Mary Field

Biography

British director and screen writer, she is not to be confused with the American actress of the same name. Mary Field is best known for directing short educational and nature films. Field became the series director of Secrets of Nature in 1929. Previously a history teacher, she joined the film industry as an historical consultant in 1925, working for British Instructional Films. Although she had no training in science or filmmaking, Field quickly proved herself to be a first-class film director, developing a unique style that fused education and instruction. Field insisted that nature films were more than just a series of impressive images: they were the result of a painstaking process that involved scriptwriting, editing, filming, cutting and montage and synchronisation, as well as the collaboration of expert consultants. She continued to direct nature films under the new title Secrets of Life from 1934 when her production team, led by H. Bruce Woolfe, moved from British Instructional Films to Gaumont-British instructional. During the Second World War, she put her skills to work in producing public information films for the British government and was later commissioned to produc…

Directed

1. The Mystery of Marriage (1931) — Director
2. Any Evening After Work (1930) — Director
3. Civilian Front (1940) — Director
4. The Tough 'un (1938) — Director
5. Peas and Cues (1930) — Director
6. Wisdom of the Wild (1940) — Director
7. 4 and 20 Fit Girls (1940) — Director
8. Strictly Business (1931) — Director
9. Development of the English Town (1943) — Director
10. Hereford Pedigree Cattle (1937) — Director
11. They Made the Land (1938) — Director
12. The World in a Wine-Glass (1931) — Director
13. Magic Myxies (1931) — Director
14. Once We Were Four (1942) — Director
15. Romance in a Pond (1932) — Director
16. Winter (1923) — Director
17. The Aphis (1930) — Director
18. Gathering Moss (1933) — Director
19. The Catch of the Season (1938) — Director
20. Nursery Island (1936) — Director
21. Kings in Exile (1938) — Director
22. Ebb-tide (1948) — Director
23. Roots (1934) — Director
24. Perky Cockney (1938) — Director
25. Memories (1944) — Director
26. Home from the South (1935) — Director
27. London Visitors (1936) — Director
28. Living in London (1938) — Director
29. Living Lies (1935) — Director
30. Water Folk (1932) — Director
31. Friendly Flies (1931) — Director
32. Paws and Claws (1925) — Director
33. Somersetshire Dairy-Farming (1937) — Director
34. Playtime at The Zoo (1930) — Director
35. Mrs. T. and Her Cabbage Patch (1941) — Director
36. Tongues and Tails (1944) — Director
37. Overlooked (1942) — Director
38. The Rock Pool (1949) — Director
39. Polly All Alone (1944) — Director
40. Singing While They Work (1942) — Director