John Wilkinson English (25 June 1903 – 11 October 1969) was a British

film editor Film editing is both a creative and a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking. The term is derived from the traditional process of working with film which increasingly involves the use of digital technology. The film edit ...

and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

. He is most famous for the

film serials A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, ge ...

he co-directed with

William Witney William Nuelsen Witney (May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002) was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the action films he made for Republic Pictures, particularly serials: ''Dick Tracy Returns'', ''G-Men vs. the Black ...

for

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

such as ''

Zorro's Fighting Legion ''Zorro's Fighting Legion'' is a 1939 Republic Pictures film serial consisting of twelve chapters starring Reed Hadley as Zorro and directed by William Witney and John English. The plot revolves around his alter-ego Don Diego's fight against t ...

'' and ''

Drums of Fu Manchu ''Drums of Fu Manchu'' (1940) is a 15-chapter Republic Pictures, Republic serial film based on the character created by Sax Rohmer. Though using the title of the ninth novel in the series, it actually is based on numerous elements from throughout ...

''. He was credited variously as John W English, John English or Jack English.

Career

John English was born in

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

but moved to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

at an early age. He first worked as a

before getting a break into directing at Republic in 1935. For a period in the 1930s and 1940s, starting with ''

Zorro Rides Again ''Zorro Rides Again'' (1937) is a 12-chapter Republic Pictures film serial. It was the eighth of the sixty-six Republic serials, the third with a Western theme (a third of Republic's serials were westerns) and the last produced in 1937. The s ...

'' (1937), he directed

Movie Serials A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, ge ...

in partnership with

. It was customary at the time for two directors to work on each serial, each working on alternate days. Witney customarily worked on the action scenes while English concentrated on character and story elements. Together they are regarded as having produced the best examples of the serial medium:

most notable of all were the directing talents of William Witney and John English. Together they directed seventeen consecutive serials, honing an approach that allowed Republic serials to far outdistance the competition. They adopted a no-nonsense approach that treated the serial material with respect and rarely gave any clues that we shouldn't consider the stories seriously. Other directors would allow an element of goofiness to gradually seep into the serial. For example, few people would point to a Witney/English serial as an example of camp, unlike the Flash Gordon serials. :— Gary Johnson, from ''Images Journal''The Golden Age of the Serial
retrieved 24 June 2007

They directed seventeen serials as a partnership and a few others separately, such as ''

Captain America Captain America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''#Golden Age, Captain America Comics'' #1 (cover ...

'' (1944) in John English's case. Following disagreement with management changes at Republic's serial team, he moved to directing features films, mostly the

B-Western The B movie, whose roots trace to the silent film era, was a significant contributor to Hollywood's Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s. As the Hollywood studios made the transition to sound film in the late 1920s, many independent exhibitors began ...

films for which Republic was known. In the post war era whilst William Witney directed a series of

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

films for Republic, English directed a series of

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

pictures for

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 ...

. In the 1952-1953 television season, English directed several episodes of

Alan Hale, Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...

's ''

Biff Baker, U.S.A. Biff or BIFF may refer to: People * Biff (name), a given name or nickname * Biff (cartoon), British cartoon strip Computer-related terms * biff (Unix), a UNIX mail notification program. * BIFF, also B1FF or B1ff, a pseudonym used on Usenet a ...

'' espionage series on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

. He thereafter directed twelve episodes of the CBS western series ''

My Friend Flicka ''My Friend Flicka'' is a 1941 novel by Mary O'Hara, about Ken McLaughlin, the son of a Wyoming rancher, and his mustang horse Flicka. It was the first in a trilogy, followed by ''Thunderhead'' (1943) and ''Green Grass of Wyoming'' (1946). The p ...

'' (1956–1957), and 18 episodes of

Lassie (1954 TV series) ''Lassie'' is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie dog named Lassie and her companions, both human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax a ...

(1964–1965). English also directed several episodes of ''

The Gene Autry Show ''The Gene Autry Show'' is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum. Overview Series star Gene Autry had alr ...

'', ''

The Adventures of Champion ''The Adventures of Champion'' is an American adventure serial radio drama directed by William Burch about screen cowboy Gene Autry's horse Champion. Each 15-minute episode was broadcast weekday afternoons on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 194 ...

'', ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

'', and ''

The Roy Rogers Show ''The Roy Rogers Show'' is an American western television series starring Roy Rogers. 100 episodes were broadcast on NBC for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The episodes were set in the prevailing times (1950s) in the st ...

''. When Republic collapsed as a studio in 1959, he continued directing

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

episodes at the same studio lot.John English at Allmovie
, retrieved 24 June 2007

Selected filmography

;As director * ''

His Fighting Blood ''His Fighting Blood'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by John English and starring Kermit Maynard, Polly Ann Young and Paul Fix.Goble p.102 It was produced on Poverty Row as a second feature. The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1935) * ''

Red Blood of Courage ''Red Blood of Courage'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by John English from a screenplay by Barry Barringer. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Ann Sheridan, and Reginald Barlow. Plot Sgt. Sullivan of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police go ...

'' (1935) * '' Arizona Days'' (1937) * ''

Whistling Bullets ''Whistling Bullets'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by John English and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Harley Wood, Maston Williams, Karl Hackett, Jack Ingram, Bruce Mitchell and James Sheridan. The f ...

'' (1937) * ''

Call the Mesquiteers ''Call the Mesquiteers'' (also released as ''Outlaws of the West'') is a 1938 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English. Cast * Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke * Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith * Max Terhune as Lu ...

'' (1938) * ''

Hi-Yo Silver ''Hi-Yo Silver'' is a 1940 American Western (genre), Western film, directed by William Witney and John English (director), John English. It stars Lee Powell (actor), Lee Powell, Hi-Yo Silver, and Chief Thundercloud and was released on April 10 ...

'' (1940) * ''

Gangs of Sonora ''Gangs of Sonora'' is a 1941 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English. Cast * Bob Livingston as Stony Brooke * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin * June Johnson as June Conners * Malcolm M ...

'' (1941) * ''

Code of the Outlaw ''Code of the Outlaw'' is a 1942 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English. Plot Cast * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke * Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin * Weldon Heyburn as Bart 'Pop' Hard ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Phantom Plainsmen ''The Phantom Plainsmen'' is a 1942 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English and starring Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, and Rufe Davis. Cast * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke * Rufe Davis as Lul ...

'' (1942) * ''

Raiders of the Range ''Raiders of the Range'' is a 1942 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English. Cast * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke * Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin * Lois Collier as Jean Travers * Frank ...

'' (1942) * ''

Valley of Hunted Men ''Valley of Hunted Men'' is a 1942 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English and starring Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, and Jimmie Dodd. Cast * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke * Jimmie Dodd as L ...

'' (1942) * '' Westward Ho'' (1942) * ''

The Yukon Patrol ''King of the Royal Mounted'' (1940) is a Republic Pictures northern serial based on the King of the Royal Mounted comic strip directed by William Witney and John English. Set and filmed during World War II, the story is about the Royal Cana ...

'' (1942) * ''

Dead Man's Gulch ''Dead Man's Gulch'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by John English and written by Norman S. Hall and Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Don "Red" Barry, Lynn Merrick, Clancy Cooper, Emmett Lynn, Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart and ...

'' (1943) * ''

Death Valley Manhunt ''Death Valley Manhunt'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by John English and written by Norman S. Hall and Anthony Coldeway. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Anne Jeffreys, Weldon Heyburn, Herbert Heyes and D ...

'' (1943) * ''

The Fighting Devil Dogs ''The Fighting Devil Dogs'' (1938) is a 12-chapter Republic movie serial starring Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by William Witney and John English. While not often co ...

'' (1943) * ''

The Man from Thunder River ''The Man from Thunder River'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by John English and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Anne Jeffreys, Ian Keith, John James and Georgie Cooper. The film ...

'' (1943) * '' Overland Mail Robbery'' (1943) * '' Raiders of Sunset Pass '' (1943) * ''

Thundering Trails ''Thundering Trails'' is a 1943 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English and starring Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, and Jimmie Dodd. Cast * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke * Jimmie Dodd as Lul ...

