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Bernard Vorhaus (December 25, 1904 – November 23, 2000) was an American film director of Austrian descent, born in New York City. His father was born in Kraków, then part of Austria-Hungary. Vorhaus spent many decades living in the UK. Early in his career, he worked as a screenwriter, and co-produced the film The Singing City. He was blacklisted in Hollywood for his communist sympathies, and returned to England, where he resumed his career. Known, alongside Michael Powell, for his quota quickies, Vorhaus also worked in Europe.
Bernard Vorhaus | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 25, 1904 New York, New York |
| Died | November 23, 2000 (aged 95) London, UK |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1925-1953 |
Career
editThe Harvard University graduate, in addition to directing thirty-two films, was also the mentor to future film director David Lean, some of whose work as a film editor early in his career was on Vorhaus pictures.
He worked steadily as a screenwriter in Hollywood while in his 20s for such studios as Columbia Pictures and Fox Studios but wanted to direct movies. He eventually decided to move to England and began directing quota quickies, such as The Last Journey (1935).
After attaining success in England, Vorhaus moved back to the U.S. and began working at Republic Pictures, directing B-movies. He was blacklisted in 1951, as a consequence of the hearings conducted by the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Vorhaus had already moved to Europe at that time and directed a few minor films while there. He finally returned to England and retired from the film business. Unlike contemporaries Joseph Losey and Cy Endfield, who were also on the blacklist, he founded a company Domar Industries, a business specialising in house renovations. There was a resurgence of interest in his films in the 1980s.[citation needed]
Family
editVorhaus had two children, Gwyn and David. the latter was a bass player and electronic music pioneer who worked under the name White Noise.[citation needed]
Selected filmography
edit- Steppin' Out (US, 1925) author of screenplay
- Seventh Heaven (US, 1927) co-author of screenplay
- No Other Woman (US, 1928) co-author of screenplay
- Sunshine (US, 1928) two-reeler; debut as director
- The Singing City (Germany, 1930) producer; starring Brigitte Helm
- City of Song (UK, 1931) producer
- Money for Speed (UK, 1933)
- Crime on the Hill (UK, 1933)
- The Ghost Camera (UK, 1933)
- On Thin Ice (UK, 1933)
- The Night Club Queen (UK, 1933)
- The Broken Melody (UK, 1934)
- Blind Justice (UK, 1934)
- Dark World (UK, 1935)
- Street Song (UK, 1935)
- Ten Minute Alibi (UK, 1935)
- The Last Journey (UK, 1935)
- Dusty Ermine (UK, 1936)
- Broken Blossoms (UK, 1936) technical supervisor
- Cotton Queen (UK, 1937)
- King of the Newsboys (US, 1938)
- Fisherman's Wharf (US, 1939)
- Way Down South (US, 1939) co-director
- Three Faces West (US, 1940)
- Lady From Louisiana (US, 1941)
- Angels With Broken Wings (US, 1941)
- The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine (US, 1942)
- Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter (US, 1943) short film
- Bury Me Dead (US, 1947)
- The Amazing Mr. X (US, 1948) also known as The Spiritualist
- So Young, So Bad (US, 1950)
- The Lady From Boston (France-US, 1951) also known as Pardon My French
- Imbarco a mezzanotte (Italy, 1951) also known as Stranger on the Prowl; replaced by Joseph Losey
- Fanciulle di lusso (Italy, 1953) also known as Finishing School, written by blacklisted writer Norma Barzman
- Roman Holiday (US, 1953) assistant director, under pseudonym
