Thomas Bentley (director)
Thomas Bentley (23 February 1884 – 23 December 1966) was a British film director. He directed 68 films between 1912 and 1941. He directed three films in the early DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, The Man in the Street (1926), The Antidote (1927), and Acci-Dental Treatment (1928).
Thomas Bentley | |
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Born | 23 February 1884 St George Hanover Square, London, England |
Died | 23 December 1966 (aged 82) Bournemouth, Dorset, England |
Occupation | Film director |
Years active | 1912–1951 |
Bentley was born in St George Hanover Square, London and originally trained as an engineer but went on to become a vaudeville performer well known for impersonating the characters from the novels of Charles Dickens on stage, touring Britain and Australia.[1][2] His directing career in silent films began in 1910 after he was signed by Cecil Hepworth to write and direct five adaptations of Dickens' novels.[2] He would go on to direct more Dickens adaptations throughout his career. After his retirement from directing in 1941 he became technical advisor to the British Film Council.
Selected filmography
- Oliver Twist (1912)
- David Copperfield (1913)
- Milestones (1916)
- The Divine Gift (1918)
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1921)
- The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick (1921)
- A Master of Craft (1922)
- Money Isn't Everything (1925)
- A Romance of Mayfair (1925)
- White Heat (1926)
- The Silver Lining (1927)
- Not Quite a Lady (1928)
- Young Woodley (1928)
- The American Prisoner (1929)
- Harmony Heaven (1930)
- Young Woodley (1930)
- Compromising Daphne (1930)
- Hobson's Choice (1931)
- Keepers of Youth (1931)
- After Office Hours (1932)
- Sleepless Nights (1932)
- The Love Nest (1933)
- Hawley's of High Street (1933)
- The Scotland Yard Mystery (1934)
- Those Were the Days (1934)
- The Great Defender (1934)
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1934)
- Royal Cavalcade (1935)
- Music Hath Charms (1935)
- She Knew What She Wanted (1936)
- The Angelus (1937)
- Silver Blaze (1937)
- The Last Chance (1937)
- Night Alone (1938)
- Marigold (1938)
- Me and My Pal (1939)
- Lucky to Me (1939)
- Dead Man's Shoes (1940)
- The Middle Watch (1940)
- Old Mother Riley's Circus (1941)