
About
Maurice Elvey
Overview
Maurice Elvey was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, the oldest son of William Clarence Folkard, an inspecting engineer, and Sarah Anna Seward Folkard (formerly Pearce). He never had a formal education, and was working on the streets of London by the age of nine after having run away from home. For a time he worked as a page boy in the Hyde Park Hotel, and a lucky encounter with a wealthy American set him on the road to a career in first the theatre and then in films. It was while in New York when working as a stage producer that he saw his first film, The Flying Dutchman (1923). This made such an impression on him that when he came back to England he was determined to produce and direct films; thus began a career spanning 44 years, during which time he made over 300 feature films and innumerable shorts. Amongst the "firsts" that Maurice Elvey can claim as a director are: Gaumont's first talking film (High Treason (1929)) and the first British colour film Sons of the Sea (1939)). Carol Reed and David Lean began their distinguished careers in film by working for him, and he directed Gracie Fields in her first movie, Sally in Our Alley (1931). Maurice Elvey was the older brother of Fred V. Merrick, and during the 1920s and 1930s they worked on a number of films together. In May 1996 the world premiere of a long-lost film about David Lloyd George, directed by Elvey, took place in Cardiff more than 70 years later than scheduled. The three-hour film was suppressed on the eve of its release under circumstances that have still not been fully explained. The film was acclaimed by cinema historians as a milestone in film making, and it is believed that had it been released in 1918, as originally planned, it may well have changed the course of British cinema.
Maurice Elvey was married three times. His first marriage took place on 31st December 1910 to Adeline Maud Charlton Preston (aka actress 'Philippa Preston'. This marriage ended in divorce. He then married Florence Hill Clarke (a sculptor) on 2nd February 1916. This marriage, too, ended in divorce. On 13th January 1923 he married Isabella Reed (aka actress Isobel Elsom), but this marriage also ended in divorce. As Elvey's niece and god-daughter I was privileged to unveil a plaque in April 1997 at the Green Dragon Museum, Stockton-on-Tees as part of the Centenary of Cinema Celebrations.
Known for
Acting |
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1914 | The Cup Final Mystery | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1913 | The Fallen idol | Actor | The lover | N/A N/A |
1913 | Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn | Actor | Capt. Matthews | N/A N/A |
Directing |
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1957 | Second Fiddle | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1956 | Stars in Your Eyes | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1956 | Dry Rot | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1955 | Fun at St. Fanny's | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1955 | Room in the House | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1955 | You Lucky People! | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1954 | The Happiness of Three Women | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1954 | What Every Woman Wants | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1954 | The Gay Dog | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1954 | The Harassed Hero | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1953 | Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1953 | House of Blackmail | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1953 | The Great Game | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1952 | My Wife's Lodger | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1951 | The Late Edwina Black | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1951 | The Third Visitor | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1946 | Beware of Pity | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1944 | Strawberry Roan | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1944 | Medal for the General | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1943 | The Lamp Still Burns | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1943 | The Gentle Sex | Directing | Co-Director | 59 Average |
1942 | Salute John Citizen | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1940 | Under Your Hat | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1940 | For Freedom | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1940 | The Spider | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1939 | Sons of the Sea | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1939 | Sword of Honour | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1938 | The Return of the Frog | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1938 | Who Killed John Savage? | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1938 | Who Goes Next? | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1937 | Change for a Sovereign | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1937 | A Romance in Flanders | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1936 | The Man in the Mirror | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1936 | Spy of Napoleon | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1935 | The Tunnel | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1935 | The Clairvoyant | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1935 | Heat Wave | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1934 | Road House | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1934 | My Song for You | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1934 | Princess Charming | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1934 | Love, Life and Laughter | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1934 | Lily of Killarney | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1933 | The Wandering Jew | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1933 | This Week of Grace | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1933 | I Lived with You | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1933 | The Lost Chord | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1933 | Soldiers of the King | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1932 | The Lodger | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1932 | Diamond Cut Diamond | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1932 | The Marriage Bond | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1932 | The Water Gipsies | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1932 | In a Monastery Garden | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1932 | Frail Women | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1931 | A Honeymoon Adventure | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1931 | Sally in Our Alley | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1931 | Potiphar's Wife | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1930 | The School for Scandal | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1929 | High Treason | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1928 | You Know What Sailors Are | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1928 | Palais De Danse | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1928 | Balaclava | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | Quinneys | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | The Flag Lieutenant | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | Hindle Wakes | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1927 | The Flight Commander | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | The Glad Eye | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | Roses of Picardy | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1927 | Human Law | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1926 | Mademoiselle from Armentieres | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1926 | Baddesley Manor: The Phantom Gambler | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1926 | Windsor Castle | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1926 | Glamis Castle | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1926 | The Tower of London | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1925 | Folly of Vanity | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1924 | Curlytop | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1924 | The Love Story of Aliette Brunton | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1924 | Slaves of Destiny | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1924 | Henry, King of Navarre | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1923 | Sally Bishop | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1923 | Don Quixote | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1923 | The Royal Oak | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1923 | The Sign of Four | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1923 | The Wandering Jew | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1922 | A Debt of Honour | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1922 | Dick Turpin's Ride to York | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1922 | Man and His Kingdom | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1922 | The Passionate Friends | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | A Romance of Wastdale | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Fruitful Vine | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1921 | The Tragedy of a Comic Song | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | A Gentleman of France | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Devil's Foot | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1921 | The Man with the Twisted Lip | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1921 | The Dying Detective | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1921 | The Solitary Cyclist | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Yellow Face | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Beryl Coronet | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Copper Beeches | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Red-Haired League | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Resident Patient | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | A Case of Identity | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Empty House | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Tiger of San Pedro | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | A Scandal in Bohemia | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Priory School | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Noble Bachelor | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | Innocent | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1921 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1920 | The Tavern Knight | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1920 | The Hundredth Chance | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1920 | At the Villa Rose | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1920 | Bleak House | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1919 | The Swindler | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1919 | God's Good Man | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1919 | The Rocks of Valpre | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1919 | Comradeship | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1918 | Adam Bede | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1918 | Nelson | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1918 | Hindle Wakes | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1918 | The Life Story of David Lloyd George | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1916 | The King's Daughter | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1916 | The Princess of Happy Chance | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1915 | Florence Nightingale | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1915 | Love in a Wood | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | The Suicide Club | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | The Idol of Paris | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | Her Luck in London | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | The Cup Final Mystery | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | Black-Eyed Susan | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | Inquisitive Ike | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1914 | Beautiful Jim | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1913 | Maria Marten or The Mystery of the Red Barn | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1913 | Bridegrooms Beware! | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1913 | The Great Gold Robbery | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1913 | The Fallen idol | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1913 | Popsy Wopsy | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1913 | Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
Vice Versa | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
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Writing |
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1954 | The Happiness of Three Women | Writing | Theatre Play | 58 Average |
1939 | Sons of the Sea | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1931 | Potiphar's Wife | Writing | Adaptation | N/A N/A |
1923 | The Sign of Four | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
Production |
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1946 | Beware of Pity | Production | Producer | 59 Average |
1944 | Medal for the General | Production | Associate Producer | 59 Average |
1939 | Sword of Honour | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1930 | The School for Scandal | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1930 | A Sister to Assist 'Er | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1928 | Palais De Danse | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1928 | Sailors Don't Care | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1927 | The Arcadians | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1927 | A Woman in Pawn | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1927 | Hindle Wakes | Production | Producer | 59 Average |
1927 | A Sister to Assist 'Er | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1927 | The Glad Eye | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1927 | Roses of Picardy | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1920 | Darby and Joan | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1917 | Masks and Faces | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
1916 | Her Greatest Performance | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |