Jack Arnold
Encyclopedia
Jack ArnoldJack Arnold (October 14, 1912
Jack Arnold (October 14, 1912
Jack Arnold (October 14, 1912http://www.monsters411.com/jackarnold.html – March 17, 1992) was an American television and film director, best known as one of the leading filmmakers of 1950s science fiction film
s.
and as a child read a lot of science fiction books and magazines which would lead to his fandom of science fiction.
During World War II Arnold had intended to become a pilot but was placed in the Signal Corps. Whilst there he learned the tricks of filmmaking from Robert Flaherty.Starlog #3 Jack Arnold Interview
Arnold directed a number of science fiction films starting in the 50s. The best known of these, the science fiction film
s It Came from Outer Space
, Tarantula
, Creature from the Black Lagoon
and The Incredible Shrinking Man
, are noted for their atmospheric black-and-white cinematography and unusually sophisticated scripts. Later in his career, he went to England to direct the early Peter Sellers
film, The Mouse That Roared, in which Sellers played three roles, one of them in drag.
Arnold began his television career in 1955 with several episodes of Science Fiction Theater. He went on to direct the long-running television series Perry Mason
and Peter Gunn
. He also directed episodes of such television shows as Alias Smith and Jones
, The Fall Guy
, The Brady Bunch
, and Gilligan's Island
, as well as the 1980 TV movie Marilyn: The Untold Story.
Arnold died of arteriosclerosis
in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
at the age of 79.
Jack Arnold (October 14, 1912
Jack Arnold (October 14, 1912http://www.monsters411.com/jackarnold.html – March 17, 1992) was an American television and film director, best known as one of the leading filmmakers of 1950s science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
s.
Life and career
Born Jack Arnold Waks in New Haven, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and as a child read a lot of science fiction books and magazines which would lead to his fandom of science fiction.
During World War II Arnold had intended to become a pilot but was placed in the Signal Corps. Whilst there he learned the tricks of filmmaking from Robert Flaherty.Starlog #3 Jack Arnold Interview
Arnold directed a number of science fiction films starting in the 50s. The best known of these, the science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
s It Came from Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space is a 1953 science fiction 3-D film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, and Charles Drake. It was Universal's first film to be filmed in 3-D.- Plot :...
, Tarantula
Tarantula (film)
Tarantula is a 1955 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Leo G. Carroll, John Agar, and Mara Corday. Among other things, the film is notable for the appearance of a 25-year-old Clint Eastwood in an uncredited role as a jet pilot at the end of the film.-Plot summary:The plot...
, Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes...
and The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Incredible Shrinking Man is a 1957 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold and adapted for the screen by Richard Matheson from his novel The Shrinking Man ....
, are noted for their atmospheric black-and-white cinematography and unusually sophisticated scripts. Later in his career, he went to England to direct the early Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
film, The Mouse That Roared, in which Sellers played three roles, one of them in drag.
Arnold began his television career in 1955 with several episodes of Science Fiction Theater. He went on to direct the long-running television series Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
and Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator was Blake Edwards...
. He also directed episodes of such television shows as Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones is an American Western series that originally aired on ABC from 1971 to 1973. It stars Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy as Jedediah "Kid" Curry, a pair of Western cousin outlaws trying to reform...
, The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
, The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, and Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
, as well as the 1980 TV movie Marilyn: The Untold Story.
Arnold died of arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a stiffening of arteries.Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening of medium or large arteries It should not be confused with "arteriolosclerosis" or "atherosclerosis".Also known by the name "myoconditis" which is...
in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
Woodland Hills is a district in the city of Los Angeles, California.Woodland Hills is located in the southwestern area of the San Fernando Valley, east of Calabasas and west of Tarzana, with Warner Center in its northern section...
at the age of 79.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Nominated | Academy Award | Best Documentary, Features Academy Award for Documentary Feature The Academy Award for Documentary Feature is among the most prestigious awards for documentary films.- Winners and nominees:Following the Academy's practice, films are listed below by the award year... |
With These Hands With These Hands With These Hands is a 1950 documentary film directed by Jack Arnold. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Produced by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the film used actors to recreate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and compare working conditions... Shared with Lee Goodman |
| 1985 | Won | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | President's Award | |