David MacDonald (9 May 1904 in

Helensburgh Helensburgh ( ; ) is a town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local government reorganisation in 1996. Histo ...

, Dunbartonshire – 22 June 1983 in London) was a Scottish film director, writer and producer.

Career

MacDonald was the son of a wealthy landowner. His intention was to become a doctor but changed his mind and aged 17 went to Malaya to work on a

rubber plantation Plantations are farms specializing in cash crops, usually mainly planting a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Plantations, centered on a plantation house, grow crops including cotton, cannabis, tobacco ...

for seven and a half years. When he had leave to return to Scotland, he travelled via Hollywood and became interested in filmmaking.Macdonald, D. (1948)
"David MacDonald"
''The Tatler and Bystander'', 188(2439), 14. He returned to Malaya and worked at a plantation in

Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of ...

. According to one story, while in Malaya he met

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckler film, swashbu ...

who encouraged MacDonald to try his luck in Hollywood.

Hollywood

MacDonald broke into Hollywood by getting a job as technical adviser on a film ''

Prestige Prestige may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films *Prestige (film), ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnett: woman travels to French Indochina to meet up with husband *The Prestige (film), ''The Prestige'' (fi ...

''. After that he was out of work for nine months. He eventually gained a job working for

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

. MacDonald worked as DeMille's assistant on '' The Sign of the Cross'' (1932), '' Four Frightened People'' (1934), ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (; The name Cleopatra is pronounced , or sometimes in both British and American English, see and respectively. Her name was pronounced in the Greek dialect of Egypt (see Koine Greek phonology). She was ...

'' (also 1934) and ''

The Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding t ...

'' (1935). He worked on '' Lives of a Bengal Lancer'' (also 1935) with

Henry Hathaway Henry Hathaway (March 13, 1898 – February 11, 1985) was an American film director and producer. He is best known as a director of Western (genre), Westerns, especially starring Randolph Scott and John Wayne. He directed Gary Cooper in seven f ...

. He also worked for

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

and

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent cinema actor George Walsh. He wa ...

. He returned to England with Walsh when the latter came to direct '' O.H.M.S.'' (1937) and elected to stay.

Quota quickies

''OHMS'' was made for

Michael Balcon Sir Michael Elias Balcon (19 May 1896 – 17 October 1977) was an English film producer known for his leadership of Ealing Studios in west London from 1938 to 1956. Under his direction, the studio became one of the most important British film ...

at Shepherd's Bush studio in London. Balcon recommended MacDonald to make his directorial debut with a "B" quota quickies: '' Double Alibi'' (1937). MacDonald followed it with other quota quickies: an adaptation of '' It's Never Too Late to Mend'' (1937) with Tod Slaughter; '' The Last Curtain'' (1937); '' Death Croons the Blues'' (1937); '' Riding High'' (1937); '' Make It Three'' (1938); '' A Spot of Bother'' (1938); and '' Meet Mr. Penny'' (1938). Some of these were produced by

Anthony Havelock-Allan Sir Anthony James Allan Havelock-Allan, 4th Baronet (28 February 1904 – 11 January 2003) was a British film producer and screenwriter whose credits included '' This Happy Breed'', '' Blithe Spirit'', '' Great Expectations'', '' Oliver Twist'', ...

who also produced MacDonald's '' This Man Is News'' (1938), which became a surprise hit. It starred Barry K. Barnes. He was sought by producers

Erich Pommer Erich Pommer (20 July 1889 – 8 May 1966) was a German-born film producer and executive. Pommer was perhaps the most powerful person in the German and European film industries in the 1920s and early 1930s. As producer, Erich Pommer was involved ...

and

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (; 1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British and American actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play wi ...

to direct ''The Admirable Crichton'' for their independent film production company, Mayflower Pictures, which had secured a distribution deal through

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 ...

, but the outbreak of World War II cancelled the project. MacDonald went on to make '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (1938); '' This Man in Paris'' (1939), a sequel to ''This Man Is News'', with Barnes; '' Spies of the Air'' (1939); '' The Midas Touch'' (1940); '' Law and Disorder'' (1940); and '' This England'' (1940).

World War Two

MacDonald tried to enlist but was told he was too old. He was however sent to France to do some filming for

Military Intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis List of intelligence gathering disciplines, approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist Commanding officer, commanders in decision making pr ...

. Returning home he made '' Men of the Lightship'' (1940). The

War Office The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

then called him and asked him to form the Army Film Unit, where he rose to the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

. MacDonald was transferred to the Middle East, where he helped make the documentary '' Desert Victory'' (1943). Several people who worked on the film for MacDonald were killed in action. In 1943, he accompanied the film on a ten-week tour of the US and it was announced MacDonald would make films for

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)

. However, MacDonald stayed in the army. He served with the Army Film Unit during the invasions of

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

and

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, and fell ill with

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

. This meant he was unable to take part in the invasion of France. He worked at

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to t ...

for six-months with the Army Film Unit, then was transferred to the Far East where he made '' Burma Victory'' (1946). He also took this film on a lecture tour through the USA.

