Compton Bennett
Encyclopedia
Herbert William "Bob" Compton Bennett (15 January 1900 – 11 August 1974), better known as Compton Bennett, was an English
film director, writer and producer. He is perhaps best known for directing the 1945 film The Seventh Veil
and the 1950 version of the film King Solomon's Mines
, an adaptation of an Allan Quatermain
story.
Bennett was born in Tunbridge Wells, England
. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a band leader and a commercial artist before trying his hand at amateur filmmaking. One of these early films helped him land a job at Alexander Korda
's London Films
in 1932. There, he became a film editor; later he would help make instructional and propaganda film
s for the British armed forces during World War II
.
Bennett's films tended to be sombre, but were very popular with the moviegoing public. In 1947, Bennett accepted an invitation to go to Hollywood
, but his directing style appeared to suffer in the American studio system of the era. It was, however, during this time that he directed King Solomon's Mines.
Bennett eventually returned to the UK. From 1954 to 1957, he left film work to pursue interests in the theatre and television, but produced four films in 1957, After the Ball, Man-Eater, That Woman Opposite and The Flying Scot. Although he continued to write and direct for film and television, his subsequent productions were not as well received.
Bennett died in Sussex, England at the age of 74.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
film director, writer and producer. He is perhaps best known for directing the 1945 film The Seventh Veil
The Seventh Veil
The Seventh Veil is a 1945 British melodrama film made by Ortus Films, a company established by producer Sydney Box, who here released through General Film Distributors in the UK and Universal Pictures in the United States.-Plot:...
and the 1950 version of the film King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines (1950 film)
King Solomon's Mines is a 1950 adventure film loosely based on the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines by Henry Rider Haggard, starring Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger and Richard Carlson. It was adapted by Helen Deutsch, directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
, an adaptation of an Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines and its various prequels and sequels. Allan Quatermain was also the title of a book in this sequence.- History :...
story.
Bennett was born in Tunbridge Wells, England
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a band leader and a commercial artist before trying his hand at amateur filmmaking. One of these early films helped him land a job at Alexander Korda
Alexander Korda
Sir Alexander Korda was a Hungarian-born British producer and film director. He was a leading figure in the British film industry, the founder of London Films and the owner of British Lion Films, a film distributing company.-Life and career:The elder brother of filmmakers Zoltán Korda and Vincent...
's London Films
London Films
London Films is a British film production company founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda originally based at London Film Studios in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. The company's productions included The Private Life of Henry VIII , Things to Come , Rembrandt , The Four Feathers , The Thief of Bagdad ...
in 1932. There, he became a film editor; later he would help make instructional and propaganda film
Propaganda film
The term propaganda can be defined as the ability to produce and spread fertile messages that, once sown, will germinate in large human cultures.” However, in the 20th century, a “new” propaganda emerged, which revolved around political organizations and their need to communicate messages that...
s for the British armed forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Bennett's films tended to be sombre, but were very popular with the moviegoing public. In 1947, Bennett accepted an invitation to go to Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
, but his directing style appeared to suffer in the American studio system of the era. It was, however, during this time that he directed King Solomon's Mines.
Bennett eventually returned to the UK. From 1954 to 1957, he left film work to pursue interests in the theatre and television, but produced four films in 1957, After the Ball, Man-Eater, That Woman Opposite and The Flying Scot. Although he continued to write and direct for film and television, his subsequent productions were not as well received.
Bennett died in Sussex, England at the age of 74.
Filmography (director)
- 1944: Men of Rochdale
- 1945: The Seventh VeilThe Seventh VeilThe Seventh Veil is a 1945 British melodrama film made by Ortus Films, a company established by producer Sydney Box, who here released through General Film Distributors in the UK and Universal Pictures in the United States.-Plot:...
- 1946: The Years BetweenThe Years Between (film)The Years Between is a 1946 British film starring Michael Redgrave, Valerie Hobson and Flora Robson in an adaptation of The Years Between by Daphne du Maurier...
- 1948: DaybreakDaybreak (1948 film)Daybreak is a 1948 British film noir drama film, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Eric Portman, Ann Todd and Maxwell Reed. A sombre, bleak film, Daybreak was filmed in 1946, but ran into trouble with the BBFC, resulting in a delay of almost two years before its release...
- 1949: My Own True Love
- 1949: That Forsyte WomanThat Forsyte WomanThat Forsyte Woman is a 1949 romance film starring Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young and Janet Leigh...
- 1950: King Solomon's MinesKing Solomon's Mines (1950 film)King Solomon's Mines is a 1950 adventure film loosely based on the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines by Henry Rider Haggard, starring Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger and Richard Carlson. It was adapted by Helen Deutsch, directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
- 1952: So Little TimeSo Little Time (film)So Little Time is a 1952 British World War II romance drama, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Marius Goring and Maria Schell. The film is based on the novel Je ne suis pas une héroïne by French author Noelle Henry...
- 1952: The Gift Horse
- 1952: It Started in ParadiseIt Started in ParadiseIt Started in Paradise is a 1952 British drama film, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Jane Hylton, Martita Hunt and Muriel Pavlow. Set in the world of haute couture, the film was squarely aimed at female audiences...
- 1953: Desperate MomentDesperate MomentDesperate Moment is a 1953 British thriller film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Dirk Bogarde, Mai Zetterling and Philip Friend.-Plot:...
- 1957: Man-Eater
- 1957: That Woman OppositeThat Woman OppositeThat Woman Opposite is a 1957 British crime drama, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Phyllis Kirk, Dan O'Herlihy and William Franklyn...
- 1957: After the BallAfter the Ball (1957 film)After the Ball is a 1957 British biographical film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Patricia Kirkwood, Laurence Harvey and Jerry Stovin...
- 1957: The Flying ScotThe Flying Scot (film)The Flying Scot is a 1957 British crime film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Lee Patterson, Kay Callard and Alan Gifford. A gang plan to rob a large number of banknotes from an express train.-Cast:* Lee Patterson - Ronnie* Kay Callard - Jackie...
- 1960: Beyond the CurtainBeyond the CurtainBeyond the Curtain is a 1960 British drama film written and directed by Compton Bennett and starring Richard Greene and Eva Bartok.-Plot:...