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Maurice Elvey is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter, Producer and Co-Director British born on 11 november 1887 at Stockton-on-Tees (United-kingdom)

Maurice Elvey

Maurice Elvey
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Birth name William Seward Folkard
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 11 november 1887 at Stockton-on-Tees (United-kingdom)
Death 28 august 1967 (at 79 years) at Brighton (United-kingdom)

Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was the most prolific film director in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year.

Biography

Born William Seward Folkard in Stockton-on-Tees, Elvey began his career as an actor at the age of 17. He quickly rose to directing and producing plays and established his own theatrical company before switching to films with The Great Gold Robbery in 1913. He directed a wide array of popular features in a variety of genres, including comedy, drama, literary adaptations – including Robert Louis Stevenson's The Suicide Club (1914) and a version of William Shakespeare's As You Like It entitled Love in a Wood (1916) – and biographical profiles of such luminaries as Florence Nightingale and Lord Nelson. The Life Story of David Lloyd George, suppressed for political reasons just prior to its release in 1918, had its world premiere in Cardiff in May 1996 and was hailed by critics and film historians as one of the best silent films produced in the UK.

In 1921, Elvey directed 16 shorts and one full-length feature film (The Hound of the Baskervilles) with Eille Norwood as Sherlock Holmes. The actor was Arthur Conan Doyle's favorite among those who portrayed his literary sleuth.

Elvey worked with such performers as Leslie Howard, Ivor Novello, Ida Lupino, Benita Hume, Gracie Fields, Claude Rains, Alastair Sim, Leslie Banks, and Fay Wray, and mentored future directors Carol Reed, David Lean, and Ronald Neame. In 1944, he was charmed by Petula Clark when he saw her perform at the Royal Albert Hall, and he launched her film career by casting her as a precocious waif in his wartime drama Medal for the General. The two collaborated on three additional films.

Elvey was married three times, to actress Philippa Preston, sculptor Florence Hill Clarke, and actress Isobel Elsom, whom he met on the set of The Wandering Jew in 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 in Brighton.

Usually with

Fred Groves
Fred Groves
(25 films)
Hubert Willis
Hubert Willis
(20 films)
John Stuart
John Stuart
(13 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Maurice Elvey (175 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Beware of Pity, 1h45
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films about disabilities
Actors Lilli Palmer, Albert Lieven, Cedric Hardwicke, Gladys Cooper, Freda Jackson, Linden Travers
Rating62% 3.145633.145633.145633.145633.14563
The film opens with a framing device set in post-Second World War Britain. When a young man comes to aged Anton Marek (Albert Lieven) for romantic advice, Marek tells him a story from his own past, which leads to a flashback.
The Cup Final Mystery, 43minutes
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Sports films, Association football films
Actors Fred Groves, Joan Morgan, Elisabeth Risdon, Maurice Elvey

Mélodrame incluant des scènes de match du club anglais de Crystal Palace FC.

