Herbert Smith (1901–1986) was a British film producer. He was born on 30 June 1901 in London. He started in production with G.B. Samuelson, joined Paramount British for the production of The Officer's Mess, then in 1932 went to work for his elder brother Sam at British Lion as assistant director on The Frightened Lady, The Calendar, Whiteface, There Goes the Bride, Sally Bishop, The Ringer, King of the Ritz. Herbert then started to direct in 1930 with on the Air, In Town Tonight, Soft Lights and Sweet Music, Calling all Stars, It's a Grand Old World, Leave it to Me, He's Got Everything, In 1938, I've Got a Horse, Around the Town, Home from Home and in 1939, All at Sea. By this time he was the production supervisor at Beaconsfield Studios. Herbert was a great one for deleting his name from the credits. As Executive in charge of Production, many films he controlled while at Denham Studios went by uncredited, such as Henry V and Hamlet both with Laurence Olivier. There are many others not all mentioned here. In 1956 Herbert was called by Sidney Box who asked if he would make a movie about the new Rock 'n' Roll. What came out of this was The Tommy Steele Story, with great music by Lionel Bart – his first movie score. Herbert followed up with _6.5 Special (1958)_with all the pop stars of the period. His last film was Too Young to Love (1960) with Thomas Mitchell in 1960. He was an

assistant director The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to tak ...

on five films between 1930 and 1933, before the first 13 for which he was director (the last of them in 1940). He produced 69 films (including the majority of his director-credited films), for Denham Film Studios and

British Lion Films British Lion Films is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Originally known as British Lion Film Corporation Ltd, it entered receivership on 1 June 1954. From 29 January 1955 to 1976, the company was kn ...

from 1933 to 1963, including the war film '' They Were Not Divided'' in 1950. He died on 4 February 1986 in

Ramsgate Ramsgate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the district of Thanet District, Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. In 2011, according to t ...

, Kent.

Selected filmography

Producer

* '' This Is the Life'' (1933) * '' That's My Wife'' (1933) * '' Strike It Rich'' (1933) * ''

I'll Stick to You ''I'll Stick to You'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Jay Laurier, Betty Astell, Louis Hayward and Hal Walters. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall, Steve. ''Quota Quickies: ...

'' (1933) * ''

Great Stuff ''Great Stuff'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Kendall, Betty Astell and Alfred Wellesley. In the film, a woman's parents became robbers in a desperate effort to prevent her marrying an unsuitab ...

'' (1933) * '' Cleaning Up'' (1933) * ''

Marooned Marooned may refer to: * Marooning, the intentional act of abandoning someone in an uninhabited area Film and television * ''Marooned'' (1933 film), a British drama film * ''Marooned'' (1969 film), an American science-fiction film * ''Marooned ...

'' (1933) * ''

Yes, Madam Yes, Madam may refer to: * ''Yes, Madam'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Yes, Madam'' (1942 film), an Italian romance film * ''Yes, Madam'' (1985 film), a Hong Kong action film * ''Yes, Madam? ''Yes, Madam?'' is a 1938 British musica ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Stickpin ''The Stickpin'' is a 1933 British crime film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Kendall (actor), Henry Kendall, Betty Astell and Francis L. Sullivan. It was made as a quota quickie at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.79 The film's sets ...

'' (1933) * ''

Keep It Quiet ''Keep it Quiet'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Bertha Belmore, Frank Pettingell, Cyril Raymond and Davy Burnaby. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios as a quota quickie. Plot summary Joe Puddlefoot becom ...

'' (1934) * '' Crazy People'' (1934) * ''

The Man I Want ''The Man I Want'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Henry Kendall, Wendy Barrie and Betty Astell. The screenplay concerns a man who accidentally comes across some stolen jewels. The film was made at Beacon ...

'' (1934) * '' Without You'' (1934) * ''

Gay Love ''Gay Love'' is a 1934 British musical comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Florence Desmond, Sophie Tucker and Sydney Fairbrother. It is about two sisters. The film was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.82 The film's sets we ...

'' (1934) * ''

Flat Number Three ''Flat Number Three'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott starring Mary Glynne, Betty Astell and Cecil Parker. Its plot involves a lawyer who assists a widow who has killed her blackmailer. It was made at Beaconsfield Stud ...

'' (1934) * ''

Passing Shadows ''Passing Shadows'' is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Edmund Gwenn, Barry MacKay and Aileen Marson. It was made as Beaconsfield Studios as a quota quickie.Wood p.83 The film's sets were designed by Norm ...

'' (1934) * ''

Line Engaged ''Line Engaged'' is a 1935 British, black-and-white, thriller film, thriller directed by Bernard Mainwaring and starring Bramwell Fletcher, Jane Baxter and Arthur Wontner. It was produced by British Lion Film Corporation. Plot Eva Rutland (play ...

'' (1935) * '' Marry the Girl'' (1935) * ''

The Big Splash ''The Big Splash'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Frank Pettingell, Finlay Currie and Marguerite Allan. A millionaire hires a man to play his look-alike, double. It was made as a quota quickie at Beaconsf ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Interrupted Honeymoon ''The Interrupted Honeymoon'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Jane Carr, Helen Haye and Jack Hobbs. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios. In the film, a couple returning home from a honeymoon in Paris find ...

