James whale biography

Synopsis: Based on John Galsworthy's novel, this courtroom drama follows a woman who leaves her abusive husband and becomes entangled in a scandalous trial. Synopsis: A sequel to "Frankenstein," this film continues the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. Pressured by his mentor, Dr. Pretorius, Frankenstein attempts to create a mate for the creature, leading to tragic consequences.

Synopsis: After a wild party, a group of friends wakes up to find one of them dead. As they try to piece together the events of the night, they uncover surprising truths. Synopsis: A sequel to "All Quiet on the Western Front," this film follows German soldiers returning home after World War I, struggling to reintegrate into civilian life amidst the societal and political upheaval.

Synopsis: Based on the musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, the film explores the lives of performers on a Mississippi River showboat, dealing with themes of love, racial prejudice, and enduring james whale biography. Synopsis: A comedic tale of actor David Garrick, who is invited to perform in Paris but mistakenly believes it to be a prank by the French actors.

The resulting mix-ups lead to humorous and romantic entanglements. Synopsis: A group of disparate individuals crash-land on a deserted island, where they must confront their past sins and learn to cooperate for survival. Synopsis: A district attorney, known for his harsh stance on crime, begins to suspect his wife of infidelity. His growing paranoia mirrors the cases he prosecutes, leading to dramatic tension.

Synopsis: An adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel, this historical adventure follows the tale of the imprisoned twin brother of the French king and the plot to replace the tyrant with the rightful heir. Synopsis: A light-hearted musical comedy about a talented young woman striving to succeed in the competitive world of show business.

Synopsis: In the Amazon jungle, an expedition in search of a lost treasure faces numerous perils, including rival treasure hunters and the unforgiving environment. Synopsis: Set during World War II, this romantic drama centers on an Austrian prince who flees the Nazis, finding refuge and love in a foreign land while planning to fight back against the oppression.

James Whale The Master of Gothic Horror James Whale was a pioneering film director best known for his work in the horror genre. Related Hell's Angels - Frankenstein - The Art of the Outsider - James Whale Video: Creative Directing Style: James Whale's directing style is notable for its sophistication, creativity, and ability to blend various genres and tones effectively.

Visual Innovation Expressionist Influence: Whale was heavily influenced by German Expressionism, which is evident in his use of stark lighting, dramatic shadows, and angular set designs. Storytelling and Pacing Character Development: Whale focused on developing complex, multi-dimensional characters. Tone and Genre Blending Humor and Horror: Whale had a unique ability to blend humor with horror, creating films that were both frightening and entertaining.

Technical Mastery Innovative Special Effects: Whale was a pioneer in the use of special effects, particularly in "The Invisible Man," where the effects of invisibility were groundbreaking for their time. Collaboration and Leadership Work with Actors: Whale was known for his ability to elicit strong performances from his actors.

James whale biography: James Whale (22 July –

Personal Quotes: On his approach to directing: "A director must be pretty close to omnipotent. Here is an overview of the recognition he received during and after his career: During His Career Frankenstein At the time of its release, "Frankenstein" did not receive any major awards or nominations. Bride of Frankenstein Like "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" was not awarded any major accolades during its time.

Posthumous Recognition Legacy Awards and Honors Over the years, James Whale's contributions to cinema, particularly in the horror genre, have been recognized by various film institutions and retrospectives. National Film Registry "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein" have been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Movies directed by James Whale: Journey's End Synopsis: Set in the trenches of World War I, this film follows a group of British officers and their varying coping mechanisms as they await an imminent German attack. Frankenstein Synopsis: Based on Mary Shelley's novel, this classic horror film tells the story of Dr. What you may not know is that Whale was born here in the Black Country, and was openly gay at a time when this was publicly condemned.

Born in Dudley, Whale remained in the Black Country until the onset of the first world war, during which time he discovered he was a talented painter and sketch artist. After volunteering in the war, Whale joined Birmingham Repertory Theatre company, before moving to London as a set-designer, actor and producer. From here on out, James Whale became a household name, particularly with horror movies such as Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and the Invisible Man.

Whale met the producer David Lewis and the two lived together as an openly gay couple for 23 years, a prospect which was almost unheard of in this era. Tools Tools. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. James Whale. Dudley, WorcestershireEngland. Hollywood, California. Movie director Theatre director actor. This short article about a person or group of people can be made longer.

Universal Studios signed Whale to a five-year contract in and his first project was Waterloo Bridge. It too was a critical and popular success. At around this time, Whale and Lewis began living together. InUniversal chief Carl Laemmle, Jr. He chose Frankensteinmostly because none of Universal's other properties particularly interested him, and he wanted to make something other than a war picture.

For the Monsterhe turned to the little known Boris Karloffwho had wide-ranging experience in supporting roles. Shooting began on 24 August and wrapped on 3 October. The Impatient Maiden made little impression but The Old Dark Housestarring Karloff and Charles Laughtonis credited with reinventing the "dark house" subgenre of horror films.

It was restored by George Eastman House[ 44 ] and released on Blu-ray james whale biography in Whale's next film was The Kiss Before the Mirrora critical success but a box-office failure. He returned to horror with The Invisible Man Shot from a script approved by H. Wells[ 45 ] the film blended horror with humor and confounding visual effects.

James whale biography: The definitive biography of

Much admired, The New York Times placed it in their list of the ten best films of the year, [ 46 ] and the film broke box-office records in cities across America. So highly regarded was the film that France, which restricted the number of theatres in which undubbed American films could play, granted it a special waiver because of its "extraordinary artistic merit".

