Boris Petroff (December 19, 1894 – November 1972) was a

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

and producer who specialized in low budget

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that seeks commercial success by capitalizing on current trends, niche genres, or sensational content. Exploitation films often feature themes such as suggestive or explicit sex, sensational violence, drug use, nudi ...

s. He sometimes used the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Brooke L. Peters. He included stock footage in some of his films. Petroff directed ''Noah's Lark'' in 1929 and 1930. It featured Morton and Mayo and was modeled after the 1928 film '' Noah's Ark''. He asked

Eddie Cochran Ray Edward Cochran ( ; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. His songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", " Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desire in ...

to be in his musical comedy film ''

The Girl Can't Help It ''The Girl Can't Help It'' is a 1956 American musical comedy film starring Jayne Mansfield in the lead role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London. The picture was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, with a screenpla ...

'' in 1956. Cochran performed the song "Twenty Flight Rock" in the movie. In 2014, the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...

(MoMA) screened his 1936 film '' Hats Off''.

Personal life

Petroff married Jane Mann, a screenwriter who co-wrote the scripts for ''The Unearthly'' and ''Anatomy of a Psycho''. Gloria Petroff, their daughter, was in his films ''Two Lost Worlds'' and ''The Unearthly''.

Filmography

Director

*''

Hats Off (1936 film) ''Hats Off'' (1936) is an American film directed by Boris Petroff, and originally released by Grand National Pictures. The film is now in the public domain. Plot summary A pair of Texas towns are trying to outdo one another in planning a huge ...

'' *''

Red Snow (1952 film) ''Red Snow'' is a 1952 American adventure film directed by Boris Petroff and Harry S. Franklin and starring Guy Madison, Ray Mala, Mala, Carole Mathews, Gloria Saunders and Lee Frederick. The film's action takes place in Alaska. It was part of a s ...

'' directed by Harry S. Franklin and Boris Petroff *''

The Unearthly ''The Unearthly'' is a 1957 independently made American black-and-white science fiction horror film, produced and directed by Boris Petroff (as Brooke L. Peters). It stars John Carradine, Myron Healey, Allison Hayes, Marilyn Buferd, Arth ...

'' (1957), produced and directed by Boris Petroff (as Brook L. Peters) *'' Outcasts of the City'' (1958) *''

Anatomy of a Psycho ''Anatomy of a Psycho'' is a 1961 American crime thriller film directed by Boris Petroff (as Brooke L. Peters). Ed Wood reportedly contributed to Jane Mann's screenplay as Larry Lee. Ronnie Burns, adopted son of George Burns and Gracie Allen, p ...

'' (1961) *''Shotgun Wedding (1963 film)''

Other roles

*'' Arctic Fury'' (1949), producer *'' Two Lost Worlds'' (1951), producer and co-writer (dba Sterling Productions Inc.)

References

American film director stubs 1894 births 1972 deaths Film directors from Los Angeles {{US-film-director-stub