Charles Lamont (May 5, 1895 – September 11, 1993) was a prolific filmmaker, directing over 200 titles and producing and writing many others. He directed several Abbott and Costello comedies and many

Ma and Pa Kettle Ma and Pa Kettle are comic film characters of the successful film series of the same name, produced by Universal Studios, in the late 1940s and 1950s. The hillbilly duo had their hands full with a ramshackle farm and a brood of rambunctious child ...

films.

Biography

A California native, Lamont was born in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

. Lamont came from a family of actors, being the fourth generation to be an actor. He appeared onstage while a teenager and started appearing in films from 1919. He worked as a

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...

man before becoming assistant director. Lamont started directing comedy shorts in 1922, including for

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

and Al Christie. Some of Lamont's earliest directorial jobs were silent short-subject comedies for

Educational Pictures Educational Pictures, also known as Educational Film Exchanges, Inc. or Educational Films Corporation of America, was an American film production and film distribution company founded in 1916 by Earle (E. W.) Hammons (1882–1962). Educational pr ...

. One of the studio's popular series was ''Juvenile Comedies'', featuring the child actor Malcolm "Big Boy" Sebastian. Lamont directed some of these films, as well as some of the competing " Buster Brown" comedies for

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

release. Both Educational and Universal figured prominently in Lamont's career. In 1932 Educational assigned Lamont to the "Baby Burlesk” series of kiddie comedies, featuring four-year-old Shirley Temple. By 1934 Lamont was Educational's top director, and he collaborated with Buster Keaton on most of Keaton's 16 Educational shorts. After Educational shut down its Hollywood studio, Lamont was hired by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

to work with such stars as

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

and

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

, but his stay was short ("I had an intense hatred for olumbia president Harry Cohn," said Lamont to authors

Ted Okuda Ted Okuda (born December 8, 1953) is an American non-fiction author and film historian. He has many books and magazine features to his credit, under his own name and in collaboration with others. Career Okuda's long-held interest in movie comedies ...

and Edward Watz). Lamont then freelanced at various studios (and produced a few features himself) before joining Universal Pictures in 1942. Lamont always had a tremendous rapport with juvenile performers, and Universal entrusted him with a series of musical-comedy vehicles for the studio's teenage singing star

Gloria Jean Gloria Jean (born Gloria Jean Schoonover; April 14, 1926 – August 31, 2018) was an American actress and singer who starred or co-starred in 26 feature films from 1939 to 1959, and made numerous radio, television, stage, and nightclub app ...

. Lamont emphasized the comic elements of the films, with

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. His b ...

and

Peggy Ryan Margaret O'Rene Ryan (August 28, 1924 – October 30, 2004) was an American dancer and actress, best known for starring in a series of movie musicals at Universal Pictures with Donald O'Connor and Gloria Jean. Career Ryan joined her paren ...

contributing their talents, and the teen musicals were very popular with wartime audiences. Lamont directed a couple of 1945 films starring Yvonne de Carlo and Rod Cameron, ''

Salome Where She Danced ''Salome, Where She Danced'' is a 1945 American Technicolor western (genre), Western drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron (actor), Rod Cameron and Walter Slezak. The film follows the adventures of a danc ...

'' and ''

Frontier Gal ''Frontier Gal'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Yvonne De Carlo and Rod Cameron. Plot Johnny Hart heads for Red Gulch, looking for the mystery man who murdered his partner. He quickly meets Lorena Dumon ...

'', which were not well known in the US but were popular with some French critics. Lamont's experience with limited budgets served him well at Universal, and soon he was promoted to the studio's more important productions. By 1950 he was established as one of Universal's most efficient directors. So it was with surprise and reluctance that Lamont received his new assignment: Abbott and Costello movies. These comedy features were moneymakers for the studio but had no prestige at all, and Lamont bristled at what seemed to be a backward career move. His Universal bosses explained their need for a good comedy director who could do the job indefinitely, and Lamont came to realize that "Abbott and Costello ''were'' my future." Lamont remained with the team until the studio cut them loose in 1955. Lamont also directed Universal's successful Ma and Pa Kettle comedies; his last film was the final ''

Francis the Talking Mule Francis the Talking Mule was a mule character who gained popularity during the 1950s as the star of seven popular Universal-International film comedies. The character originated in the 1946 novel ''Francis'' by former U.S. Army Captain David S ...

'' comedy, ''

Francis in the Haunted House ''Francis in the Haunted House'' is a 1956 American comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Charles Lamont, that stars Mickey Rooney and Virginia Welles. This is the seventh and final film in Universal-I ...

