Marcel Varnel
Encyclopedia
Marcel Varnel was a film director. He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris
, France
.
Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage but soon became a director of musical comedies. In 1925 he moved to New York
working as director in several Broadway
operettas, musicals and dramas for the Shubert family
. This was followed by a move to Hollywood where he directed three low budget thrillers.
In 1934 he moved to England and it was as director of British comedies initially working at British International Pictures, Elstree
then in 1936 moving to Gainsborough Pictures
where he produced his best films. In particular working with Will Hay
, Graham Moffatt
, Moore Marriott
, The Crazy Gang
, Arthur Askey
and George Formby.
He died in a car crash near Rake, West Sussex
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage but soon became a director of musical comedies. In 1925 he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
working as director in several Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
operettas, musicals and dramas for the Shubert family
Shubert family
The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States...
. This was followed by a move to Hollywood where he directed three low budget thrillers.
In 1934 he moved to England and it was as director of British comedies initially working at British International Pictures, Elstree
Elstree
Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
then in 1936 moving to Gainsborough Pictures
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, London. Gainsborough Studios were active between 1924 and 1951. Built as a power station for the Great Northern & City Railway it...
where he produced his best films. In particular working with Will Hay
Will Hay
William Thomson "Will" Hay was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer.-Early life:He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, in north east England, to William R...
, Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt was a British character actor and comedian.Born in Hammersmith, London, he is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': an insolent, overweight, overgrown-schoolboy type character, loosely reminiscent of Billy Bunter.His first...
, Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
, The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold...
, Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
and George Formby.
He died in a car crash near Rake, West Sussex
Rake, West Sussex
Rake is a linear village in the English county of West Sussex.Historically its importance rose from it being on the main London-Portsmouth road but it has been bypassed for several years. Administratively Rake forms part of the civil parish of Rogate; in turn Rogate forms part of the district of...
.
Films
- Silent Witness (1932) (U.S.A.) - Director
- Chandu the MagicianChandu the Magician (film)Chandu the Magician is a 1932 American mystery film starring Edmund Lowe as a Magician/Yogi secret agent, Frank Chandler and Bela Lugosi as the megalomaniac villain Roxor, that he must stop. Based on the radio play of the same name, written by Harry A. Earnshaw, Vera M. Oldham and R.R. Morgan...
(1932) (U.S.A.)- Director - Infernal MachineInfernal Machine (film)Infernal Machine is a 1933 American thriller film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Chester Morris, Genevieve Tobin and Victor Jory. A bomb planted onboard a ship may go off at any moment, leaving the crew and passengers in suspense...
(1933) (U.S.A.) - Director - Freedom Of The Seas (1934) - Director
- Girls Will Be BoysGirls Will Be BoysGirls Will Be Boys is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Dolly Haas, Cyril Maude and Esmond Knight. A young woman dresses up as a boy to fool a wealthy misogynist. It is based on The Last Lord, a play by Robert Siodmak...
(1934) - Director - I Give My Heart (1935) - Director
- Dance BandDance BandDance Band is a 1935 British musical film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, June Clyde and Steven Geray. Its plot concerns two dance bands who develop an intense rivalry with each other during a competition.-Cast:...
(1935) - Director - Royal CavalcadeRoyal CavalcadeRoyal Cavalcade is a 1935 British, black-and-white, drama film directed by six separate directors: Thomas Bentley , Herbert Brenon, Norman Lee, Walter Summers, Will Kellino and Marcel Varnel. The film features Marie Lohr, Hermione Baddeley, Owen Nares, Robert Hale, Austin Trevor, James Carew,...
also known as Regal Cavalcade in the U.S.A. (1935) - Director - No Monkey BusinessNo Monkey BusinessNo Monkey Business is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Gene Gerrard, June Clyde and Renee Houston.-Cast:* Gene Gerrard – Jim Carroll* June Clyde – Clare Barrington* Renee Houston – Jessie* Richard Hearne – Charlie...
(1936) - Director - Public Nuisance No. 1Public Nuisance No. 1Public Nuisance No. 1 is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Frances Day, Arthur Riscoe and Muriel Aked. A young man goes to work as a waiter at his uncle's hotel in France.-Cast:* Frances Day - Frances Travers...
(1936) - Director - All InAll In (film)All In is a 1936 British sports comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Ralph Lynn, Gina Malo and Garry Marsh. The owner of a racing stables has high hopes of winning The Derby, but fate intervenes. It was also known by the title Tattenham Corner.-Cast:* Ralph Lynn ... Archie Slott*...
(1936) - Director - Okay For Sound (1936) - Director
- Good Morning, BoysGood Morning, BoysGood Morning, Boys is a 1937 British comedy film featuring Will Hay, Martita Hunt, Lilli Palmer and Peter Gawthorne.-Plot outline:Will Hay plays the roguish headmaster, Dr Twist, of a dubious boarding school for boys. Twist bets on the horses with his pupils and teaches them little...
(1937) - Director - Oh, Mr Porter!Oh, Mr Porter!Oh, Mr Porter! is a British comedy film starring Will Hay with Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt and directed by Marcel Varnel. While not his most commercially successful, it is probably his best-known film to modern audiences...
(1937) - Director - Convict 99Convict 99Convict 99 is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring British comedian Will Hay and Googie Withers.-Synopsis:Incompetent Dr Benjamin Twist is dismissed from his job as headmaster at St. Michaels' School Convict 99 is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel...
