John Farrow

Director
John Farrow

About

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Also Known As
John V Farrow, John Villiers Farrow
Birth Place
Australia
Born
February 10, 1904
Died
January 27, 1963
Cause of Death
Heart Attack

Biography

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A former naval officer, in Hollywood from 1927 as a scriptwriter, Farrow as a director turned out several well-crafted entertainments often marked by the imaginative use of locations, such as the huge skyscraper in which his 1948 thriller "The Big Clock" is largely set. The genres he was most often associated with were suspense and action drama, and his best work is both well-paced and i...

Filmography

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John Paul Jones (1959)
Director
The Unholy Wife (1957)
Director
Back from Eternity (1956)
Director
The Sea Chase (1955)
Director
A Bullet Is Waiting (1954)
Director
Hondo (1954)
Director

Photos & Videos

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The Big Clock - Movie Poster
1 Photo
Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) In The Base Of The Skull
Five Came Back - Behind-the-Scenes Photo
1 Photo
Women in the Wind - Movie Poster
1 Photo
Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Blue Moon Girls

Family & Companions

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Maureen O'Sullivan
Wife
Actor. Married from September 12, 1936 until his death.

Bibliography

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"Pageant of the Popes"
John Farrow (1942)
"Damien the Leper"
John Farrow (1937)
"Laughter Ends"
John Farrow (1934)
"The History and Development of the Royal Canadian Navy"
John Farrow

Notes

Created a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Pius XI in 1937

Biography

A former naval officer, in Hollywood from 1927 as a scriptwriter, Farrow as a director turned out several well-crafted entertainments often marked by the imaginative use of locations, such as the huge skyscraper in which his 1948 thriller "The Big Clock" is largely set. The genres he was most often associated with were suspense and action drama, and his best work is both well-paced and intelligent. Farrow's best remembered efforts include "Five Came Back" (1939), detailing the struggles of plane crash survivors, "Wake Island" (1942), a gritty WWII drama, and "Alias Nick Beal" (1949), a modernized retelling of "Faust" about political corruption. He also pursued careers as a historian and novelist, and married actress Maureen O'Sullivan in 1936; daughters Mia and Tisa are also actresses.

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

John Paul Jones (1959)
Director
The Unholy Wife (1957)
Director
Back from Eternity (1956)
Director
The Sea Chase (1955)
Director
A Bullet Is Waiting (1954)
Director
Hondo (1954)
Director
Plunder of the Sun (1953)
Director
Botany Bay (1953)
Director
Ride, Vaquero! (1953)
Director
Red Mountain (1952)
Fill-in Director
His Kind of Woman (1951)
Director
Submarine Command (1951)
Director
Where Danger Lives (1950)
Director
Copper Canyon (1950)
Director
Alias Nick Beal (1949)
Director
Red, Hot and Blue (1949)
Director
The Big Clock (1948)
Director
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)
Director
Beyond Glory (1948)
Director
Blaze of Noon (1947)
Director
California (1947)
Director
Easy Come, Easy Go (1947)
Director
Calcutta (1947)
Director
Two Years Before the Mast (1946)
Director
You Came Along (1945)
Director
The Hitler Gang (1944)
Director
China (1943)
Director
Wake Island (1942)
Director
Commandos Strike At Dawn (1942)
Director
Commandos Strike at Dawn (To Be Deleted) (1942)
Director
Married and in Love (1940)
Director
A Bill of Divorcement (1940)
Director
Full Confession (1939)
Director
The Saint Strikes Back (1939)
Director
Sorority House (1939)
Director
Reno (1939)
Director
Women in the Wind (1939)
Director
Five Came Back (1939)
Director
Comet over Broadway (1938)
Fill-In Director
Broadway Musketeers (1938)
Director
My Bill (1938)
Director
Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938)
Director
The Invisible Menace (1938)
Director
Men in Exile (1937)
Director
West of Shanghai (1937)
Director
She Loved a Fireman (1937)
Director
Tarzan Escapes (1936)
Director

Cast (Feature Film)

Forbidden Island (1959)
Edward Stuart Godfrey
The Shrike (1955)
Englishman
The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)
English officer
King of the Khyber Rifles (1954)
Corp. Stuart
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Voice

Writer (Feature Film)

