Charles Frend
Encyclopedia
Charles Frend was an English film director.
Charles Frend started his career at British International Pictures in 1931 and after editing Hitchcock
's Waltzes from Vienna
(1934) moved to Gaumont British
Pictures in 1933 where he worked as an editor on Alfred Hitchcock
's movies Secret Agent (1936), Sabotage
(1936) and Young and Innocent
(1937).
For several years, Frend was based at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
's British facilities at Elstree
, where he edited MGM's A Yank at Oxford
(1938), The Citadel
(1938) and Goodbye Mr. Chips
(1939). Frend graduated to director in 1942, with a series of above-average propaganda pictures and documentaries. After the war, he undertook several prestigious assignments including Scott of the Antarctic
(1948) and The Cruel Sea
(1953).
While most of his films were large-scale and dramatic in nature, Frend was also capable of turning out such modest comedies as A Run for Your Money
(1949) and Barnacle Bill (1957).
His 1956 film The Long Arm
won the Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement award at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Charles Frend directed several episodes of The Sentimental Agent
with last credit as principal director was 1967's The Sky Bike. He closed his career as one of the second-unit directors for David Lean
's Ryan's Daughter
(1970).
Charles Frend started his career at British International Pictures in 1931 and after editing Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's Waltzes from Vienna
Waltzes from Vienna
Waltzes from Vienna is a British musical film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, also known as Strauss' Great Waltz.-Production background:The film tells the story of the writing and performance of The Blue Danube. According to Hitchcock:...
(1934) moved to Gaumont British
Gaumont British
Gaumont-British Picture Corporation was the British arm of the French film company Gaumont. The company became independent of its French parent in 1922, when Isidore Ostrer acquired control of Gaumont-British....
Pictures in 1933 where he worked as an editor on Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's movies Secret Agent (1936), Sabotage
Sabotage (film)
Sabotage, also released as The Woman Alone, is a 1936 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is based on Joseph Conrad's novel The Secret Agent...
(1936) and Young and Innocent
Young and Innocent
Young and Innocent is a 1937 British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Nova Pilbeam, Derrick De Marney and John Longden...
(1937).
For several years, Frend was based at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
's British facilities at 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....
, where he edited MGM's A Yank at Oxford
A Yank at Oxford
A Yank at Oxford is a 1938 British film, directed by Jack Conway from a screenplay by John Monk Saunders and Leon Gordon. It was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios...
(1938), The Citadel
The Citadel (film)
The Citadel is a 1938 film based on the novel of the same name by A. J. Cronin, first published in 1937. The film was directed by King Vidor and produced by Victor Saville.-Plot:...
(1938) and Goodbye Mr. Chips
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a 1939 British film based on the novel of the same name by James Hilton. It was directed by Sam Wood, and starred Robert Donat, Greer Garson, Terry Kilburn, John Mills, and Paul Henreid. The screenplay was adapted from the novel by R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West and Eric...
(1939). Frend graduated to director in 1942, with a series of above-average propaganda pictures and documentaries. After the war, he undertook several prestigious assignments including Scott of the Antarctic
Scott of the Antarctic (1948 film)
Scott of the Antarctic is a 1948 film about Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to be the first to the South Pole in Antarctica in 1910-12...
(1948) and The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea (film)
The Cruel Sea is a 1953 British film from Ealing Studios starring Jack Hawkins and Donald Sinden, with Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker, Liam Redmond, Virginia McKenna and Moira Lister...
(1953).
While most of his films were large-scale and dramatic in nature, Frend was also capable of turning out such modest comedies as A Run for Your Money
A Run for Your Money
A Run for Your Money is a 1949 Ealing Studios comedy film starring Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards as two Welshmen visiting London for the first time...
(1949) and Barnacle Bill (1957).
His 1956 film The Long Arm
The Long Arm (film)
The Long Arm is a 1956 British crime film starring Jack Hawkins, directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon. In the US it's known as The Third Key.-Plot:...
won the Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement award at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival
6th Berlin International Film Festival
-Jury:* Marcel Carné* Bill Luckwell* Giuseppe Vittorio Sampieri* Koichi Kawakita* Leo J. Horster* Ilse Urbach* Ludwig Berger-Films in competition:* ...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr by Wolf Hart* Autumn Leaves by Robert Aldrich...
