John Hollingsworth Morse (December 16, 1910 - January 23, 1988) was an American film and television director. He directed episodes of a wide variety of U.S. television series from the 1950s through the 1980s, including McHale's Navy

McHale's Navy

McHale's Navy is an American television sitcom series which ran for 138 half-hour episodes from October 11,1962, to August 31, 1966, on the ABC network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated in a one-hour drama called Seven Against the Sea, broadcast on April 3, 1962...

, Adam-12

Adam-12

Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...

, The Dukes of Hazzard

The Dukes of Hazzard

The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...

, and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger is a syndicated science fiction television serial originally broadcast in 1954. The show lasted for only two seasons and, though syndicated sporadically, dropped into obscurity. But because it was recorded on film rather than being broadcast live as were most other TV...

. Hollingsworth also directed a lesser number of feature films throughout his career, including Daughters of Satan and the 1972 adaptation of the children's novel Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Justin Morgan Had a Horse is a children's historical novel by Marguerite Henry. It concerns horse-breeding in Vermont in the late eighteenth century. The novel, illustrated by Wesley Dennis, was first published in 1945 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1946.-Plot summary:The schoolmaster, Justin...

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Early career

Morse began his career in the casting department of Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...

, and eventually began to work closely with director George Stevens

George Stevens

George Stevens was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer.Among his most notable films were Diary of Anne Frank , nominated for Best Director, Giant , winner of Oscar for Best Director, Shane , Oscar nominated, and A Place in the Sun , winner of Oscar for Best...

. During World War II, Stevens was Morse's commanding officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. In that capacity, Morse traveled with Stevens's unit through Europe and helped capture footage of the Battle of Normandy

Battle of Normandy

The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history...

 and other significant events of the European war. Morse reflected on these experiences through his participation in the 1994 documentary George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin, which was directed by George Stevens, Jr.

George Stevens, Jr.

George Cooper Stevens, Jr. is an American award-winning film and television writer, director, producer, and founder of the American Film Institute...

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