Al Daff

Alfred Edward Daff (18 August 1902 – 1991) was an Australian born executive who became head of Universal Pictures.[1][2][3]

Biography

Daff was born in Melbourne. He joined the Melbourne office of Universal Pictures at 18 years of age. In 1922 he took early aerial newsreel footage of New Guinea.[3]

In 1924 he made a 20-minute send-up of wrestling called Who's Who In The Wrestling World - And Why?.[4]

In 1935 he visited the Universal Studios in Hollywood. The following year he was appointed in charge of Universal's Japanese territories; two years after that he became Far East supervisor, then also the Middle East. In 1943 he became Universal Foreign Supervisor, covering all markets outside the US.[5]

In 1949 he became President of Universal International Films, the overseas subsidiary of Universal Pictures Company.[3] In 1952 he became Executive Vice President of Universal Pictures Company in 1952.[6] He retired in 1958 but continued working as a consultant until the 1970s.[4]

Daff was married twice and had one daughter.[7]

Al Daff
Al Daff
Directed byKeith Salvat
Produced byKeith Salvat
StarringAl Daff
Ken G. Hall
Production
company
Keisel – Bonza Film
Release date
1975
Running time
49 mins
CountryAustralia

Daff was the topic of a 1975 documentary Al Daff. The documentary consists of Daff being interviewed by Ken G. Hall. He offered advice for Australian filmmakers and reminisced about his own career.[8]

References
  1. "Top Film Job To Australian". The Sunday Times. Perth. 23 November 1952. p. 6 Section: Sporting Section. Retrieved 29 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. Richard Dyer MacCann (1 March 1956). "Executive Discusses Films Aimed at World Audience: Hollywood Letter". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 6.
  3. Daff, Alfred Edward (1921), Papers of Alfred Edward Daff, 1921–1976, retrieved 7 April 2016
  4. "Insider on film". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 817. 1 July 1977. p. 21. Retrieved 7 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Top Film Job To Australian". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 2855. Western Australia. 23 November 1952. p. 6 (Sporting Section). Retrieved 7 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "MAN IN THE PUBLIC EYE THE ALL-AMERICAN". The Sun-Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 19 December 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 7 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "THE ARGUS Woman's Parade". The Argus. No. 33, 182. Melbourne. 8 January 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 7 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. Curators notes on Al Daff at Australian Screen Online
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