Gifted director whose films are marked by fine writing and acting and who is best known for his ingenious Ealing comedies. Born to Scottish parents in the US and raised in Scotland, Mackendrick worked in advertising and then made propaganda shorts during WWII. In 1946 he joined Ealing Studios, co-writing a number of Basil Dearden movies before making his directing debut with the comedy classic "Whisky Galore/Tight Little Island" (1949). It was followed by several other sharply observed, often darkly satirical comedies, such as the brilliant "The Man in the White Suit" (1951) and the equally memorable "The Ladykillers" (1955), both starring Alec Guinness and both superb examples of the dry, adult, yet farcical Ealing style.
Mackendrick's ability to elicit outstanding performances from his actors, particularly children, is displayed in the wonderful study of the teaching of a deaf girl, "Mandy/Crash of Silence" (1952) and in the lesser but enjoyable adventure saga, "A High Wind in Jamaica" (1965). He also directed Tony Curtis in two of his best performances, as the opportunistic press agent in the scathing drama, "Sweet Smell of Success" (1957), Mackendrick's first Hollywood film, and in the Southern California comedy "Don't Make Waves" (1967). In 1969 Mackendrick was appointed Dean of the Film and Video Department at the California Institute of the Arts, an institution with which he remained affiliated for many years. Although his small output of nine features is unfortunate given his unusually high batting average, Mackendrick enjoyed a distinguished career in education, continuing his teaching work even after he gave up his term as dean.
- Also Credited As:
Sandy Mackendrick
- Born:
September 8, 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts
- Died:
December 22, 1993.
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Job Titles:
Director, College film department dean, Screenwriter, Advertising animator, Commercial artist
Education
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Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
Milestones
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1918 Returned to Great Britain from the U.S.
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1937 Worked in the script department at Pinewood Studios; provided (along with Sinclair Hill) the original story for the feature, "Midnight Menace"
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1944 Was based in Rome
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1946 Signed contract as screenwriter with Ealing Studios
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1948 Co-wrote the screenplay for "Saraband for Dead Lovers"
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1949 Feature directorial debut, "Whisky Galore" (U.S. Release title, "Tight Little Island")
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1950 Provided additional dialogue for, and was uncredited second unit director on "The Blue Lamp"
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1951 First feature writing credit on a film he also directed: co-authoring the screenplay for "The Man in the White Suit"
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1957 First U.S. Film, "Sweet Smell of Success"
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1958 Credited with "script assistance" on "Fanfare", directed by Bert Haanstra
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1959 Began work directing "The Devil's Disciple"; was fired after a week and was replaced by Guy Hamilton
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1960 Directed Broadway production, "Face of a Hero"
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1961 Began directing "The Guns of Navarone"; injured his back after several weeks of work; replaced by J. Lee Thompson
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1963 Directed last British film, "Sammy Going South"
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1964 Directed an episode of the TV drama series, "The Defenders"; episode title, "The Hidden Fury"
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1966 Directed additional scenes (uncredited) of the U.S. Film, "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad"
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1967 Last film, "Don't Make Waves"
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1969 Named dean of the film and video department of the California Institute of the Arts; received funding by the Walt Disney Foundation
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1972 Was an advisor for the short, U.S.-made film, "Practical Film Making"
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1976 Was the subject of a documentary film made for TV, "Mackendrick"
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1978 Named a fellow of the California Institute of the Arts; resigned deanship, but continued teaching
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Became head of the newsreel and documentary unit of the Psychological Warfare Branch of the MoI
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Joined the advertising firm, the J. Walter Thompson Co.
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Served the British Ministry of Information (MoI) as an animator of short propaganda films during WWII
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Worked as a writer, illustrator and art director of advertising shorts
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Worked at George Pal studios in Holland
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Worked on the story and/or screenplay of the following shorts (generally for the filmmaking team of John Halas and Joy Batchelor): "Train Trouble" (1940), "Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard" (1940), "Fable of the Fabrics" (1942), "Subject for Discussion" (1943, dir. Hans M. Nieter), "Abu's Dungeon", "Abu's Harvest", "Abu's Poisoned Well" and "Abu Builds a Dam" (all 1943)
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Wrote and co-directed (with Roger MacDougall) several documentary shorts for the MoI as part of the "Pathe Gazette" series: "Kitchen Waste for Pigs" (1942), "Contraries/The Walrus and the Carpenter" (1943) and "Nero/Fiddling Fuel/Save Fuel" (1943)