(1938) - Director - Hey! Hey! USA!Hey! Hey! USA!Hey! Hey! USA is a 1938 British comedy film starring comedian Will Hay, Edgar Kennedy and Eddie Ryan. Hay appears as Benjamin Twist, a porter who accidentally finds himself on a ship bound for the United States.-Plot outline:...
(1938) - Director - The Loves of Madame DubarryThe Loves of Madame DubarryThe Loves of Madame Dubarry a.k.a. I Give My Heart is a 1935 British historical film adapted from the stage operetta The DuBarry. Directed by Marcel Varnel, and produced by J. H. Hoffberg Company. It is based on the life of Madame Du Barry....
(1938) - Director - Old Bones of the RiverOld Bones of the RiverOld Bones of the River is a comedy film released in 1938 starring British actor Will Hay with Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt and directed by Marcel Varnel...
(1938) - Director - Alf's Button AfloatAlf's Button AfloatAlf's Button Afloat is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Alastair Sim and Peter Gawthorne. The Crazy Gang go to sea. It paradoies the 1920 novel Alf's Button by W.A...
(1938) - Director - Where's That Fire?Where's That Fire?Where's That Fire? is a 1940 British comedy film, produced by Twentieth Century Fox, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt.-Synopsis:...
(1939) - Director - The Frozen LimitsThe Frozen LimitsThe Frozen Limits is a 1939 British comedy western film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Jimmy Nervo, Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, Chesney Allen and Charlie Naughton a group of entertainers commonly known as The Crazy Gang...
(1939) - Director - Band WaggonBand Waggon (film)Band Waggon is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch and Moore Marriott. It was based on the BBC radio show Band Waggon.-Plot:...
(1940) - Director - Let George Do ItLet George Do ItLet George Do It is a 1940 British, black-and-white, comedy musical war film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, with Ronald Shiner as the clarinetist...
(1940) - Director - GasbagsGasbagsGasbags is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and Marcel Varnel and starring The Crazy Gang.-Plot summary:The film brims with British comedy talent of the period. The Crazy Gang’s mobile fish and chip shop is accidentally tied to a barrage balloon and the gang is carried to Nazi...
(1940) - Director - The Ghost of St Michaels (1941) - Director
- Turned Out Nice AgainTurned Out Nice AgainTurned Out Nice Again is a British comedy film starring Lancashire-born George Formby. The film was released in 1941 and filmed at Ealing Studios, London.-Sypnosis:...
(1941) - Director - Hi, Gang!Hi Gang! (film)Hi Gang! is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Vic Oliver. It was a spin-off from the popular radio series Hi Gang!.-Cast:* Bebe Daniels - The Liberty Girl* Ben Lyon - Her Other Half...
(1941) - Director - South American GeorgeSouth American GeorgeSouth American George is a 1941 British, black-and-white, comedy film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Linden Travers, Enid Stamp-Taylor, Felix Aylmer, Ronald Shiner as Swifty, Mavis Villiers and Herbert Lomas. It was produced by Columbia Productions....
(1941) - Director and Producer - I Thank YouI Thank You (film)I Thank You is a 1941 British comedy filmdirected by Marcel Varnel and starring Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott. It was produced by Edward Black at Gainsborough Pictures.- Plot summary :...
(1941) - Director - Neutral PortNeutral PortNeutral Port is a 1940 British war film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Will Fyffe, Leslie Banks, Yvonne Arnaud, Phyllis Calvert and Wally Patch. A British merchant ship is torpedoed by a German U-Boat and takes shelter in a neutral port. The Captain then strikes back at the German enemy...
(1941) - Director - King Arthur Was a GentlemanKing Arthur Was a GentlemanKing Arthur Was a Gentleman is a 1942 British, black-and-white, comedy, musical film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Ronald Shiner as Sargent and Arthur Askey as Arthur King...
(1942) - Director - Much Too ShyMuch Too ShyMuch Too Shy is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Kathleen Harrison, Hilda Bayley and Eileen Bennett.-Cast:* George Formby - George Any* Kathleen Harrison - Amelia Peabody* Hilda Bayley - Lady Driscoll...
(1942) - Director - Get CrackingGet CrackingGet Cracking is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, war film, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Ronald Shiner as Everett Manley and George Formby. It was produced by Marcel Varnel, Ben Henry and Columbia Productions.-Synopsis:...
(1943) - Director - Bell Bottom George (1943) - Director
- He Snoops to ConquerHe Snoops to ConquerHe Snoops to Conquer is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Robertson Hare, Elizabeth Allan, and Claude Bailey. An odd job man becomes mixed up in corruption in politics and town planning.-Plot:...
(1944) - Director and Producer - I Didn't Do ItI Didn't Do ItI Didn't Do It is a 1945 British comedy crime film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Dennis Wyndham and Carl Jaffe. An actor staying at a theatrical boarding house is framed for a murder....
(1945) - Director and Producer - George in Civvy StreetGeorge in Civvy StreetGeorge in Civvy Street is a 1946 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Ronald Shiner, Ian Fleming and Ronnie Scott...
(1946) - Director and Producer - This Man Is MineThis Man Is Mine (1946 film)This Man Is Mine is a 1946 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Tom Walls, Glynis Johns and Jeanne De Casalis. A Canadian soldier is billeted with a British family for the Christmas holidays to the delight of the two unmarried daughters...
(1946) - Director and Producer