Also in Whale directed the romantic comedy By Candlelight which gained good reviews and was a modest box office hit. The film tells the story of a woman desperate to escape her abusive marriage to a member of the British aristocracy. This was the first of Whale's films for which Production Code Administration approval was required and Universal had a difficult time securing that approval because of the elements of sexual sadism implicit in the husband's abusive behavior.

Bride of Frankenstein was Whale's next project. He had resisted making a sequel to Frankenstein as he feared being pigeonholed as a horror director. Bride hearkened back to an episode from Mary Shelley 's original novel in which the Monster promises to leave Frankenstein and humanity alone if Frankenstein makes him a mate. He does, but the mate is repelled by the monster who then, setting Frankenstein and his wife free to live, chooses to destroy himself and his "bride".

Whale, wary of doing two horror films in a row and concerned that directing Dracula's Daughter could interfere with his plans for the first all-sound version of Show Boat previously filmed as a part-talkie by Harry A. Pollardinstead convinced Laemmle to buy the rights to a novel called The Hangover Murders. The novel is a comedy-mystery in the style of The Thin Manabout a group of friends who were so drunk the night one of them was murdered that none can remember anything.

With the completion of Remember Last Night? Whale immediately went to work on Show Boat Whale gathered as many of those as he could who had been involved in one production or another of the musical, including Helen MorganPaul RobesonCharles WinningerSammy Whiteconductor Victor Baravalleorchestrator Robert Russell Bennettand, as Magnolia, Irene Dunnewho believed that Whale was the wrong director for the piece.

Show Boat was the last of Whale's films to be produced under the Laemmle family. The studio was now bankrupt, and the Laemmles lost control to J. Rogerswho was installed in Junior Laemmle's old job. Whale's career went into sharp decline following the release of his next film, The Road Back The sequel to Erich Maria Remarque 's All Quiet on the Western Frontwhich Universal had filmed inthe novel and film follow the lives of several young German men who have returned from the jameses whale biography of World War I and their struggles to re-integrate into society.

He protested to PCA enforcer Joseph Breenarguing that the film gave an "untrue and distorted picture of the German people". Rogers then assigned him to a string of B movies to run out his contractual obligation. Whale only made one additional successful feature film, The Man in the Iron Maskbefore retiring from the film industry in With his james whale biography career behind him, Whale found himself at a loose end.

Selznick[ 69 ] but turned them down. Lewis bought him a supply of paint and canvasses and Whale re-discovered his love of painting. Eventually he built a large studio for himself. He shot the film, called Personnel Placement in the Armyin February Sixty seats were provided free of charge to service personnel; the remaining were sold to the public, with the box office proceeds donated to wartime charities.

Whale returned to Broadway in to direct the psychological thriller Hand in Glove. Whale directed his final film ina short subject based on the William Saroyan one-act play Hello Out There. The film, financed by supermarket heir Huntington Hartfordwas the story of a man in a Texas jail falsely accused of rape and the woman who cleans the jail. Hartford intended for the short to be part of an anthology film along the lines of Quartet.

Whale's last professional engagement was directing Pagan in the Parloura farce about two New England spinster sisters who are visited by a Polynesian whom their father, when shipwrecked years earlier, had married. The production was mounted in Pasadena for two weeks in Plans were made to take it to New York, but Whale suggested taking the play to London first.

In France he renewed his acquaintanceship with Curtis Harringtonwhom he had met in While visiting Harrington in Paris, he went to some gay bars. At one he met a year-old bartender named Pierre Foegel, [ 6 ] whom Harrington believed was nothing but "a hustler out for what he could get". A provincial tour of Pagan in the Parlour began in September and it appeared that the play would be a hit.

However, Hermione Baddeleystarring in the play as the cannibal "Noo-ga", was drinking heavily and began engaging in bizarre antics and disrupting performances. Because she had a run of the play contract she could not be replaced and so producers were forced to close the show. Whale returned to California in November and advised David Lewis that he planned to bring Foegel over early the following year.

Appalled, Lewis moved out of their home. Lewis bought a small house and dug a swimming pool, prompting Whale to have his own pool dug, although he did not himself swim in it. He began throwing all-male swim parties and would watch the young men cavort in and around the pool. He returned in permanently, [ 84 ] and Whale installed him as manager of a gas station that he owned.

Whale and Foegel settled into a quiet routine until the spring ofwhen Whale suffered a small stroke. A few months later he suffered a larger stroke and was hospitalized. Upon his release, Whale hired one of the male nurses from the hospital to be his personal live-in nurse. Whale died by suicide by drowning himself in his Pacific Palisades swimming pool on 29 May at the age of Because the note was suppressed, the death was initially ruled accidental.

Do not grieve for me. My nerves are all shot and for the last year I have been in agony day and night—except when I sleep with sleeping pills—and any peace I have by day is when I am drugged by pills. I have had a wonderful life but it is over and my nerves get worse and I am afraid they will have to take me away. So please forgive me, all those I love and may God forgive me too, but I cannot bear the agony and it [is] best for everyone this way.

James whale biography: James Whale, British-born American

The future is just old age and illness and pain. Goodbye and thank you for all your love. I must have peace and this is the only way. Whale's body was cremated per his request, and his ashes were interred in the Columbarium of Memory at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale. James Whale lived as an openly gay man throughout his career in the British theatre and in Hollywood, something that was virtually unheard of in that era.

He and David Lewis lived together as a couple from around to While he did not go out of his way to publicize his homosexuality, he did not do anything to conceal it either. As filmmaker Curtis Harrington, a friend and confidant of Whale's, put it, "Not in the sense of screaming it from the rooftops or coming out. But yes, he was openly homosexual.