'' (1936) * ''

It's You I Want ''It's You I Want'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Seymour Hicks, Marie Lohr and Hugh Wakefield. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.90 The film's sets were designed by Norman Arnold. Cast * Seymour Hic ...

'' (1936) * ''

A Wife or Two ''A Wife or Two'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Henry Kendall, Nancy Burne and Betty Astell. It was made as a quota quickie at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.88 Cast * Henry Kendall as Charles Marlowe * Na ...

'' (1936) * ''

Jury's Evidence ''Jury's Evidence'' is a 1936 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Hartley Power, Margaret Lockwood and Nora Swinburne. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.86 It was an early role for Margaret Lockwood. Cast * Hartley P ...

'' (1936) * '' Fine Feathers'' (1937) * ''

Variety Hour ''Variety Hour'' is a 1937 British musical film, musical comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Charles Clapham (actor, born 1894), Charles Clapham and Bill Dwyer (actor, born 1887), Bill Dwyer. It is a revue show featuring a number of pe ...

'' (1937) * ''

Return of the Frog ''The Return of the Frog'' is a 1938 British crime film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gordon Harker, Hartley Power and Rene Ray. It is a sequel to the 1937 film ''The Frog'', and was based on the 1929 novel '' The India-Rubber Men'' by Ed ...

'' (1938) * ''

Mr. Emmanuel ''Mr Emmanuel'' is a 1944 British drama film directed by Harold French and starring Felix Aylmer, Greta Gynt and Walter Rilla. The film was made by Two Cities at Teddington Studios. It is based on a 1938 novel of the same title by Louis Goldin ...

'' (1944) * ''

Men of Two Worlds ''Men of Two Worlds'' is a 1946 British Technicolor drama film directed by Thorold Dickinson and starring Robert Adams, Eric Portman and Phyllis Calvert. The screenplay concerns an African music student who returns home to battle a witch doctor ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Faithful City ''The Faithful City'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Józef Lejtes and written by Józef Lejtes and Ben Barzman. The film stars Jamie Smith, Ben Josef, John Slater, Rahel Marcus, Dina Doron and Didi Ramati. The film was released on Apr ...

'' (1952) * ''

The Tommy Steele Story ''The Tommy Steele Story'' is a 1957 British film directed by Gerard Bryant and starring Tommy Steele, dramatising Steele's rise to fame as a teen idol. Along with ''Rock You Sinners'', it was one of the first British films to feature rock and ro ...

'' (1957) * '' The Truth About Women'' (1957) * ''

Cat Girl ''Cat Girl'' is a 1957 British-American horror film, produced by Herbert Smith and Lou Rusoff, directed by Alfred Shaughnessy, that stars Barbara Shelley, Robert Ayres, and Kay Callard. It was an unofficial remake of Val Lewton's '' Cat People'' ...

'' (1957) * ''

The 6.5 Special ''Six-Five Special'' is a British television programme launched in February 1957 when both television and rock and roll were in their infancy in Britain. Description ''Six-Five Special'' was the BBC's first attempt at a rock-and-roll programme. ...

'' (1958) * ''

Too Young to Love "Too Young to Love" is the debut single by The Big Pink. "Too Young to Love" was released with the double A-side track "Crystal Visions" on 7" vinyl on October 7, 2008, and both tracks were later re-recorded and included on their debut album '' A ...

'' (1960)

Director

* ''

On the Air On the Air may refer to: *On the Air (album), ''On the Air'' (album), 1984, by Billy Preston *On the Air (TV series), ''On the Air'' (TV series), an American sitcom *On the Air (film), ''On the Air'' (film), a 1934 British musical comedy *On the A ...

'' (1934) * '' Night Mail'' (1935) * '' In Town Tonight'' (1935) * ''

Soft Lights and Sweet Music ''Soft Lights and Sweet Music'' is a 1936 British musical film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Bert Ambrose, Evelyn Dall and Harry Tate. It was made by British Lion at Beaconsfield Studios. The film is a musical revue showcasing a selec ...

'' (1936) * '' Calling All Stars'' (1937) * ''

It's a Grand Old World ''It's a Grand Old World'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Sandy Powell, Gina Malo and Cyril Ritchard. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios. The film's sets were designed by Norman Arnold. Synopsis An unempl ...

'' (1937) * ''

I've Got a Horse ''I've Got a Horse'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Sandy Powell, Norah Howard and Felix Aylmer.Wood p.98 Plot Sandy accepts a racehorse called Lightning as settlement for a bad debt. When he enters the h ...

'' (1938) * '' All at Sea'' (1940)

References

External links

*
Herbert Smith history and pictures

ull set of pictures and bio for Herbert Smith, film producer Ull or ULL may refer to: University: * University of La Laguna, a university in Canary Islands, Spain * University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a research university in the USA Other: * Ullr or Ull, a Germanic god * Ull (Greyhawk), a political sta ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Herbert 1901 births 1986 deaths British film producers Businesspeople from London 20th-century English businesspeople