Film Director, Actor, Playwright. Starting as a conjuror and clown in circuses and music halls, he soon turned to acting and directing at theatres in England and Ireland. Dissatisfied with the standard repertory plays, in 1925 he founded the Gate Theatre in London, staging experimental and avant-garde authors. After directing two british films in the early 30´s, in 1937 he moved to New York where he continued to write and produce plays. Arriving in Hollywood in 1939 and after appearing in several films he finally concentrated on directing, spending the bulk of his career with Warner Brothers as a director of dramas, comedies and thrillers, among them "The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt" (1939), "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945/ with Barbara Stanwyck), "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" (1947/with Humphrey Bogart), "Cry Wolf" (1947/with Errol Flynn), "Escape Me Never" (1947/again with Flynn), "The Girl from Jones Beach" (1949/with Ronald Reagan) and "One Big Affair" (1952). In the early 50´s he switched to television, directing episodes for a variety of shows like "Lux Video Theatre", "Four Star Playhouse", "Stage 7", "Studio 57" and "Adventures of the Sea Hawk", retiring in 1958. One of the film colony´s most accomplished amateur magicians, during World War II he often made appearances at Army camps and staged many shows for servicemen. Married to actess Renée Haal-Godfrey (1919-64) he died after a lengthy illness from Parkinson´s disease.
Film Director, Actor, Playwright. Starting as a conjuror and clown in circuses and music halls, he soon turned to acting and directing at theatres in England and Ireland. Dissatisfied with the standard repertory plays, in 1925 he founded the Gate Theatre in London, staging experimental and avant-garde authors. After directing two british films in the early 30´s, in 1937 he moved to New York where he continued to write and produce plays. Arriving in Hollywood in 1939 and after appearing in several films he finally concentrated on directing, spending the bulk of his career with Warner Brothers as a director of dramas, comedies and thrillers, among them "The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt" (1939), "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945/ with Barbara Stanwyck), "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" (1947/with Humphrey Bogart), "Cry Wolf" (1947/with Errol Flynn), "Escape Me Never" (1947/again with Flynn), "The Girl from Jones Beach" (1949/with Ronald Reagan) and "One Big Affair" (1952). In the early 50´s he switched to television, directing episodes for a variety of shows like "Lux Video Theatre", "Four Star Playhouse", "Stage 7", "Studio 57" and "Adventures of the Sea Hawk", retiring in 1958. One of the film colony´s most accomplished amateur magicians, during World War II he often made appearances at Army camps and staged many shows for servicemen. Married to actess Renée Haal-Godfrey (1919-64) he died after a lengthy illness from Parkinson´s disease.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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