'' (1956). Lamont died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

in 1993 at age 98.

Selected filmography

Short subjects

*''Zorro *''The Big Game'' (1923) *''Don't Play Hookey'' (1923) *''Mama's Baby Boy'' (1923) *''Hats'' (1924) *''Her City Sport'' (1924) *''Raisin' Cain'' (1925) *''Maid in Morocco'' (1925) *''Sea Scamps'' (1926) *''My Kid'' (1926) *''Brunettes Prefer Gentlemen'' (1927) *''Scared Silly'' (1927) *''Misplaced Husbands'' (1928) *''The Crazy Nut'' (1929) *''Fake Flappers'' (1929) *''Dance with Me'' (1930) *''Don't Get Excited'' (1930) *''My Kid'' (1931) *''Fast and Furious'' (1931) *''The Pie-Covered Wagon'' (1932) *''

War Babies War children are those born to a native parent and a parent belonging to a foreign military force (usually an occupying force, but also military personnel stationed at military bases on foreign soil). Having a child by a member of a belligerent ...

'' (1932) (one of eight

Baby Burlesks ''Baby Burlesks'' was a series of short films produced by Educational Pictures in the early 1930s. The series featured three-year-old Shirley Temple in her first screen appearance. In her autobiography, Temple describes the ''Baby Burlesks'' ser ...

films with Shirley Temple, 1932–33) *''Merrily Yours'' (1933) *''Pardon my Pups'' (1934) *''

Managed Money ''Managed Money'' is a 1934 short comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. The film stars Frank Coghlan Jr. and Shirley Temple. It was also known as ''Frolics of Youth'' and ''Measured Money''. This was the second film in which Temple starred as ...

'' (1934) *''

The Gold Ghost ''The Gold Ghost'' is a 1934 short American pre-code comedy film starring Buster Keaton. Plot Two wealthy fathers Jim and George try to arrange their children Gloria and Wally to marry in order to strengthen their families. Gloria refuses to ...

'' (1934) *''

Allez Oop ''Allez Oop'' is a 1934 American short comedy film starring Buster Keaton. It was the second film Keaton made for Educational Pictures. Plot Elmer ( Buster Keaton) works at a clock repair shop and falls for a woman named Paula (Dorothy Sebast ...

'' (1934) *''

Palooka from Paducah ''Palooka from Paducah'' is a 1935 American short comedy film featuring Buster Keaton. Plot The struggling Diltz family of farmers decide to set up their own wrestling company as a way to generate money. The father of the family (Joe Keaton) g ...

'' (1935) *'' Hayseed Romance'' (1935) *'' Tars and Stripes'' (1935) *''

The E-Flat Man ''The E-Flat Man'' is a 1935 American short comedy film featuring Buster Keaton. Plot A mob boss tells his crew to get him some aspirin to treat his aching tooth. Since it is after midnight, his crew break into the closed drug store. Across th ...

'' (1935) *''

Restless Knights ''Restless Knights'' is a 1935 short subject directed by Charles Lamont starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Jerry Howard). It is the sixth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starri ...

'' (1935) *''

Three on a Limb ''Three on a Limb'' is a 1936 American short comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Buster Keaton. Plot Elmer, a boy scout, stops for lunch at a roadside diner and falls in love with Molly, the waitress, right away. Molly's fianc� ...

'' (1936) *'' Grand Slam Opera'' (1936) *''

Love Nest on Wheels ''Love Nest on Wheels'' is a 1937 Educational Pictures short subject directed by Buster Keaton and Charles Lamont. The film borrows heavily from Keaton's 1918 film '' The Bell Boy''. The film is notable because it is one of the rare times that ...

'' (1937) *''

Playing the Ponies ''Playing the Ponies'' is a 1937 short subject directed by Charles Lamont starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 26th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starrin ...

'' (1937) *'' Jail Bait'' (1937) *''

Ditto DITTO is a company that sells software that aids eyewear companies sell their products online using virtual fitting. Originally DITTO was a retailer that sold designer prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. The company is based in San Francisco, ...

'' (1937) *''The Wrong Miss Wright'' (1937) *''Calling All Doctors'' (1937)

Feature films

*'' Sons of Steel'' (1934) *'' Circumstantial Evidence'' (1935) *''

The Lady in Scarlet ''The Lady in Scarlet'' is a 1935 American comedy drama film directed by Charles Lamont. It was made by Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation. Plot In New York City, Dr. Phillip Boyer purchases an antique clock at the premises of antique d ...

