Max Varnel (21 March 1925 – 15 January 1996) was a French-born Australian film and

television director A television director is in charge of the activities involved in making a television program or section of a program. They are generally responsible for decisions about the editorial content and creative style of a program, and ensuring the pro ...

who worked primarily in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and Australia.

Biography

Born Max Le Bozec in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

, France, he was the son of the film director

Marcel Varnel Marcel Varnel (16 October 1892 – 13 July 1947) was French film director, notably however 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, France. Va ...

. He began his career as an assistant director of ''

The Magic Box ''The Magic Box'' is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Ol ...

'' (1951) and continued in this rol for '' The Card'' (1952), ''

Devil Girl from Mars ''Devil Girl from Mars'' is a 1954 British black-and-white science fiction film, produced by the Danziger Brothers, directed by David MacDonald and starring Patricia Laffan, Hugh McDermott, Hazel Court, Peter Reynolds, and Adrienne Corri. It ...

'' (1954), and '' The Cockleshell Heroes'' (1955), among others. His directing credits encompass a long string of

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feat ...

s, including '' Moment of Indiscretion'', '' A Woman Possessed'' (both 1958), '' Top Floor Girl'', '' Web of Suspicion'', '' The Child and the Killer'', and '' Crash Drive'' (all 1959). Varnel's television credits include ''The Vise'', '' The Cheaters'', '' Softly Softly'', and ''

The Troubleshooters ''The Troubleshooters'' (titled ''Mogul'' for the first series) is a British television series made by the BBC between 1965 and 1972, created by John Elliot. It recounted events in an international oil company – the "Mogul" of the title. T ...

'' in the UK, and ''

Skippy Skippy may refer to: People * Skippy (nickname), a list of people Arts and entertainments * ''Skippy'' (comic strip), an American strip published from 1923 to 1945. ** ''Skippy'' (film), based on the comics strip, released in 1931 and sta ...

'', ''

Glenview High ''Glenview High'' is an Australian television drama series produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Seven Network between 1977 and 1978. Story English teacher Greg Walker ( Grigor Taylor) transfers from the country to Glenview High, ...

'', ''

The Young Doctors ''The Young Doctors'' is an Australian early-evening soap opera originally broadcast on the Nine Network and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation, it aired from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March 1983. The series is prima ...

'', and '' Neighbours'' in Australia, where he emigrated in the late 1960s. Varnel died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

in Sydney at the age of 70.

Selected filmography

* '' Enter Inspector Duval'' (1961) * '' Return of a Stranger'' (1961) * ''

Mrs. Gibbons' Boys ''Mrs. Gibbons' Boys'' is a play by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman. The comedy centers on the mother of three delinquent boys. Produced and directed by George Abbott, the Broadway production opened at the Music Box Theatre on May 4, 1949 and clos ...

'' (1962)

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Varnel, Max 1925 births 1996 deaths Film directors from Paris French television directors French emigrants to Australia