.
Charles Frend directed several episodes of The Sentimental Agent
The Sentimental Agent
The Sentimental Agent is a television drama series spin-off from Man of the World. It was produced in the UK in 1963 by Associated TeleVision and distributed by ITC Entertainment. It stars Carlos Thompson as Argentinian Carlos Varela, a successful import-export agent based in London.The series ran...
with last credit as principal director was 1967's The Sky Bike. He closed his career as one of the second-unit directors for David Lean
David Lean
Sir David Lean CBE was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor best remembered for big-screen epics such as The Bridge on the River Kwai , Lawrence of Arabia ,...
's Ryan's Daughter
Ryan's Daughter
Ryan's Daughter is a 1970 film directed by David Lean. The film, set in 1916, tells the story of a married Irish woman who has an affair with a British officer during World War I, despite opposition from her nationalist neighbours...
(1970).
Filmography (director)
- 1942: The Big BlockadeThe Big BlockadeThe Big Blockade is a 1942 British, black-and-white, comedy-drama, propaganda film, war film, directed by Charles Frend and starring Will Hay, Ronald Shiner as the Shipping Clerk and John Mills. It was produced by Ealing Studios...
- 1943: The Foreman Went to FranceThe Foreman Went to FranceThe Foreman Went to France, also known as Somewhere in France, is a 1942 British World War II war film starring Clifford Evans, Tommy Trinder, Constance Cummings and Gordon Jackson...
- 1943: San Demetrio LondonSan Demetrio LondonSan Demetrio London is a Second World War film about the Merchant Navy. It deals with the crew of a tanker and their struggle to deliver their cargo to England during the Battle of the Atlantic...
- 1945: The Return of the Vikings
- 1945: Johnny FrenchmanJohnny FrenchmanJohnny Frenchman is a 1945 British film produced by Ealing Studios and directed by Charles Frend. The film was produced by Michael Balcon from a screenplay by T.E.B...
- 1947: The Loves of Joanna GoddenThe Loves of Joanna GoddenThe Loves of Joanna Godden is a 1947 British historical drama film directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon. The screenplay was written by H E Bates and Angus McPhail from the novel by Sheila Kaye-Smith. It stars Googie Withers, Jean Kent, John McCallum, Derek Bond, Chips Rafferty...
- 1948: Scott of the Antarctic
- 1949: A Run for Your MoneyA Run for Your MoneyA Run for Your Money is a 1949 Ealing Studios comedy film starring Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards as two Welshmen visiting London for the first time...
- 1950: The Magnet
- 1953: The Cruel SeaThe Cruel Sea (film)The Cruel Sea is a 1953 British film from Ealing Studios starring Jack Hawkins and Donald Sinden, with Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker, Liam Redmond, Virginia McKenna and Moira Lister...
- 1954: Lease of LifeLease of LifeLease of Life is a 1954 British film drama made by Ealing Studios and directed by Charles Frend. The film was designed as a star-vehicle for Robert Donat, representing his return to the screen after an absence of over three years during which he had been battling the chronic asthma which plagued...
- 1956: The Long ArmThe Long Arm (film)The Long Arm is a 1956 British crime film starring Jack Hawkins, directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon. In the US it's known as The Third Key.-Plot:...
- 1957: Barnacle Bill
- 1960: Cone of SilenceCone of Silence (1960 film)Cone of Silence is a film about the investigation into a series of crashes involving the fictional "Atlas Aviation Phoenix" jetliner. In the United States, the film was released under the title Trouble in the Sky...
- 1961: Girl on ApprovalGirl on ApprovalGirl on Approval is a 1961 British drama film directed by Charles Frend and starring Rachel Roberts, James Maxwell and Annette Whiteley.-Cast:* Rachel Roberts - Anne Howland* James Maxwell - John Howland* Annette Whiteley - Sheila...
- 1963: Torpedo BayTorpedo BayTorpedo Bay is a 1963 war film directed by Charles Frend and Bruno Vailati and starring James Mason. The story is based on events that took place at Betasom, a submarine base established at Bordeaux by the Italian Navy during World War II....
- 1967: The Sky Bike