About

Known credits:
39
Birthday:
1917-11-27
Place of birth:
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Robert Youngson

Overview

Robert Youngson (November 27, 1917 – April 8, 1974) was a film producer, director, and screenwriter, specializing in reviving antique silent films.

Robert George Youngson, born in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Harvard University with a master's degree in business administration. He entered the film business in 1941, writing newsreel scripts. In 1948 Warner Bros. hired him to produce a series of short subjects about sports. Most of these were straight roundups of current sporting events, but in some of them Youngson indulged his fascination with antique newsreels of the 1920s, and included vintage sports footage in the new productions. This led to Youngson writing and producing a long series of historical short subjects for Warners, two of which won him Academy Awards. Most of these films took an affectionate look back at the fads and lifestyles of the 1920s. Youngson's narration was nostalgic in tone, unlike the facetious commentaries that usually accompanied silent-film revivals like Gaslight Follies (1945) and Warners' compilations of Mack Sennett comedies. Youngson also produced a feature-length documentary for Warners, Fifty Years Before Your Eyes (1950).

Warners discontinued live-action short subjects in 1956 and released Youngson, forcing him to work as an independent producer. He assembled a full-length feature of silent-comedy highlights, The Golden Age of Comedy (1958). This was a triumphant success, earning rave reviews from national columnists and receiving network exposure on TV talk shows. He followed this with When Comedy Was King (1960) and six more vintage-comedy anthologies, the last being released in 1970.

Known for

Directing
1970 4 Clowns Directing Director 59
Average
1967 The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy Directing Director N/A
N/A
1965 Laurel and Hardy's Laughing 20's Directing Director 59
Average
1964 The Big Parade of Comedy Directing Director 59
Average
1963 30 Years of Fun Directing Director 58
Average
1961 Days of Thrills and Laughter Directing Director 59
Average
1960 When Comedy Was King Directing Director 59
Average
1957 The Golden Age of Comedy Directing Director 59
Average
1956 I Never Forget a Face Directing Director 58
Average
1955 Gadgets Galore Directing Director 58
Average
1955 When the Talkies Were Young Directing Director 58
Average
1954 This Mechanical Age Directing Director 58
Average
1954 When Sports Were King Directing Director N/A
N/A
1953 Magic Movie Moments Directing Director N/A
N/A
1952 Look at Life: Lighter than Air Directing Director N/A
N/A
1951 World of Kids Directing Director 58
Average
1950 Blaze Busters Directing Director 58
Average
1950 Cavalcade of Girls Directing Director N/A
N/A
1950 Fifty Years Before Your Eyes Directing Director N/A
N/A
1949 Spills and Chills Directing Director 58
Average
1948 Roaring Wheels Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
1967 The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1964 The Big Parade of Comedy Writing Writer 59
Average
1963 30 Years of Fun Writing Writer 58
Average
1961 Days of Thrills and Laughter Writing Writer 59
Average
1960 When Comedy Was King Writing Writer 59
Average
1956 I Never Forget a Face Writing Writer 58
Average
1955 Gadgets Galore Writing Writer 58
Average
1955 When the Talkies Were Young Writing Writer 58
Average
1953 Magic Movie Moments Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1950 Cavalcade of Girls Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
1964 The Big Parade of Comedy Production Producer 59
Average
1956 I Never Forget a Face Production Producer 58
Average
1956 Crashing the Water Barrier Production Production Supervisor 59
Average
1955 Gadgets Galore Production Producer 58
Average
1955 When the Talkies Were Young Production Producer 58
Average
1954 This Mechanical Age Production Producer 58
Average
1954 When Sports Were King Production Producer N/A
N/A

Editing
1955 Gadgets Galore Editing Editor 58
Average