William Alland (March 4, 1916 – November 11, 1997) was an American actor, film producer and writer, mainly of Western and science-fiction/monster films, including '' This Island Earth'', '' It Came From Outer Space'', '' Tarantula!'', ''

The Deadly Mantis ''The Deadly Mantis'' is a 1957 American science fiction monster film produced by William Alland for Universal-International. The film was directed by Nathan Juran from a screenplay by Martin Berkeley based on a story by producer William Alland ...

'', ''

The Mole People ''The Mole People'' is a 1956 American science fiction adventure film distributed by Universal International, which was produced by William Alland, directed by Virgil W. Vogel, and stars John Agar, Hugh Beaumont, and Cynthia Patrick. The s ...

'', ''

The Colossus of New York ''The Colossus of New York'' is a 1958 science fiction film from Paramount Pictures, produced by William Alland, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Ross Martin, Otto Kruger, John Baragrey, Mala Powers, Robert Hutton, and Charles Herbert. The ...

'', '' The Space Children'', and the three '' Creature from the Black Lagoon'' films. He worked frequently with director Jack Arnold. Alland is also remembered for his acting role as reporter Thompson, who investigates the meaning of "Rosebud" in

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

's ''

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited ...

'' (1941).

Biography

Alland was born in Delmar, Delaware. Alland entered films as an actor, perhaps best remembered as the reporter Jerry Thompson, who investigates the life of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane in

's ''

'' (1941). He also directed the film ''

Look in Any Window ''Look in Any Window'' is a 1961 American drama film starring Paul Anka, Gigi Perreau, and, in his film debut, Jack Cassidy. The film was directed by William Alland and released by Allied Artists. Plot A teenager is brought up by uncaring, dysf ...

''. In his early 20s, Alland arrived in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

and took courses at the Henry Street Settlement House, where he met

. He lent his voice to Welles's ''

The War of the Worlds ''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by ''Cosmopolitan (magazine), Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appear ...

''. Alland won a

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody, honor the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in television, radio, and ...

as producer of '' Doorway to Life''. Citizen-Kane-Alland-Stewart

Alland's role as reporter Jerry Thompson in ''

'' (1941) is unusual because the camera never closes up on his face; in fact, for the majority of his scenes in the film, he shows his back to the camera, and whenever his face can be seen, it is always in long-shot and almost always clouded in shadow. As noted by film critic

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

on the DVD commentary of ''Citizen Kane'', Alland once reportedly told an audience that they would probably recognize him if he were to show his back to them. In addition to his role as Thompson in ''Citizen Kane'', Alland announces the "News on the March" newsreel segment, a spoof of the then-popular ''

March of Time ''The March of Time'' is an American newsreel series sponsored by Time Inc. and shown in movie theaters from 1935 to 1951. It was based on a radio news series broadcast from 1931 to 1945. The "voice" of both series was Westbrook Van Voorhis. Pr ...

'' newsreels. In later years, Alland twice provided voiceovers for pastiches of this ''News on the March'' segment: once for the 1974 Orson Welles film '' F for Fake'' and again for a 1991 ''

Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectator ...

'' documentary for the BBC titled ''The Complete Citizen Kane''. In 1953, Alland appeared before a meeting of the

House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly dubbed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative United States Congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives, create ...

in Los Angeles, acknowledging that he had been a member of the

Communist Party A communist party is a political party that seeks to realize the socio-economic goals of communism. The term ''communist party'' was popularized by the title of '' The Manifesto of the Communist Party'' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel ...

and naming other people who were involved with the party. The meeting was held behind closed doors, but Alland talked with reporters after his appearance. He said that he was a party member from 1946 to 1949. Alland was a decorated combat pilot in the Air Force, flying 56 missions in the Pacific. On radio, Alland wrote for ''Doorway to Life'' and acted on '' The Mercury Theatre on the Air''. He died of complications of heart disease.

Filmography

*'' The Green Goddess'' (1939) – (uncredited); short film by Orson Welles *''

'' (1941) – Jerry Thompson (credited); Voice of "News on the March" Newsreel Announcer (uncredited) *'' Tom Dick and Harry'' (1941) – voice of Newsreel Announcer (uncredited) *''

The Devil and Daniel Webster "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1936) is a short story by American writer Stephen Vincent Benét. He tells of a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the devil and is later defended by Daniel Webster, a fictional version of the noted 19th-c ...

