of abortion.

Gilbert was so 'in' with Paramount they offered him "The Godfather" but he turned it down because the budget was too small. He went on to direct, for some, the definitive Bond movie " You Only Live Twice " (1967), and later "The Spy Who Loved Me", and "Moonraker" but it was Hylda who furnished his next personal project "Educationg Rita", another stage play (by Willy Russell) she'd seen and recommended to her husband.

Ironically, none of the studios would touch it (Columbia said they'd only do it with Dolly Parton in the lead!), and it became a labour of love for Gilbert. Casting Caine again and, more riskily, Julie Walters, he ended up with another BAFTA-winning hit. All thanks to his wife. Gilbert is now 81 and about to embark upon his 38th film "The Memory of Water ". He and Hylda have been married for 56 years.

You can hear the full interview with Lewis Gilbert on Back Row. Plus, I'll be talking to Sam Neill about "The Dish", my favourite film of 2001 so far.

Andrew Collins presents Back Row on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday May 5th at 5.30pm. You can listen to Back Row then, or Radio 4 at any time, using RealPlayer and your computer.