Michael C. Chorlton (27 December 1913 – 25 October 1951) was an English film editor and occasional director. He was born in Disley, Cheshire. He particularly worked with Powell and Pressburger, including editing The Silver Fleet and the motorcycle sequences for A Matter of Life and Death Other films he edited include Juggernaut, Love on the Dole, The Volunteer, the Charters and Caldicott vehicle Crook's Tour and The Day Will Dawn. Chorlton died in a plane crash near Shottesbrooke, Berkshire in his own plane on 25 October 1951. He was on a flight from the West London Aero Club, White Waltham with a local man. Chorlton's first race was in 1945 in the very early days of the Motorsport which would later be known as F1. His interest for the sport can be traced back to 1934 when he became a member of the iconic 'Junior Car Club' (JCC) at the famous Brooklands track, shortly after leaving university. It was in 1947 that he formalised his racing career with his own company 'Michael C. Chorlton, Racing Car Specialist', registered at 16 Irving Street, London, W.C.2. This was his entrance into the Grand Prix establishment and led him to his first, if somewhat aged, 8 cylinder 1933 Bugatti 51A racing car. Records show that Michael was a 'Bugatti Owner's club' member in May 1948, registered as a competitor at the 'Prescott-Speed Hill Climb' race meeting. In 1949 he teamed up with 'Centaur developments Ltd', a London company, the principal owners of which were James Boothby (himself a Bugatti race driver), Michael Chorlton and Charles Brookes. His car, a 1933 51A, can be traced from an entry in a Bugatti book as follows: "This car was imported to England by Jack Lemon Burton in 1937 and raced by him. It was then a 51A. Later he sold it to M. Chorlton and the car became the Chorlton Special. The 'Autocar' of April 8th 1949 describes the car which was stated to be produced by Centaur Developments Ltd., Chorlton being the designer. The car was entered as a C.D.L. in the 1949 Jersey Race but failed to qualify. Chorlton was killed in an air crash in 1951. Later the car passed through the hands of T.E. Lloyd and was broken up. Precise whereabouts of the pieces unknown." Chorlton entered the following races:

Selected filmography