David MacDonald

Directing·May 9, 1904·Helensburgh, Scotland, UK

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David MacDonald (9 May 1904 in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire – 22 June 1983 in London) was a Scottish film director, writer and producer. MacDonald was the son of a wealthy landowner. His intention was to become a doctor but changed his mind and aged 17 went to Malaya to work on a rubber plantation for seven and a half years. When he had leave to return to Scotland, he travelled via Hollywood and became interested in filmmaking. He returned to Malaya and worked at a plantation in Kedah. According to one story, while in Malaya he met Douglas Fairbanks who encouraged MacDonald to try his luck in Hollywood. MacDonald broke into Hollywood by getting a job as technical adviser on a film Prestige. After that he was out of work for nine months. He eventually gained a job working for Cecil B. DeMille. MacDonald worked as DeMille's assistant on The Sign of the Cross (1932), Four Frightened People (1934), Cleopatra (also 1934) and The Crusades (1935). He worked on Lives of a Bengal Lancer (also 1935) with Henry Hathaway. He also worked for King Vidor and Raoul Walsh. He returned to England with Walsh when the latter came to direct O.H.M.S. (1937) and elected to stay.

Film	Credit
The Rocking Horse Winner1982 · Director of Photography	Director of Photography
TThe Golden Rabbit1962 · Director	Director
Petticoat Pirates1961 · Director	Director
The Moonraker1958 · Director	Director
JJack the Ripper1958 · Director	Director
A Lady Mislaid1958 · Director	Director
Small Hotel1957 · Director	Director
Alias John Preston1955 · Director	Director
MMan in Demand1955 · Director	Director
TTriple Blackmail1955 · Director	Director
FFinal Column1955 · Director	Director
TThree Cornered Fate1955 · Director	Director
TThe Yellow Robe1954 · Director	Director
OOne Just Man1954 · Director	Director
Devil Girl from Mars1954 · Director	Director
Operation Malaya1953 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Tread Softly1952 · Director	Director
The Big Frame1952 · Director	Director
Fortune in Diamonds1951 · Director	Director
Cairo Road1950 · Director	Director
Christopher Columbus1949 · Director	Director
Diamond City1949 · Director	Director
TThe Bad Lord Byron1949 · Director	Director
Good-Time Girl1948 · Director	Director
Snowbound1948 · Director	Director
The Brothers1947 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Desert Victory1943 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
This England1941 · Director	Director
Law and Disorder1940 · Director	Director
TThe Midas Touch1940 · Director	Director
MMen of the Lightship1940 · Director	Director
RRiding High1939 · Director	Director
Rulers of the Sea1939 · Clerk (Uncredited)	Clerk (Uncredited)
This Man in Paris1939 · Director	Director
Spies of the Air1939 · Director	Director
This Man Is News1938 · Director	Director
MMeet Mr. Penny1938 · Director	Director
Dead Men Tell No Tales1938 · Director	Director
MMake It Three1938 · Director	Director
AA Spot of Bother1938 · Director	Director
DDeath Croons the Blues1937 · Director	Director
TThe Last Curtain1937 · Director	Director
It's Never Too Late to Mend1937 · Director	Director
Special Agent K-71936 · Goodwin	Goodwin