Thomas Bentley (23 February 1884 – 23 December 1966) was a British film director. He directed 68 films between 1912 and 1941. He directed three films in the early DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, ''The Man in the Street'' (1926), ''The Antidote'' (1927), and ''Acci-Dental Treatment'' (1928). Bentley was born in

St George Hanover Square St George Hanover Square was a civil parish created in 1724 in the Liberty of Westminster, Middlesex, which was later part of the metropolitan area of London, England. The creation of the parish accompanied the building of St George's, Hanove ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and originally trained as an engineer but went on to become a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

performer well known for impersonating the characters from the

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

s of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

on stage, touring Britain and Australia.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. p. 66-67; His directing career in silent films began in 1910 after he was signed by

Cecil Hepworth Cecil Milton Hepworth (19 March 1874 – 9 February 1953) was a British film director, producer and screenwriter. He was among the founders of the British film industry and continued making films into the 1920s at his Hepworth Studios. In ...

to write and direct five adaptations of Dickens' novels. He would go on to helm more Charles Dickens adaptations throughout his career. After his retirement from directing in 1941 he became technical advisor to the British Film Council. In her typescript-cum-memoir,

Mabel Poulton Mabel Lilian Poulton (29 July 1901 – 21 December 1994) was an English film actress, popular in Britain during the era of silent films. Career Born in Bethnal Green, London, England, Poulton worked as a stenographer and entered films by ...

named Bentley as the film director-rapist of a young British starlet who then becomes an alcoholic as a result. Poulton starred in two films directed by him: '' The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1921) and ''

Not Quite a Lady ''Not Quite a Lady'' is a 1928 British silent comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Mabel Poulton, Janet Alexander and Barbara Gott. The screenplay concerns a wealthy woman who, unhappy with her son's choice of fiancée, holds a ...

'' (1928).

Selected filmography

* ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' (1912) * '' David Copperfield'' (1913) * ''

Milestones A milestone is a marker of distance along roads. Milestone may also refer to: Measurements *Milestone (project management), metaphorically, markers of reaching an identifiable stage in any task or the project *Software release life cycle state, s ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Divine Gift ''The Divine Gift'' is a 1918 British silent drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Joyce Dearsley, Ernest Hendrie and Henrietta Watson. It was made at Bushey Studios. Cast * Joyce Dearsley as The Shopgirl * Ernest Hendrie as The Pr ...

'' (1918) * '' The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1921) * ''

The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick ''The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick'' is a 1921 British silent comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley based on the 1837 novel ''The Pickwick Papers'' by Charles Dickens. As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is ...

'' (1921) * ''

A Master of Craft ''A Master of Craft'' is a 1922 British silent comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Fred Groves, Mercy Hatton and Judd Green. It was based on a 1900 novel by W. W. Jacobs. Cast * Fred Groves - Captain Flower * Mercy Hatton - ...

'' (1922) * ''

Money Isn't Everything ''Money Isn't Everything'' is a 1925 British silent romance film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Olive Sloane, Lewis Gilbert and Gladys Hamer. The film was made at Cricklewood Studios by Stoll Pictures, and was based on a novel by Sophi ...

'' (1925) * '' A Romance of Mayfair'' (1925) * ''

White Heat ''White Heat'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, ''White Heat'' is based on a story by Vi ...

'' (1926) * '' The Silver Lining'' (1927) * ''

'' (1928) * '' Young Woodley'' (1928) * ''

The American Prisoner ''The American Prisoner'' is a British novel written by Eden Phillpotts and published in 1904 and adapted into a film by the same name in 1929. The story concerns an English woman who lives at Fox Tor farm, and an American captured during ...

'' (1929) * ''

Harmony Heaven ''Harmony Heaven'' is a 1930 British musical film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Polly Ward, Stuart Hall and Trilby Clark. This film had Pathechrome inserts, and was one of Britain's first two musical films, along with ''Raise the Roo ...

'' (1930) * '' Young Woodley'' (1930) * '' Compromising Daphne'' (1930) * ''

Hobson's Choice A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is actually offered. The term is often used to describe an illusion that multiple choices are available. The most well known Hobson's choice is "I'll give you a choice: take it or leave ...

'' (1931) * ''

Keepers of Youth ''Keepers of Youth'' is a 1932 British drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Garry Marsh, Ann Todd and Robin Irvine. It was based on the 1929 play ''Keepers of Youth'' by Arnold Ridley, and marked the film debut of Ann Todd. It was ...

'' (1931) * ''

After Office Hours ''After Office Hours'' is a 1935 crime drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Clark Gable and Constance Bennett. The screenplay was written by Herman Mankiewicz. Plot Jim Branch (Clark Gable), a newspaper editor, falls for wealt ...

'' (1932) * '' Sleepless Nights'' (1932) * '' The Love Nest'' (1933) * ''

Hawley's of High Street ''Hawley's of High Street'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Leslie Fuller, Judy Kelly, Francis Lister and Moore Marriott. Its plot concerns a butcher and a draper who stand for election to the local counci ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Scotland Yard Mystery ''The Scotland Yard Mystery'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Sir Gerald du Maurier, George Curzon, Grete Natzler, Belle Chrystall and Wally Patch. The screenplay concerns a criminal doctor who operates a r ...

'' (1934) * ''

Those Were the Days Those Were the Days may refer to: Music Albums * ''Those Were the Days'' (Johnny Mathis album) (1968) * ''Those Were the Days'' (Cream album) (1997) * ''Those Were the Days'' (Dolly Parton album) (2005) * '' Those Were the Days – The Best of L ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Great Defender ''The Great Defender'' is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Matheson Lang, Margaret Bannerman and Arthur Margetson. Its plot concerns a top barrister who conducts the defence of an artist facing the death penalty ...

'' (1934) * '' The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1934) * ''

Royal Cavalcade ''Royal Cavalcade'', also known as ''Regal Cavalcade'', is a 1935 British, black-and-white, drama film directed by six separate directors: Thomas Bentley (Supervising Director), Herbert Brenon, Norman Lee, Walter Summers, W. P. Kellino and Mar ...

'' (1935) * ''

Music Hath Charms ''Music Hath Charms'' is a 1935 British musical comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley, Walter Summers, Arthur B. Woods and Alexander Esway. It stars Henry Hall with the BBC Dance Orchestra, Carol Goodner and Arthur Margetson. It was given a tr ...

'' (1935) * '' She Knew What She Wanted'' (1936) * '' The Angelus'' (1937) * '' Silver Blaze'' (1937) * '' The Last Chance'' (1937) * ''

Night Alone ''Night Alone'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Emlyn Williams, Leonora Corbett and Lesley Brook. The film was shot at the Welwyn Studios of Associated British.Wood p.99 It was based on a play by Jeffrey De ...

'' (1938) * '' Marigold'' (1938) * '' Me and My Pal'' (1939) * ''

Lucky to Me ''Lucky to Me'' is a 1939 British musical comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Stanley Lupino, Phyllis Brooks and Barbara Blair. It was based on Lupino's own 1928 stage show ''So This is Love'' which he had co-written with actor ...

'' (1939) * '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940) * '' The Middle Watch'' (1940) * ''

Old Mother Riley's Circus ''Old Mother Riley's Circus'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Longden. Old Mother Riley takes over a struggling circus and makes a huge success of it. The trade ad poster ...

'' (1941)

References

External links

* 1884 births 1966 deaths Film directors from London {{UK-film-director-stub