Alexander Hall
1894–1968 · American film director and editor
Biography
Alexander Hall (Boston, 1894 – San Francisco, 1968) was an American director and film editor who had spent much of his youth on the stage. He moved into silent films after 1914, and over the following decades built a steady career in Hollywood, where he became known for polished studio comedies.
After his military service in the First World War, Hall returned to Hollywood. He cut films and worked as an assistant director at Paramount Pictures until 1932, when he made his first feature, Sinners in the Sun. From 1937 to 1947 he was a contract director at Columbia Pictures, where his sophisticated comedies earned him a good reputation. His best-known work is Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), which brought him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Other films from that period include My Sister Eileen (1942) and They All Kissed the Bride (1942).
After the war he kept directing comedies and melodramas, among them Down to Earth (1947) and Louisa (1950). He is remembered mainly for his craftsmanship in the studio comedy of his era. He died in San Francisco from complications of a stroke.
Key films
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
- My Sister Eileen (1942)
- They All Kissed the Bride (1942)
- Little Miss Marker (1934)
- Heavenly Body (1944)
- Because You're Mine (1952)
Trivia
A romance with Lucille Ball
He was briefly engaged to Lucille Ball, who ended it when she met Desi Arnaz. Years later, the couple hired him to direct Forever, Darling (1956).
Burial in the Bronx
He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.
On Cinematopedia
Here Comes Mr. Jordan1941
She Done Him Wrong1933
The Messenger2009
My Sister Eileen1942
Song of the Flame1930
Madame Racketeer1932
The Million Dollar Mystery1914
They All Kissed the Bride1942
Down to Earth1947
Little Miss Marker1934
Louisa1950
Because You're Mine1952- The Million Dollar Mystery 1914 · cast
- Lilac Time 1928 · editing
- Song of the Flame 1930 · editing
- Madame Racketeer 1932 · director
- She Done Him Wrong 1933 · editing
- Torch Singer 1933 · director
- The Girl in 419 1933 · director
- Little Miss Marker 1934 · director
- The Pursuit of Happiness 1934 · director
- Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen 1934 · director
- Limehouse Blues 1934 · director
- There's Always a Woman 1938 · director
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan 1941 · director
- My Sister Eileen 1942 · director
- They All Kissed the Bride 1942 · director
- The Heavenly Body 1944 · director
- Down to Earth 1947 · director
- Louisa 1950 · director
- Because You're Mine 1952 · director
- The Messenger 2009 · editing
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.