'' (1941) – Guide (uncredited, scenes deleted) *'' The Falcon Takes Over'' (1942) – Reporter (uncredited) *'' Riff-Raff'' (1947) – Trumpy, Man in Cell (uncredited) *'' The Lady from Shanghai'' (1947) – Reporter (uncredited) *''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' (1948) – Second Murderer *'' Love Happy'' (1949) – one of several Story Contributors (uncredited) *''

Cave of Outlaws ''Cave of Outlaws'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by William Castle and starring Macdonald Carey and Alexis Smith. It was also known as ''The Cave''. Plot In 1880, Pete Carver is part of a gang that robs a train of gold. They flee t ...

'' (1951) – Associate Producer *''

The Black Castle ''The Black Castle'' is a 1952 American horror film directed by Nathan H. Juran and starring Richard Greene, Boris Karloff, Stephen McNally, Rita Corday and Lon Chaney Jr. It was produced by William Alland. The film was made in the United State ...

'' (1952) – Producer *'' The Raiders'' (1952) – Producer *'' The Treasure of Lost Canyon'' (1952) – Associate Producer *'' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) – Original Story *'' The Stand at Apache River'' (1953) – Producer *'' It Came from Outer Space'' (1953) – Producer *'' The Lawless Breed'' (1953) – Producer *'' The Stand at Apache River'' (1953) – Producer *'' The Lawless Breed'' (1953) – Original Story *'' Creature from the Black Lagoon'' (1954) – Producer, Story Idea (uncredited) *''

Johnny Dark Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Varian ...

'' (1954) – Producer *''

Four Guns to the Border ''Four Guns to the Border'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Richard Carlson and starring Rory Calhoun, Colleen Miller, George Nader, Walter Brennan and Nina Foch.p.173 Fitzgerald, Michael G. & Magers, Boyd ''Ladies of the Western ...

'' (1954) – Producer *''

Dawn at Socorro ''Dawn at Socorro'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Rory Calhoun and Piper Laurie. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film is set mostly in Lordsburg, New Mexico, and the spoken int ...

'' (1954) – Producer *'' This Island Earth'' (1955) – Producer *''

Revenge of the Creature ''Revenge of the Creature'' ( ''Return of the Creature'' and ''Return of the Creature from the Black Lagoon'') is the first of two Universal-International sequels to '' Creature from the Black Lagoon''. It was the only 3D film released in 1955 ...

'' (1955) – Producer, Original Story *''

Tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although m ...

'' (1955) – Producer *'' Chief Crazy Horse'' (1955) – Producer *'' The Creature Walks Among Us'' (1956) – Producer *''

'' (1956) – Producer *''

'' (1957) – Producer; Original story *''

The Land Unknown ''The Land Unknown'' is a 1957 science fiction CinemaScope adventure film about a naval expedition trapped in an Antarctic jungle. The story was allegedly inspired by the discovery of unusually warm water in Antarctica in 1947. It stars Jock M ...

'' (1957) – Producer *'' Gun for a Coward'' (1957) – Producer *''

'' (1958) – Producer *'' The Space Children'' (1958) – Producer *''

The Lady Takes a Flyer ''The Lady Takes a Flyer'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope Eastmancolor comedy-drama romance film released by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Jack Arnold and written by Danny Arnold based on a story by Edmund H. North. Plot Daredevil pilo ...

'' (1958) – Producer *''

Raw Wind in Eden ''Raw Wind in Eden'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope South Seas film noir directed by Richard Wilson and starring Esther Williams, Jeff Chandler. Plot Frustrated while having a fling with a married man, fashion model Laura is persuaded to fly in ...

'' (1958) – Producer *''

As Young as We Are ''As Young as We Are'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written by Meyer Dolinsky. The film stars Robert Harland, Pippa Scott, Majel Barrett, Ty Hardin, Barry Atwater and Carla Hoffman. The film was released in Sept ...

'' (1958) – Producer; Original Story *'' The Party Crashers'' (1958) – Producer; Original Story *''

'' (1961) – Director *'' The Lively Set'' (1964) – Producer *'' The Rare Breed'' (1966) – Producer

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alland, William 1916 births 1997 deaths American male film actors American film producers People from Sussex County, Delaware 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American businesspeople Male actors from Delaware Film directors from Delaware American male radio actors American radio writers United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II United States Army Air Forces officers