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Maurice Elvey

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Maurice Elvey
Born
William Seward Folkard

(1887-11-11)11 November 1887
Stockton-on-Tees,England
Died28 August 1967(1967-08-28)(aged 79)
Brighton,England
Occupation(s)Film director
Film producer
Years active1913–1958
Spouse(s)Philippa Preston
(m.191?;div.191?)
Florence Hill Clarke
(m.1916;div.19??)
Isobel Elsom
(m.1923;div.19??)

Maurice Elvey(11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history.[1]He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During thesilent filmera he directed as many as twenty films per year.[2]He also produced more than fifty films – his own as well as films directed by others.[3]

Biography[edit]

Born William Seward Folkard inStockton-on-Tees,he ran away from home at the age of nine, seeking his fortune in London. There he worked variously as a kitchen hand and hotel pageboy, before ending up asstagehandand actor at the age of 17. He quickly rose to directing and producing plays and established his own theatrical company before switching to films withThe Great Gold Robberyin 1913. He directed a wide array of popular features in a variety of genres, including comedy, drama, literary adaptations – includingRobert Louis Stevenson'sThe Suicide Club(1914) and a version ofWilliam Shakespeare'sAs You Like ItentitledLove in a Wood(1916) – and biographical profiles of figures includingFlorence NightingaleandLord Nelson.The Life Story of David Lloyd George(originally titledThe Man Who Saved The Empire[4]), suppressed for political reasons just prior to its release in 1918, had its world premiere inCardiffin May 1996 and was hailed by critics and film historians as one of the bestsilent filmsproduced in the UK.

In 1921, Elvey directed 16shortsand one full-length feature film (The Hound of the Baskervilles) withEille NorwoodasSherlock Holmes.The actor wasArthur Conan Doyle's favourite among those who portrayed his literary sleuth.

Elvey was employed by the Fox Film Corporation in 1924 and made 5 films for them in America before returning to Europe the following year.[5]

Elvey worked with such performers asLeslie Howard,Ivor Novello,Ida Lupino,Benita Hume,Gracie Fields,Claude Rains,Alastair Sim,Leslie Banks,andFay Wray,and mentored future directorsCarol Reed,David Lean,andRonald Neame.In 1944, he was charmed byPetula Clarkwhen he saw her perform at theRoyal Albert Hall,and he launched her film career by casting her as a precocious waif in his wartime dramaMedal for the General.The two collaborated on three additional films.

Elvey was married three times, to actress Philippa Preston, sculptor Florence Hill Clarke, and actressIsobel Elsom,whom he met on the set ofThe Wandering Jewin 1923. The couple went on to make eight films together.

The loss of an eye and failing health prompted Elvey's retirement at the age of 70. Ten years later he died inBrighton.[6]

Filmography[edit]

Director

Producer(selection)[3][7]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Maurice Elvey".Britmovie.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2012.Retrieved6 July2010.
  2. ^"Maurice Elvey credits".BFI Screenonline.Retrieved6 July2010.
  3. ^abLow, R. (2013).The History of British Film (Volume 3): The History of the British Film 1914–1918.Taylor & Francis. p. 93.ISBN9781136206061.
  4. ^Sarah Barrow, John White:Fifty Key British Films,Routledge 2012, page 8Linked 2015-03-18
  5. ^"BFI Screenonline: Elvey, Maurice (1887–1967) Biography".
  6. ^"BFI Screenonline: Elvey, Maurice (1887–1967) Biography".
  7. ^IMDb:Maurice Elvey Filmography – ProducerLinked 2015-03-18

External links[edit]

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