Bernard Vorhaus

Bernard Vorhaus (December 25, 1904 – November 23, 2000) was an American film director of Austrian descent, born in New York City. His father was born in Kraków, then part of Austria-Hungary. Vorhaus spent many decades living in the UK. Eearly in his career, he worked as a screenwriter, and co-produced the film The Singing City. He was blacklisted in Hollywood for his communist sympathies, and returned to England, where he resumed his career. Known, alongside Michael Powell, for his quota quickies, Vorhaus also worked in Europe.

Bernard Vorhaus
Born(1904-12-25)December 25, 1904
New York, New York
DiedNovember 23, 2000(2000-11-23) (aged 95)
London, UK
EducationHarvard University
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1925-1953

Career

The Harvard University graduate, in addition to directing thirty-two films, was also the mentor to future film director David Lean, some of whose work as a film editor early in his career was on Vorhaus pictures.

He worked steadily as a screenwriter in Hollywood while in his 20s for such studios as Columbia Pictures and Fox Studios but wanted to direct movies. He eventually decided to move to England and began directing quota quickies, such as The Last Journey (1935).

After attaining success in England, Vorhaus moved back to the U.S. and began working at Republic Pictures, directing B-movies. He was blacklisted in 1951, as a consequence of the hearings conducted by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Vorhaus had already moved to Europe at that time and directed a few minor films while there. He finally returned to England and retired from the film business. Unlike contemporaries Joseph Losey and Cy Endfield, who were also on the blacklist, he founded a company Domar Industries, a business specialising in house renovations. There was a resurgence of interest in his films in the 1980s.

Family

Vorhaus had two children, Gwyn and David. the latter was a bass player and electronic music pioneer who worked under the name White Noise.

Selected filmography

References
    • Bernard Vorhaus at IMDb
    • Bernard Vorhaus at the BFI's Screenonline
    • BritishPictures entry
    • "Bernard Vorhaus". The British Entertainment History Project.
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