'' (1935) *''

Tomorrow's Youth ''Tomorrow's Youth'' is a 1934 American film directed by Charles Lamont. Cast * Dickie Moore as Thomas Hall Jr *Martha Sleeper as Mrs. Hall *John Miljan as Tom Hall *Franklin Pangborn as Tutor * Paul Hurst as Detective * Gloria Shea as Janes Ho ...

'' (1935) *'' A Shot in the Dark'' (1935) *''

False Pretenses In criminal law, property is obtained by false pretenses when the acquisition results from the intentional misrepresentation of a past or existing fact. Elements The elements of false pretenses are: *a false representation *of a material pa ...

'' (1935) *'' The Dark Hour'' (1936) *''

Bulldog Edition ''Bulldog Edition'' is a 1936 American film directed by Charles Lamont. The film is also known as ''Lady Reporter'' in the United Kingdom. Plot Newspaper editors Ken Dwyer (Ray Walker) and Evans ( Robert Warwick) compete for circulation, and t ...

'' (1936) *'' Below the Deadline'' (1936) *'' Lady Luck'' (1936) *'' Ring Around the Moon'' (1936) *''

Wallaby Jim of the Islands ''Wallaby Jim of the Islands'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Bennett Cohen and Houston Branch. The film stars George F. Houston, Ruth Coleman, Douglas Walton, Wilhelm von Brincken, Mamo Clark and Co ...

'' (1937) *''

Shadows Over Shanghai ''Shadows Over Shanghai'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring James Dunn, Ralph Morgan, Robert Barrat, and Paul Sutton. Set in Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the plot centers on the efforts of Jap ...

'' (1938) *''

Slander House ''Slander House'' is a 1938 American film directed by Charles Lamont. The film's producer was Ben Judell of Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation films with provocative titles; other films released by Progressive the same year ...

'' (1938) *'' Cipher Bureau'' (1938) *'' International Crime'' (1938) *''

Long Shot In photography, filmmaking and video production, a wide shot (sometimes referred to as a full shot or long shot) is a shot that typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surro ...

'' (1939) *''

Verbena Tragica ''Verbena Trágica'' (''Tragic Festival'', also known as ''Block Party'') is a 1939 film directed by Charles Lamont. The film was made in 1938 in the Spanish language only, unusual for the time but most likely due to the film's themes of adultery ...

'' (1939) *''

Unexpected Father ''Unexpected Father'' is a 1939 American comedy drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Baby Sandy, Shirley Ross and Dennis O'Keefe.Rowan p.199 Plot When a former dancing partner is killed, an entertainer looks after his baby son with ...

'' (1939) *''

Pride of the Navy ''Pride of the Navy'' is a 1939 American action film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Ben Markson and Saul Elkins. The film stars James Dunn, Rochelle Hudson, Gordon Oliver, Horace McMahon, Gordon Jones and Charlotte Wynters. The fil ...

'' (1939) *''

Panama Patrol ''Panama Patrol'' is a 1939 American drama film. Directed by Charles Lamont, the film stars Leon Ames, Charlotte Wynters, and Adrienne Ames, it was released on May 20, 1939. The film was known during production by the working titles of ''Curio Ci ...

'' (1939) *''

Inside Information Insider trading is the trading of a public company's stock or other securities (such as bonds or stock options) based on material, nonpublic information about the company. In various countries, some kinds of trading based on insider informatio ...

'' (1939) *''

Give Us Wings ''Give Us Wings'' is a 1940 Universal comedic film starring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys. Several members of the casts of those series were also featured in "The East Side Kids" films. In the years before World War II, the United ...

'' (1940) *''

Oh Johnny, How You Can Love ''Oh Johnny, How You Can Love'' is a 1940 American film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Tom Brown and Peggy Moran. It was an early appearance of Laird Cregar. The film cost $100,000. Plot Kelly Archer, an heiress trying to escape her c ...

'' (1940) *''

San Antonio Rose "San Antonio Rose" is a swing instrumental introduced in late 1938 by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Quickly becoming the band's most popular number, Wills and band members devised lyrics, which were recorded on April 16, 1940, and releas ...

'' (1941) *'' Road Agent'' (1941) *'' You're Telling Me'' (1942) *''

Get Hep to Love ''Get Hep to Love'' is a 1942 musical film starring Gloria Jean, Donald O'Connor, Jane Frazee, Robert Paige and Peggy Ryan. The film was directed by Charles Lamont. Plot Doris Stanley is an adolescent singer ("14 going on 15") billed as an ...

