Marcel Varnel (16 October 1892 – 13 July 1947) was a French film director, notable for his career in the United States and England as a director of plays and films.

Biography

He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, France. Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage, soon becoming a director of musical comedies. In 1925, he moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, working as director in several Broadway operettas, musicals and dramas for the

Shubert family The Shubert family was responsible for the establishment of Broadway theatre, Broadway theaters in New York City's Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States. Through the The Shubert Org ...

. This was followed by a move to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

, where he directed three low budget thrillers. In 1934, he moved to England and it was as a director of British comedies – initially working at British International Pictures, Elstree, then moving in 1936 to

Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, east London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The co ...

– where he produced his best films. Among the performers he worked with were Will Hay, The Crazy Gang,

Arthur Askey Arthur Bowden Askey (6 June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature (5' 2", 1.58 m) and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation an ...

and

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961), was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he ...

. He died on 13 July 1947 in a car crash near Rake, West Sussex.

Films

*'' The Silent Witness'' (1932) (U.S.A.) – Director *'' Chandu the Magician'' (1932) (U.S.A.) – Director *'' Infernal Machine'' (1933) (U.S.A.) – Director *''

Freedom Of The Seas Freedom of the seas is a principle in the law of the sea. It stresses freedom to navigate the oceans. It also disapproves of war fought in water. The freedom is to be breached only in a necessary international agreement. This principle was on ...

'' (1934) – Director *'' Girls Will Be Boys'' (1934) – Director *'' I Give My Heart'' (1935) – Director *'' Dance Band'' (1935) – Director *'' Royal Cavalcade'' also known as ''Regal Cavalcade'' in the U.S.A. (1935) – Director *''

No Monkey Business ''No Monkey Business'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Gene Gerrard, June Clyde and Renée Houston. Plot After a music hall performer has his performing partner, an ape, confiscated by his financial credi ...

'' (1936) – Director *'' Public Nuisance No. 1'' (1936) – Director *'' All In'' (1936) – Director *'' Okay For Sound'' (1936) – Director *'' Good Morning, Boys'' (1937) – Director *'' Oh, Mr Porter!'' (1937) – Director *'' Convict 99'' (1938) – Director *'' Hey! Hey! USA!'' (1938) – Director *'' The Loves of Madame Dubarry'' (1938) – Director *'' Old Bones of the River'' (1938) – Director *'' Alf's Button Afloat'' (1938) – Director *'' Ask a Policeman'' (1939) – Director *'' Where's That Fire?'' (1939) – Director *'' The Frozen Limits'' (1939) – Director *'' Band Waggon'' (1940) – Director *''

Let George Do It! ''Let George Do It!'' (US: ''To Hell With Hitler'') is a 1940 British black-and-white comedy musical war film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby. It was produced by Michael Balcon for Associated Talking Pictures and its success ...

'' (1940) – Director *'' Gasbags'' (1940) – Director *'' The Ghost of St Michaels'' (1941) – Director *'' Turned Out Nice Again'' (1941) – Director *'' Hi, Gang!'' (1941) – Director *'' South American George'' (1941) – Director and Producer *'' I Thank You'' (1941) – Director *'' Neutral Port'' (1941) – Director *'' King Arthur Was a Gentleman'' (1942) – Director *'' Much Too Shy'' (1942) – Director *'' Get Cracking'' (1943) – Director *'' Bell Bottom George'' (1943) – Director *'' He Snoops to Conquer'' (1944) – Director and Producer *'' I Didn't Do It'' (1945) – Director and Producer *'' George in Civvy Street'' (1946) – Director and Producer *'' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) – Director and Producer

External links

* * 1892 births 1947 deaths Road incident deaths in England Film directors from Paris {{France-film-director-stub