'' (1943) * '' The Black Hills Express'' (1943) * '' Faces in the Fog'' (1944) * ''

Call of the South Seas ''Call of the South Seas'' is a 1944 American action film directed by John English starring Janet Martin, Allan Lane and William Henry.Langman p.172 The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden. Cast * Janet Martin as ...

'' (1944) * ''

The Laramie Trail ''The Laramie Trail'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by John English and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Robert Livingston, Smiley Burnette, Linda Brent, Martin Garralaga, Emmett Lynn and John James. The film was rele ...

'' (1944) * '' The Port of Forty Thieves'' (1944) * ''

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

'' (1944) * ''

Silver City Kid ''Silver City Kid'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by John English and written by Taylor Caven. Starring Allan Lane, Peggy Stewart, Wally Vernon, Twinkle Watts, Harry Woods and Frank Jaquet, it was released on July 20, 1944, by Re ...

'' (1944) * ''

Behind City Lights ''Behind City Lights'' is a 1945 American crime film directed by John English (director), John English and written by Richard Weil and Gertrude Walker. The film stars Lynne Roberts, Peter Cookson, Jerome Cowan, Esther Dale, William Terry and Vi ...

'' (1945) * '' Don't Fence Me In'' (1945) * ''

Grissly's Millions ''Grissly's Millions'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by John English and written by Muriel Roy Bolton. The film stars Paul Kelly, Virginia Grey, Don Douglas, Elisabeth Risdon, Robert Barrat and Clem Bevans. The film was released o ...

'' (1945) * ''

The Phantom Speaks ''The Phantom Speaks'' is a 1945 American supernatural film noir directed by John English and written by John K. Butler. The film stars Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges, Lynne Roberts, Tom Powers, Charlotte Wynters and Jonathan Hale. The film ...

'' (1945) * ''

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

'' (1945) * '' Murder in the Music Hall'' (1946) * '' The Last Round-Up'' (1947) * ''

Trail to San Antone ''Trail to San Antone'' is a 1947 American Western (genre), Western film directed by John English (director), John English, written by Jack Natteford and Luci Ford, and starring Gene Autry, Peggy Stewart (actress), Peggy Stewart, Sterling Holl ...

'' (1947) * '' The Strawberry Roan'' (1948) * '' Loaded Pistols'' (1949) * '' Riders in the Sky'' (1949) * '' Riders of the Whistling Pines'' (1949) * '' Rim of the Canyon'' (1949) * ''

Sons of New Mexico ''Sons of New Mexico'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by John English and written by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Robert Armstrong, Dick Jones, Frankie Darro and Irving Bacon. The film was released on De ...

'' (1949) * ''

The Cowboy and the Indians ''The Cowboy and the Indians'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by John English and written by Dwight Cummins and Dorothy Yost. The film stars Gene Autry, Sheila Ryan, Frank Richards, Hank Patterson, Jay Silverheels and Claudia Drake. ...

'' (1949) * ''

Beyond the Purple Hills ''Beyond the Purple Hills'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by John English and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Gene Autry, Jo-Carroll Dennison, Don Beddoe, James Millican, Don Reynolds and Hugh O'Brian. The film was rele ...

'' (1950) * '' The Blazing Sun'' (1950) * ''

Cow Town ''Cow Town'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by John English and written by Gerald Geraghty. The film stars Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Harry Shannon, Jock Mahoney, Clark Burroughs and Harry Harvey Sr. The film was released on May 19, ...

'' (1950) * ''

Indian Territory The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United St ...

'' (1950) * ''

Mule Train "Mule Train" is a popular song written by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath, Ramblin' Tommy Scott and Fred Glickman. It is a cowboy song, with the singer filling the role of an Old West wagon driver, spurring on his team of mules pulling a delivery wagon. ...

'' (1950) * ''

Gene Autry and the Mounties ''Gene Autry and the Mounties'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by John English and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Gene Autry, Elena Verdugo, Carleton Young, Richard Emory, Herbert Rawlinson and Trevor Bardette. The film ...

'' (1951) * ''

The Hills of Utah ''The Hills of Utah'' is a 1951 American Western (genre), Western film directed by John English (director), John English and starring Gene Autry, Elaine Riley and Donna Martell.Pitts p.152 The film's sets were designed by the art director Charl ...

