Maurice Elvey

Biography

Maurice Elvey was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, the oldest son of William Clarence Folkard, an inspecting engineer, and Sarah Anna Seward Folkard (formerly Pearce). He never had a formal education, and was working on the streets of London by the age of nine after having run away from home. For a time he worked as a page boy in the Hyde Park Hotel, and a lucky encounter with a wealthy American set him on the road to a career in first the theatre and then in films. It was while in New York when working as a stage producer that he saw his first film, The Flying Dutchman (1923). This made such an impression on him that when he came back to England he was determined to produce and direct films; thus began a career spanning 44 years, during which time he made over 300 feature films and innumerable shorts. Amongst the "firsts" that Maurice Elvey can claim as a director are: Gaumont's first talking film (High Treason (1929)) and the first British colour film Sons of the Sea (1939)). Carol Reed and David Lean began their distinguished careers in film by working for him, and he directed Gracie Fields in her first movie, Sally in Our Alley (1931). Maurice Elvey was the old…

Directed

1. The Tunnel (1935) — Director
2. The Clairvoyant (1935) — Director
3. The Late Edwina Black (1951) — Director
4. The Lodger (1932) — Director
5. High Treason (1929) — Director
6. House of Blackmail (1953) — Director
7. Hindle Wakes (1927) — Director
8. Dry Rot (1956) — Director
9. You Lucky People! (1955) — Director
10. The Lamp Still Burns (1943) — Director
11. The Third Visitor (1951) — Director
12. Beware of Pity (1946) — Director
13. The Life Story of David Lloyd George (1918) — Director
14. The Wandering Jew (1933) — Director
15. Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? (1953) — Director
16. I Lived with You (1933) — Director
17. Second Fiddle (1957) — Director
18. Who Goes Next? (1938) — Director
19. Sons of the Sea (1939) — Director
20. The Gay Dog (1954) — Director
21. The Dying Detective (1921) — Director
22. Fun at St. Fanny's (1955) — Director
23. A Honeymoon Adventure (1931) — Director
24. The Man with the Twisted Lip (1921) — Director
25. The Devil's Foot (1921) — Director
26. Sally in Our Alley (1931) — Director
27. My Wife's Lodger (1952) — Director
28. The Return of the Frog (1938) — Director
29. Princess Charming (1934) — Director
30. This Week of Grace (1933) — Director
31. Love, Life and Laughter (1934) — Director
32. My Song for You (1934) — Director
33. The Sign of Four (1923) — Director
34. Under Your Hat (1940) — Director
35. Frail Women (1932) — Director
36. What Every Woman Wants (1954) — Director
37. The Happiness of Three Women (1954) — Director
38. Medal for the General (1944) — Director
39. The Water Gipsies (1932) — Director
40. Nelson (1918) — Director

Also appeared in

1. Maria Marten or The Mystery of the Red Barn (1913) — Captain Matthews
2. Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn (1913) — Capt. Matthews
3. The Cup Final Mystery (1914)
4. The Fallen idol (1913) — The lover