Charles D. Hall
Encyclopedia
Charles D. Hall was a British
-American
art director and production designer. He is perhaps best remembered for his tenure at Universal Pictures
, where he began his career during the silent era. He was art director for many of Universal's most famous productions of the 1920s and '30's: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), the original Bela Lugosi
Dracula
(1931), the original Magnificent Obsession
(1935), and the 1936 My Man Godfrey
among them, as well as eleven films directed by James Whale
, including the original Boris Karloff
Frankenstein
(1931), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein
(1935), and the 1936 film version of Show Boat
. Hall also worked on the 1929 part-talkie
film version of Show Boat, directed by Harry Pollard
.
Hall left Universal in the late 1930s and went to United Artists
, where he worked for producer Hal Roach
on such films as Topper Takes a Trip, the first of the two sequels to 1937's Topper
. He then worked for a time on mostly B-films.
Hall later moved into working in television. He ended his career as art director for the pioneering 1955 TV series Medic
.
Hall bought a house from John Wayne in which he lived until his death.
From the late 1950s-60's Hall is known for his watercolor paintings.
He was nominated for two Academy Awards
, but neither nomination was for one of his famous films. They were for the films Captain Fury
and Merrily We Live
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
art director and production designer. He is perhaps best remembered for his tenure at Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
, where he began his career during the silent era. He was art director for many of Universal's most famous productions of the 1920s and '30's: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), the original Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
Dracula
Dracula (1931 film)
Dracula is a 1931 vampire-horror film directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi as the title character. The film was produced by Universal and is based on the stage play of the same name by Hamilton Deane and John L...
(1931), the original Magnificent Obsession
Magnificent Obsession (1935 film)
Magnificent Obsession is a 1935 drama film based on a book of the same name by Lloyd C. Douglas. It was adapted by Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman, and George O'Neil, and directed by John M. Stahl...
(1935), and the 1936 My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava. The screenplay was written by Morrie Ryskind, with uncredited contributions by La Cava, based on "1101 Park Avenue", a short story by Eric Hatch. The story concerns a socialite who hires a derelict to be her...
among them, as well as eleven films directed by James Whale
James Whale
James Whale was an English film director, theatre director and actor. He is best remembered for his work in the horror film genre, having directed such classics as Frankenstein , The Old Dark House , The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein...
, including the original Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1931 film)
Frankenstein is a 1931 Pre-Code Horror Monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff, and features...
(1931), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American horror film, the first sequel to Frankenstein...
(1935), and the 1936 film version of Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
. Hall also worked on the 1929 part-talkie
Part-talkie
A part-talkie is a partly, and most often primarily, silent film which includes one or more synchronous sound sequences with audible dialog or singing. During the silent portions lines of dialog are presented as "titles" -- printed text briefly filling the screen -- and the soundtrack is used only...
film version of Show Boat, directed by Harry Pollard
Harry Pollard
Harry Pollard may refer to:*Harry A. Pollard , American silent film actor director, and screenwriter*Harry Pollard , best known as Snub Pollard, Australian-born silent movie comedian...
.
Hall left Universal in the late 1930s and went to United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, where he worked for producer Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
on such films as Topper Takes a Trip, the first of the two sequels to 1937's Topper
Topper (film)
Topper is a 1937 American comedy film which tells the story of a stuffy, stuck-in-his-ways man who is haunted by the ghosts of a fun-loving married couple. It was adapted by Eric Hatch, Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran from the novel by Thorne Smith. The film was directed by Norman Z. McLeod, produced by...
. He then worked for a time on mostly B-films.
Hall later moved into working in television. He ended his career as art director for the pioneering 1955 TV series Medic
Medic (TV series)
Medic is an American medical drama that aired on NBC beginning in 1954. Medic was television's first doctor drama to focus attention on medical procedures, establishing the style for later medical series.Created by its principal writer James E...
.
Hall bought a house from John Wayne in which he lived until his death.
From the late 1950s-60's Hall is known for his watercolor paintings.
He was nominated for two Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, but neither nomination was for one of his famous films. They were for the films Captain Fury
Captain Fury
Captain Fury is a 1939 adventure film directed by Hal Roach. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Charles D. Hall.-Cast:* Brian Aherne - Captain Michael Fury* Victor McLaglen - Blackie* Paul Lukas - Francois Dupre...
and Merrily We Live
Merrily We Live
Merrily We Live is a 1938 comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod. It stars Constance Bennett and Brian Aherne and features Ann Dvorak, Bonita Granville, Billie Burke, Tom Brown, Alan Mowbray, Clarence Kolb and Patsy Kelly. The film was produced by Hal Roach for Hal Roach Studios, and was...
.