Alexander Hall (January 11, 1894 – July 30, 1968) was an American film director, film editor and theatre actor.

Biography

Hall acted in the theatre from the age of 4 through 1914, when he began to work in

silent movie ''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical silent comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in summer 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and S ...

s. Following his military service in World War I, he returned to Hollywood and pursued a career in film production. He worked as a film editor and assistant director at

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

until 1932, when he directed his first feature film ''Sinners in the Sun''. From 1937 to 1947, he was a contract director at

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, where he earned a reputation for sophisticated comedies. He was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Director The Academy Award for Best Director (officially known as the Academy Award of Merit for Directing) is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of a film director who has exhibit ...

for ''

Here Comes Mr. Jordan ''Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' is a 1941 American Fantasy film, fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, in which a boxer, mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time, is given a second chance back on Earth. It stars Robert Montgomery ...

'' (1941). From 1934 to 1936, Hall was married to actress

Lola Lane Lola Lane (born Dorothy Mullican; May 21, 1906 – June 22, 1981) was an American actress and one of the Lane Sisters with her sisters Leota, Rosemary, and Priscilla Lane. She appeared on Broadway and in films from the 1920s to 1940s. Early y ...

. He was also married to Marjorie Hunter. In the late 1930s, he was engaged briefly to

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

, who left him when she met

Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986), known as Desi Arnaz, was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom ''I Love Lucy'', in whi ...

. Years later, the couple later hired him to direct their 1956 film ''

Forever, Darling ''Forever, Darling'' is a 1956 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, written by Helen Deutsch, and starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and James Mason. In the film, Ball stars as a wife who tries to save her struggling ...

''. In 1952, Hall had a home in Palm Springs, California. ''Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz'' by Coyne Steven Sanders and Tom Gilbert, William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1993, pp. 102–103 ()

Death

Hall died of complications from a stroke in San Francisco. He was survived by a son. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, in the Bronx New York.

Partial filmography

* '' The Leech'' (1921) * ''

A Game of Craft A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient ...

'' (1922) * '' The Heart of a Siren'' (1925) * '' Miss Nobody'' (1926) * '' The Crash'' (1928, editor) * '' Kismet'' (1930, editor) * '' Sinners in the Sun'' (1932) * '' Madame Racketeer'' (1932) * '' The Girl in 419'' (1933) * ''Midnight Club'' (1933) * ''

Torch Singer ''Torch Singer'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Paramount Pictures film directed by Alexander Hall and George Somnes and starring Claudette Colbert, Ricardo Cortez, David Manners and Lyda Roberti. The screenplay was written by Lenore J. Coffee ...

'' (1933) * '' Limehouse Blues'' (1934) * '' Little Miss Marker'' (1934) * ''

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen ''Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen'' is a 1934 pre-Code American comedy-drama film, starring Dorothea Wieck, Alice Brady, and Baby LeRoy, written by Adela Rogers St. Johns and Jane Storm from a novel and story by Rupert Hughes, and directed by Ale ...

'' (1934) * '' The Pursuit of Happiness'' (1934) * ''

Goin' to Town ''Goin' To Town'' is a 1935 musical film, musical comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Mae West. The film stars Mae West, Paul Cavanagh, Gilbert Emery, Marjorie Gateson, Tito Coral, and Ivan Lebedeff. The film was released on Ap ...

'' (1935) * '' There's Always a Woman'' (1938) * '' I Am the Law'' (1938) * '' There's That Woman Again'' (1938) * '' The Lady's from Kentucky'' (1939) * '' Good Girls Go to Paris'' (1939) * '' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) * ''

He Stayed for Breakfast ''He Stayed for Breakfast'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, based on the 1934 play ''Ode to Liberty'' by Sidney Howard, itself adapted from the French play ''Liberté provisoire'' by Michel Duran. Plot In Pa ...

'' (1940) * '' This Thing Called Love'' (1940) * ''

Bedtime Story A bedtime story is a traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare the child for sleep. The bedtime story has long been considered "a definite institution in many families".Dickson, Marguerite Stockm ...

'' (1941) * ''

My Sister Eileen ''My Sister Eileen'' is a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney, originally published in ''The New Yorker'', which eventually inspired many other works: her 1938 book ''My Sister Eileen'', a My Sister Eileen (play), play, ...

'' (1942) * ''

They All Kissed the Bride ''They All Kissed the Bride'' is a 1942 American screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas. Crawford took over the title role after Carole Lombard died in a plane crash in early 1942. Crawfor ...

'' (1942) * '' She Wouldn't Say Yes'' (1945) * '' Down to Earth'' (1947) * '' The Great Lover'' (1949) * '' Louisa'' (1950) * ''

Because You're Mine ''Because You're Mine'' is a 1952 American musical comedy film starring Mario Lanza. Directed by Alexander Hall, the film also stars Doretta Morrow, James Whitmore, and Bobby Van. Plot Opera singer superstar Renaldo Rossano (Mario Lanza) is ...

'' (1952) * '' Let's Do It Again'' (1953) * ''

'' (1956)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Alexander 1894 births 1968 deaths Film directors from Massachusetts American male stage actors Male actors from Boston