Sydney Box

When MacDonald left the army, he began to work for producer Sydney Box. He made the Scottish melodrama '' The Brothers'' (1947) with Patricia Roc, partly shot on location on the

Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye, is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated by the Cuillin, the rocky slopes of which provide some of ...

. MacDonald then made '' Snowbound'' (1948), an Alpine-set thriller based on a novel by

Hammond Innes Ralph Hammond Innes (15 July 1913 – 10 June 1998) was a British novelist who wrote over 30 novels, as well as works for children and travel books. Biography Innes was born in Horsham, Sussex, and educated at Feltonfleet School, Cobham, Surrey ...

; and '' Good-Time Girl'' (1948) with Jean Kent. MacDonald directed two flops for Box, both biopics: ''

The Bad Lord Byron ''The Bad Lord Byron'' is a 1949 British historical drama film about the life of Lord Byron. It was directed by David MacDonald (director), David MacDonald and starred Dennis Price as Byron with Mai Zetterling, Linden Travers and Joan Greenwood. ...

'' (1949) with Dennis Price, and ''

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

'' (1949), with

Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, page 95. As ...

. Also unsuccessful at the box office was '' Diamond City'' (1949), an attempt to make a British western in South Africa.

Later career

MacDonald made two films for Audrey Baring. He had a hit with '' Cairo Road'' (1950) with

Eric Portman Eric Harold Portman (13 July 1901 – 7 December 1969) was an English stage and film actor. He is probably best remembered for his roles in three films for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger during the 1940s. Early life Born in Halifax, ...

and

Laurence Harvey Laurence Harvey (born Zvi Mosheh Skikne; 1 October 192825 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British actor and film director. He was born to Lithuanian Jewish parents and emigrated to Union of South Africa, South Africa at an early age, before ...

, partly shot in Egypt. '' The Adventurers'' (1951), also shot in Africa and featuring Jack Hawkins, was less successful. For Tempean Films, MacDonald made '' The Lost Hours'' (1952) with Jean Kent and Mark Stevens. He followed it with '' Tread Softly'' (1952). MacDonald returned to documentaries with '' Operation Malaya'' (1953), about the

Malayan Emergency The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War, was a guerrilla warfare, guerrilla war fought in Federation of Malaya, Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Arm ...

. He was the director of the science fiction film '' Devil Girl from Mars'' (1954) for the Danziger Brothers. MacDonald directed episodes of '' Saber of London'' and worked on many other TV shows. He did the thriller '' Alias John Preston'' (1955). He made a comedy '' Small Hotel'' (1957) then did a swashbuckler set during the English civil war, ''

The Moonraker ''The Moonraker'' is a 1957 British swashbuckler film directed by David MacDonald (director), David MacDonald and starring George Baker (British actor), George Baker, Sylvia Syms, Marius Goring, Gary Raymond, Peter Arne, John Le Mesurier and Pa ...

'' (1958). He followed it with comedies: '' A Lady Mislaid'' (1958), '' Petticoat Pirates'' (1961), and '' The Golden Rabbit'' (1962).

Select filmography

*'' The Last Curtain'' (1937) *'' When the Poppies Bloom Again'' (short, 1937) *'' Double Alibi'' (short, 1937) *'' It's Never Too Late to Mend'' (1937) *'' Death Croons the Blues'' (1937) *'' Riding High'' (1937) *'' Make It Three'' (1938) *'' A Spot of Bother'' (1938) *'' Meet Mr. Penny'' (1938) *'' This Man Is News'' (1938) *'' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (1938) *'' This Man in Paris'' (1939) * '' Law and Disorder'' (1940) *'' The Midas Touch'' (1940) *'' Men of the Lightship'' (propaganda film, 1940) *'' Desert Victory'' (propaganda film, 1943) *'' The Brothers'' (1947) *'' Good-Time Girl'' (1948) *''

'' (1949) *'' Diamond City'' (1949) *''

'' (1949) *'' Cairo Road'' (1950) *'' The Adventurers'' (1951) *'' Tread Softly'' (1952) *'' The Lost Hours'' (1952) * One Just Man pisode of 'The Vise'(1954) *The Yellow Robe (1954) *'' Devil Girl from Mars'' (1954) *Triple Blackmail (1955) *Three Cornered Fate (1955) *'' Operation Malaya'' (1955) *Final Column (1955) *Man in Demand (1955) *'' Alias John Preston'' (1955) *'' Small Hotel'' (1957) *'' A Lady Mislaid'' (1958) *''

'' (1958) *'' Petticoat Pirates'' (1961) *'' The Golden Rabbit'' (1962)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, David 1904 births 1983 deaths Scottish film directors British comedy film directors People from Helensburgh Scottish documentary filmmakers British Army personnel of World War II British Army officers Documentary war filmmakers MI6 personnel