'' (1942) *'' Don't Get Personal'' (1942) *'' It Comes Up Love'' (1942) *'' Almost Married'' (1942) *'' Top Man'' (1943) *''

When Johnny Comes Marching Home "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (Roud 6637), sometimes "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again", is a popular song from the American Civil War that expressed people's longing for the return of their friends and relatives who were fighting in the ...

'' (1943) *'' Mister Big'' (1943) *'' Hit the Ice'' (1943) *''

Bowery to Broadway ''Bowery to Broadway'' is a 1944 American film starring Maria Montez, Jack Oakie, and Susanna Foster. Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan also had a small specialty act, and it was the only film they were in together where they didn't have a name or ...

'' (1944) *''

Chip Off the Old Block ''Chip Off the Old Block'' is 1944 American comedy musical film starring Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, and Ann Blyth. It was Blyth's film debut. The son of a strict Navy man, O'Connor falls in love with a girl from a performing family (Ann Bly ...

'' (1944) *'' The Merry Monahans'' (1944) *''

'' (1945) *''

'' (1945) *'' Slave Girl'' (1947) *''

The Untamed Breed '' The Untamed Breed'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Sonny Tufts, Barbara Britton and George 'Gabby' Hayes.

'' (1948) *''

'' (1949) *'' Bagdad'' (1949) *''

Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town ''Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the second installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. Plot At the conclusion of ...

'' (1950) *''

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion ''Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion'' is a black and white 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is set in the French Sahara with the heroes having joined the Frenc ...

'' (1950) *''

Curtain Call at Cactus Creek ''Curtain Call at Cactus Creek'' is a 1950 American Western comedy film starring Donald O'Connor and Gale Storm. In the story, a traveling entertainer (O'Connor) gets mixed up with bank robbers. Plot A traveling troupe of entertainers arrive ...

'' (1950) *''

I Was a Shoplifter ''I Was a Shoplifter'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Scott Brady and Mona Freeman. Plot A shoplifter, Faye Burton, is being watched by Herb Klaxon, a security guard at a Los Angeles department sto ...

'' (1950) *'' Comin' Round the Mountain'' (1951) *''

Flame of Araby ''Flame of Araby'' (a.k.a. ''Flame of the Desert'') is a 1951 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Charles Lamont starring Maureen O'Hara and Jeff Chandler. British film star Maxwell Reed made his American film debut in the picture. ...

'' (1951) *'' Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man'' (1951) *''

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd ''Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd'' is a 1952 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, along with Charles Laughton, who reprised his role as the infamous pirate from the 1945 film ''Capta ...

'' (1952) *''

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars ''Abbott and Costello Go to Mars'' is a 1953 American science fiction comedy film starring the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and directed by Charles Lamont. It was produced by Howard Christie and made by Universal-International. D ...

'' (1953) *''

Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation ''Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the sixth installment of Universal-International's '' Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. Plot In May 1953, Ma ...

'' (1953) *'' Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1953) *''

Ma and Pa Kettle at Home ''Ma and Pa Kettle at Home'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the sixth, and also most successful, installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. P ...

'' (1954) *''

Ricochet Romance "Ricochet" (sometimes rendered "Rick-o-Shay" and also as "Ricochet Romance") is a popular music, popular song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman (composer), Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the w ...

'' (1954) *''

Untamed Heiress ''Untamed Heiress'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont, written by Barry Shipman and starring Judy Canova, Don "Red" Barry, George Cleveland, Taylor Holmes, Chick Chandler and Jack Kruschen. It was released on April 1, 19 ...

'' (1954) *'' Carolina Cannonball'' (1955) *''

Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops ''Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops'' is a 1955 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. After the film was completed, Universal-International wanted to rename it ''Abbott and Costello ...

'' (1955) *''

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy ''Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy'' is a 1955 American horror comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is the 28th and final Abbott and Costello film produced by Universal-International. ...

'' (1955) *''

Lay That Rifle Down ''Lay That Rifle Down'' is a 1955 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont starring Judy Canova. It was the thirteenth and last in a series of Judy Canova films released by Republic Pictures.Hurst p.233 Plot Judy Canova works in a hotel fo ...

'' (1955) *''

The Kettles in the Ozarks ''The Kettles in the Ozarks'' is a 1956 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the ninth installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and introducing Arthur Hunnicutt as Sedge, Pa's ...

'' (1956) *''

'' (1956)

Notes

References

External links

* *
Charles Lamont
at

Fandango Fandango is a lively partner dance originating from Portugal and Spain, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars, castanets, or hand-clapping. Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lamont, Charles Film producers from California 1895 births 1993 deaths Burials at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Film directors from San Francisco Deaths from pneumonia in California Comedy film directors Parody film directors American parodists