John Paul Jones (1959)
Screenwriter
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Screenwriter
Red, Hot and Blue (1949)
Screenwriter
Last of the Pagans (1935)
Original story and Screenplay
Don Quichotte (1933)
Screenplay
The Impassive Footman (1932)
Screenwriter
The Common Law (1931)
Screenplay story
A Woman of Experience (1931)
Screenplay and dial
Their Mad Moment (1931)
Contract Writer
Shadow of the Law (1930)
Scen
Shadow of the Law (1930)
Dial
Inside the Lines (1930)
Dial
Seven Days Leave (1930)
Scen
Seven Days Leave (1930)
Dial
The Bad One (1930)
Story
Wolf Song (1929)
Screenwriter
A Dangerous Woman (1929)
Adaptation
The Wheel of Life (1929)
Adaptation
The Four Feathers (1929)
Titles
Ladies of the Mob (1928)
Scen
The First Kiss (1928)
Adaptation
The Woman From Moscow (1928)
Screenwriter
The Woman From Moscow (1928)
Art titles
Three Week-ends (1928)
Adaptation
The Showdown (1928)
Titles
The Blue Danube (1928)
Story
The Wreck of the Hesperus (1927)
Story
White Gold (1927)
Titles

Producer (Feature Film)

The Unholy Wife (1957)
Producer
Back from Eternity (1956)
Producer
The Sea Chase (1955)
Producer

Music (Feature Film)

The Sea Chase (1955)
Composer

Production Companies (Feature Film)

Where Danger Lives (1950)
Company
Copper Canyon (1950)
Company
Red, Hot and Blue (1949)
Company
Easy Come, Easy Go (1947)
Company
California (1947)
Company

Life Events

1927

First film credit, as title writer, "White Gold"

1928

First screenplay credit, "The First Kiss"

1934

Debut as director of short, "The Spectacle Maker"

1937

First feature film as director, "Men in Exile"

1942

Received Oscar nomination as Best Director for his work on the war film, "Wake Island"

1959

Last film, "John Paul Jones"

Photo Collections

 
1 Photo
The Big Clock - Movie Poster
Here is an original 3-Sheet movie poster from Paramount's The Big Clock (1948), starring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton.
1 Photo
Five Came Back - Behind-the-Scenes Photo
Here is a photo taken behind-the-scenes during production of RKO's Five Came Back (1939).
1 Photo
Women in the Wind - Movie Poster
Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Women in the Wind (1939), starring Kay Francis. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Videos

Movie Clip

Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) In The Base Of The Skull The stewardess (Adele Mara) visits gangster-escorting-child Jesse White, the professor and his wife (Cameron Prud’homme, Beulah Bondi) who converse with convict Vasquel (Rod Steiger), who seems cheery considering he’s traveling for his execution, his bounty hunter (Fred Clark) tolerant, as pilots (Keith Andes, Robert Ryan) cope with big weather problems, in Back From Eternity, 1956.
Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Blue Moon Girls Between segments of the South American airline journey, little Tommy (Jon Provost) rescued by nice Louise (Phyllis Kirk) but not vampy Rena (Anita Ekberg), who joins jaded pilot Bill (Robert Ryan), in John Farrow's Back From Eternity, 1956.
Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Our Chances? After crash-landing, convict Vasquel (Rod Steiger) and bounty hunter Crimp (Fred Clark) tangle, pilots Bill (Robert Ryan) and Joe (Keith Andes) speak to survivors (Cameron Prud'homme, Phyllis Kirk, Jesse White, Anita Ekberg et al), John Farrow directing, in Back From Eternity, 1956.
Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Place Called Boca Grande Meant to be dazzling introduction of Anita Ekberg (as probably-hooker "Rena"), getting bounced from Las Vegas by probably-pimp Paul (Tris Coffin), launching events in John Farrow's Back From Eternity, 1956.
Sea Chase, The (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Ehrlich Was Like A Fox David Farrar narrates as British naval officer Napier, pursuing John Wayne, as the conflicted Captain Ehrlich of the German steamer Ergenstrasse, trying to avoid capture in the South Pacific in the early days of WWII, as his Nazi spy passenger Elsa (Lana Turner) is approached by his sneaky officer Kirchner (Lyle Bettger), in The Sea Chase, 1955.
Sea Chase, The (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Muster All Hands Departing Sydney, Australia, just after the declaration of WWII, anti-Nazi German freighter captain Ehrlich (John Wayne) instructs his crew on avoiding British patrols, then tells Elsa (Lana Turner), an old acquaintance and Nazi spy whom he's been ordered to transport, to stay out of sight, in The Sea Chase, 1955.
Sea Chase, The (1953) -- (Movie Clip) No Daydreaming Moored off a South Pacific island to collect wood to fuel their way to Chile, German steamer officers Kirchner and Schmidt (Lyle Bettger, John Qualen) are interrupted by captain Ehrlich (John Wayne), who has special instructions regarding their sexy spy passenger (Lana Turner), who is in turn impressed by his consideration for old soldier Schmidt (Paul Fix), in The Sea Chase, 1955.
His Kind Of Woman (1951) -- (Movie Clip) I Might Forget What I'm Doing Ebullient after the screening of one of his pictures at a Mexican resort, philandering actor Cardigan (Vincent Price) visits his paramour Lenore (Jane Russell) and fugitive gambler Dan (Robert Mitchum), then she confirms that musician Harry (Stacy Harris) really does know her from a previous life, into her song by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson, in His Kind Of Woman, 1951.
His Kind Of Woman (1951) -- (Movie Clip) Where Do Old Gangsters Go To Die? Opening is narrated by Charles McGraw who will soon appear as gang henchman Thompson, introducing Raymond Burr as exiled gangster Ferraro (modeled on Lucky Luciano), who calls Corle (Paul Frees), John Mylong their third party, John Farrow directing, in His Kind Of Woman, starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.
His Kind Of Woman (1951) -- (Movie Clip) Who's Happily Married? Ever more embittered paid girlfriend Lenore (Jane Russell) and her new confidant Dan (Robert Mitchum) at a Mexican resort have been summoned by her movie actor sponsor Mark Cardigan (Vincent Price), informing him that his wife has arrived, his agent (Carleton G. Young) attempting a rescue, in His Kind Of Woman, 1951.
His Kind Of Woman (1951) -- (Movie Clip) You Don't Like Fish? Not much story accomplished here but a money scene nonetheless, for attitude from Jane Russell as Lenore in her swimsuit and Robert Mitchum as busted gambler Dan, sent to a Mexican resort by gangsters for a mission he doesn’t yet understand, Jim Backus and Leslye Manning as other goofy guests, in His Kind Of Woman, 1951, from Howard Hughes’ RKO.
His Kind Of Woman (1951) -- (Movie Clip) You're Being Paged Working the crowd at Morro's resort in Baja, Dan (Robert Mitchum) with nervous bride Jennie (Leslye Banning), mysterious Kraft (John Mylong), dishy Lenore (Jane Russell) and, in his first appearance, vacationing movie actor Cardigan (Vincent Price), in John Farrow's His Kind Of Woman, 1951.