'' (1951) * ''

Silver Canyon ''Silver Canyon'' is a novel written by Louis L'Amour set in south-central Utah Territory in 1881. It was originally published in a shorter version, named ''Riders of the Dawn'', in the magazine ''Giant Western'' in June 1951. It then was publi ...

'' (1951) * ''

Valley of Fire Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly located south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sa ...

'' (1951) * ''

Whirlwind A whirlwind is a weather phenomenon in which a vortex of wind (a vertically oriented rotating column of air) forms due to instabilities and turbulence created by heating and flow (current) gradients. Whirlwinds occur all over the world and ...

'' (1951) ;As editor * '' Aces and Eights'' (1936) * '' Becky'' (1927) * ''

Clear the Decks ''Clear the Decks'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Earle Snell, Gladys Lehman, Albert DeMond and Charles Henry Smith. It is based on the 1926 novel ''When the Devil Was Sick'' by E.J. Rath. The film st ...

'' (1929) * '' Meet the Wife'' (1931) * '' The Code of the Mounted'' (1935) * ''

Crashing Through Danger ''Crashing Through Danger'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Ray Walker, Sally Blane and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. Plot Three electrical linemen work through the hazardous conditions of the ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Exquisite Sinner ''The Exquisite Sinner'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent drama (film and television), drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and adapted by Alice Duer Miller from the novel ''Escape'' by Alden Brooks. Starring Conrad Nagel and Renée ...

'' (1926) * ''

Ghost Patrol ''Ghost Patrol'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot A scientific genius has invented a machine capable of causing planes to crash. He uses it on planes loaded with valuables. Various characters become involved in co ...

'' (1936) (cred * '' Heaven on Earth'' (1927) * ''

Hold Your Man ''Hold Your Man '' is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by an uncredited Sam Wood and starring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, the third of their six films together.Landazuri, Margarit"Hold Your Man" (TCM article)/ref> The scre ...

'' (1929) * ''

Lightnin' Bill Carson ''Lightnin' Bill Carson'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot summary A lawman captures the notorious "Pecos Kid", who is tried and hanged for his crimes – then starts to have doubts as to whether the Kid actually ...

'' (1936) * '' The Lion's Den'' (1936) * ''

The Lovelorn ''The Lovelorn'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by John P. McCarthy and written by Frederic Hatton and Bradley King. The film stars Sally O'Neil, Molly O'Day, Larry Kent, James Murray, and Charles Delaney. The film was releas ...

'' (1927) * ''

Mockery Mockery or mocking is the act of insulting or making light of a person or other thing, sometimes merely by taunting, but often by making a caricature, purporting to engage in imitation in a way that highlights unflattering characteristics. Mocker ...

'' (1927) * ''

Northern Frontier ''Northern Frontier'' is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Barry Barringer. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Eleanor Hunt, Russell Hopton, J. Farrell MacDonald, LeRoy Mason, Gertrude Astor, Ben Hendricks Jr. a ...

'' (1935) * ''

Red Hot Speed ''Red Hot Speed'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Reginald Denny, Alice Day and Charles Byer. It was made during the conversion from silent to sound film, and had talking sequences using the Movietone re ...

'' (1929) * ''

Trails of the Wild ''Trails of the Wild'' is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Billie Seward, Monte Blue, Matthew Betz, Fuzzy Knight and Wheeler Oakman. The film was released o ...

'' (1935) * '' The Traitor'' (1936) * ''

The Understanding Heart ''The Understanding Heart'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent adventure film, adventure drama (film and television), drama film directed by Jack Conway (filmmaker), Jack Conway and stars Joan Crawford in an early leading role. The film was ...

'' (1927) * ''

Wilderness Mail ''Wilderness Mail'' is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Forrest Sheldon and written by Bennett Cohen and Robert Dillon. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Fred Kohler, Paul Hurst, Doris Brook, Syd Saylor and Dick Curtis. The film was relea ...

'' (1935)

References

External links

*
Fandango bio, filmography

{{DEFAULTSORT:English, John English film directors English film editors Film serial crew Western (genre) film directors People from Cumberland 1903 births 1969 deaths British emigrants to the United States

Career

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

External links