Director

The Clairvoyant, 1h33
Directed by Maurice Elvey, Armand Mastroianni
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Crime
Themes Serial killer films
Actors Perry King, Fay Wray, Claude Rains, Elizabeth Kemp, Jane Baxter, Mary Clare
Rating55% 2.7556652.7556652.7556652.7556652.755665
After the body of murdered woman is found, nude and handcuffed, floating down the Hudson River in New York, a string of murders occur by an unseen serial killer who kills men by handcuffing them before killing them. Mac, a TV talk-show host, and Larry, a police detective, team up to try to find the killer and seek help from Virna, a clairvayant young artist, who draws visions of the murders before they happen. As Mac and Larry try to establish a connection between the victims and the first female victim, who may have been sexually involved all of the male victims, Virna's further visions begin to point to her as the next victim as she unknowingly closes in on the killer's identity.
Second Fiddle, 1h18
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Romance
Actors Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters, Lisa Gastoni, Richard Wattis, Bill Fraser, Madoline Thomas
Rating55% 2.761132.761132.761132.761132.76113
Deborah and Charles, very much in love, are young executives at the successful Pontifex Advertising Agency. Deborah is highly sought after as a brilliant TV executive, while Charles is regarded as thoroughly efficient. The Pontifex board of directors however, will not allow any married women on their staff. Charles’ fiancée Deborah worries about her future with the company. Eventually the company reverses their policy, enabling newly-wed Deborah to continue working. When Deborah wins a lucrative advertising campaign in New York, and Charles seems to be overlooked for a promotion he was confident would be his, Charles feels his masculinity threatened. Whilst Deb is away in New York, Charles becomes involved in a flirtatious relationship with his attractive secretary Pauline.
Dry Rot
Dry Rot (1956)
, 1h27
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, Peggy Mount, Lee Patterson, Sid James, Joan Sims
Rating54% 2.7339852.7339852.7339852.7339852.733985
Trois bookmakers essaient de truquer une course de chevaux en capturant le cheval favori et son jockey.
Stars in Your Eyes, 1h36
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Musical
Themes Musical films
Actors Pat Kirkwood, Bonar Colleano, Vera Day, Joan Sims, Ernest Clark, Gerald Harper
Rating57% 2.855972.855972.855972.855972.85597
As the world of vaudeville gradually loses its attraction, more and more entertainers are losing their jobs. In hopes of fixing their financial problems, a group of entertainers band together and buy a run-down theater to attract customers by showcasing their various talents on the grand opening night. Along the way their show is threatened by a gang of crooks but the show finishes successfully with each entertainer given a happy ending.
Room in the House, 1h14
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Actors Patrick Barr, Marjorie Rhodes, Leslie Dwyer, Rachel Gurney, Billie Whitelaw, Edie Martin

Ageing widow Betsy Richards stays with each of her three sons in turn, to find out who she'd prefer to spend the rest of her days with. When her favorite, Hugh, leaves for America, she becomes distressed. Finally, the sons rally round and buy Betsy her own cottage in the village.
You Lucky People, 1h19
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Tommy Trinder, Dora Bryan, Harold Goodwin, Rolf Harris
Rating52% 2.6447452.6447452.6447452.6447452.644745
An intake of civilian reservists arrive at army camp to do their two weeks refresher training.
The Gay Dog, 1h27
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Petula Clark, Megs Jenkins, Harold Goodwin, William Russell, Peter Butterworth, Noël Dyson
Rating60% 3.0046353.0046353.0046353.0046353.004635
A miner's family acquire ownership of a greyhound, "Raving Beauty", which they plan to enter into a race. Jim Gay, the father, plans to get a better starting price for the dog by pretending it is ill, in order to lengthen its odds and clean up at the bookies. But keeping up the pretence with his wife, daughter, the whole street and the hardened gamblers played by Jon Pertwee and Peter Butterworth, is no easy task.
The Harassed Hero, 1h1
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Thriller, Comedy
Actors Guy Middleton, Elwyn Brook-Jones, Mary Mackenzie, Harold Goodwin, Harold Goodwin
Rating56% 2.8194252.8194252.8194252.8194252.819425
Wealthy hypochondriac bachelor Murray Selwyn (Guy Middleton) has been ordered by his doctors to avoid stress, but unfortunately finds himself face to face with a gang of counterfeiters. Murray has unwittingly come into possession of the printing plates the gang is after. His stress levels escalate further when Murray's nurse (Joan Winmill Brown) is kidnapped by the gang.
The Great Game, 1h20
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Origin United-kingdom
Themes Sports films, Association football films
Actors James Hayter, Dame Thora Hird, Diana Dors, John Laurie, Meredith Edwards, Jack Lambert
Rating61% 3.0936353.0936353.0936353.0936353.093635
The chairman of a top-flight English football club makes an illegal approach to a rising star of a rival club. This is discovered by the football authorities and the Chairman is ultimately suspended from the game following the ensuing scandal.