Frank Launder
- Known for
- Writing
- Born
- January 28, 1906
- Place of birth
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Died
- February 23, 1997
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat.
He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and worked briefly as a clerk before becoming an actor and then a playwright. He began working as a screenwriter on British films in the 1930s, contributing the original story for the classic Will Hay comedy Oh, Mr Porter! (1937). After writing a number of screenplays with Gilliat, including The Lady Vanishes (1938) for Alfred Hitchcock, and Night Train to Munich for Carol Reed; the two men wrote and directed the wartime drama Millions Like Us (1943).
After founding their own production company Individual Pictures, they produced a number of memorable dramas and thrillers including I See a Dark Stranger (1945) and Green for Danger (1946), but were best known for their comedies including The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) and most famously, the St Trinians series, based on Ronald Searle's cartoons set in an anarchic girls school. He was married to actress Bernadette O'Farrell from 1950 until his death in Monaco. The couple had two children.
Movies directed by Frank Launder
- The Belles of St Trinian's 1954 · ★ 6.4
- The Happiest Days of Your Life 1950 · ★ 6.7
- Blue Murder at St. Trinian's 1957 · ★ 6.8
- The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery 1966 · ★ 6.2
- I See a Dark Stranger 1946 · ★ 6.5
- The Pure Hell of St Trinian's 1960 · ★ 6.5
- The Blue Lagoon 1949 · ★ 5.9
- Millions Like Us 1943 · ★ 5.6
- The Wildcats of St Trinian's 1980 · ★ 4.4
- Two Thousand Women 1944 · ★ 6.9
- Geordie 1955 · ★ 6.9
- Folly to Be Wise 1952 · ★ 6.7
- Captain Boycott 1947 · ★ 7.2
- Lady Godiva Rides Again 1951 · ★ 5.9
- The Bridal Path 1959 · ★ 6.0
- Joey Boy 1965 · ★ 6.2
- Partners in Crime 1942 · ★ 10.0