Having had enormous success as a novelist through most of the 1960s, he wanted to move into films at a time when the film industry in Britain was booming. He co-produced two films with his friend
Brian Duffy, the well-known photographer-
Only When I Larf (1968), based on Deighton's novel, was a box-office failure, but Deighton hoped for better from their second film,
Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), which he also scripted. However, he fell out markedly with the film's director,
Richard Attenborough (who had starred in "Only When I Larf"). It was a subject close to Deighton's heart, and he was infuriated by Attenborough's extensive changing of his screenplay, changes that he claimed had softened the film, diluting the anger of his writing. As a result, he withdrew his credit as both writer and producer--the film has no writing credit at all. Deighton produced no more films.
