Maurice Elvey
Directing
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 older brother of Fred V. Merrick, and during the 1920s and 1930s they worked on a number of films together. In May 1996 the world premiere of a long-lost film about David Lloyd George, directed by Elvey, took place in Cardiff more than 70 years later than scheduled. The three-hour film was suppressed on the eve of its release under circumstances that have still not been fully explained. The film was acclaimed by cinema historians as a milestone in film making, and it is believed that had it been released in 1918, as originally planned, it may well have changed the course of British cinema. Maurice Elvey was married three times. His first marriage took place on 31st December 1910 to Adeline Maud Charlton Preston (aka actress 'Philippa Preston'. This marriage ended in divorce. He then married Florence Hill Clarke (a sculptor) on 2nd February 1916. This marriage, too, ended in divorce. On 13th January 1923 he married Isabella Reed (aka actress Isobel Elsom), but this marriage also ended in divorce. As Elvey's niece and god-daughter I was privileged to unveil a plaque in April 1997 at the Green Dragon Museum, Stockton-on-Tees as part of the Centenary of Cinema Celebrations.
Known for
Directing149
movieSecond Fiddle
1957
Director
movieStars in Your Eyes
1956
Director
movieDry Rot
1956
Director
movieFun at St. Fanny's
1955
Director
movieRoom in the House
1955
Director
movieYou Lucky People!
1955
Director
movieWhat Every Woman Wants
1954
Director
movieThe Gay Dog
1954
Director
movieThe Harassed Hero
1954
Director
movieHouse of Blackmail
1953
Director
movieThe Great Game
1953
Director
movieMy Wife's Lodger
1952
Director
movieThe Late Edwina Black
1951
Director
movieThe Third Visitor
1951
Director
movieBeware of Pity
1946
Director
movieStrawberry Roan
1944
Director
movieMedal for the General
1944
Director
movieThe Lamp Still Burns
1943
Director
movieThe Gentle Sex
1943
Co-Director
movieSalute John Citizen
1942
Director
movieRoom for Two
1940
Director
movieUnder Your Hat
1940
Director
For Freedom
1940
Director
The Spider
1940
Director
movieSons of the Sea
1939
Director
movieThe Return of the Frog
1938
Director
movieWho Goes Next?
1938
Director
movieA Romance in Flanders
1937
Director
movieThe Man in the Mirror
1936
Director
movieThe Tunnel
1935
Director
movieThe Clairvoyant
1935
Director
movieHeat Wave
1935
Director
Road House
1934
Director
movieMy Song for You
1934
Director
moviePrincess Charming
1934
Director
movieLove, Life and Laughter
1934
Director
movieThe Wandering Jew
1933
Director
movieThis Week of Grace
1933
Director
movieI Lived with You
1933
Director
movieThe Lost Chord
1933
Director
movieSoldiers of the King
1933
Director
movieThe Lodger
1932
Director
movieDiamond Cut Diamond
1932
Director
movieThe Water Gipsies
1932
Director
Frail Women
1932
Director
movieA Honeymoon Adventure
1931
Director
movieSally in Our Alley
1931
Director
moviePotiphar's Wife
1931
Director
movieThe School for Scandal
1930
Director
movieHigh Treason
1929
Director
moviePalais De Danse
1928
Director
movieBalaclava
1928
Director
movieThe Flight Commander
1928
Director
Quinneys
1927
Director
movieThe Flag Lieutenant
1927
Director
movieHindle Wakes
1927
Director
movieThe Glad Eye
1927
Director
movieRoses of Picardy
1927
Director
movieHuman Law
1927
Director
movieEvery Man's Wife
1925
Director
movieShe Wolves
1925
Director
movieCurlytop
1924
Director
movieFolly of Vanity
1924
Director
movieMy Husband's Wives
1924
Director
movieSally Bishop
1923
Director
Don Quixote
1923
Director
Guy Fawkes
1923
Director
movieThe Sign of Four
1923
Director
movieThe Passionate Friends
1922
Director
movieThe Devil's Foot
1921
Director
movieThe Dying Detective
1921
Director
movieA Scandal in Bohemia
1921
Director
movieInnocent
1921
Director
movieThe Hundredth Chance
1920
Director
movieBleak House
1920
Director
movieThe Swindler
1919
Director
movieGod's Good Man
1919
Director
movieComradeship
1919
Director
Adam Bede
1918
Director
Nelson
1918
Director
movieFlorence Nightingale
1915
Director
movieThe Suicide Club
1914
Director
Maria Marten or The Mystery of the Red Barn
1913
Director
Popsy Wopsy
1913
Director
Vice Versa
Director
Production18
movieBeware of Pity
1946
Producer
movieMedal for the General
1944
Associate Producer
movieThe School for Scandal
1930
Producer
movieA Sister to Assist 'Er
1930
Producer
moviePalais De Danse
1928
Producer
movieHindle Wakes
1927
Producer
movieThe Glad Eye
1927
Producer
movieRoses of Picardy
1927
Producer