Trailer

Back From Eternity (1956) -- (Original Trailer) When an airliner crashes in the jungle, the repaired plane can only hold five of the survivors in Back From Eternity, 1956, with Robert Ryan and Rod Steiger, director John Farrow's remake of his own feature Five Came Back, 1939.
Five Came Back - (Original Trailer) Lucille Ball plays the ultimate game of Survivor after a jungle plane crash in the thriller Five Came Back (1939).
Commandos Strike At Dawn - (Original Trailer) A Norwegian fisherman (Paul Muni) forms a resistance group to fight the Nazis in Commandos Strike At Dawn (1943).
Bullet Is Waiting, A - (Original Trailer) A plane crash strands a policeman and his prisoner in the wilderness in A Bullet Is Waiting (1954) starring Jean Simmons and Rory Calhoun.
Big Clock, The - (Original Trailer) Ray Milland gets the job of finding the man last seen with his boss' murdered mistress, knowing the evidence will point to him in The Big Clock (1948).
Sea Chase, The - (Original Trailer) A German freighter captain (John Wayne) tries to elude the British in the early days of World War II in The Sea Chase (1955).
Little Miss Thoroughbred - (Original Trailer) An orphan searching for her father softens a gangster's heart in Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938).
West Of Shanghai - (Original Trailer) Boris Karloff stars as a Chinese warlord who holds three fugitives prisoner in West of Shanghai (1937).
She Loved a Fireman - (Original Trailer) She Loved a Fireman (1937) which is a problem when he's a ne'er-do-well and she's the captain's sister.
Wake Island - (Original Trailer) Sailors stationed in the Pacific fight off the Japanese during World War II. Released nine months after the actual battle.
Unholy Wife, The - (Original Trailer) Am ambitious beauty marries a vintner, then falls for one of his workers in The Unholy Wife (1957) starring Diana Dors & Rod Steiger.
His Kind Of Woman -- (Original Trailer) Robert Mitchum, down on his luck, gets involved with gangsters down Mexico way in this 1951 film noir thriller directed by John Farrow.

Family

Michael Damien Farrow
Son
Died in a plane crash in 1958.
Patrick Joseph Farrow
Son
John Charles Farrow
Son
Actor. Appeared in "John Paul Jones" (1959) directed by his father.
Mia Farrow
Daughter
Actor.
Prudence Farrow
Daughter
Producer.
Stephanie Margarita Farrow
Daughter
Actor.
Theresa Farrow
Daughter
Actor.

Companions

Maureen O'Sullivan
Wife
Actor. Married from September 12, 1936 until his death.

Bibliography

"Pageant of the Popes"
John Farrow (1942)
"Damien the Leper"
John Farrow (1937)
"Laughter Ends"
John Farrow (1934)
"The History and Development of the Royal Canadian Navy"
John Farrow
"The Registered Woman"
John Farrow

Notes

Created a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Pius XI in 1937

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