Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: David Macdonald

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Helensburgh, Scotland, UK

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 50

TV Involvements: 6


Most Famous Work

Biography

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.

Most Famous Work

Ivanhoe
Average
6

Ivanhoe

(1958) Director
Cleopatra
Average
6

Cleopatra

(1934) Assistant Director
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Average
8
Interpol Calling
Average
7

Interpol Calling

(1959) Director
The Count of Monte Cristo
Average
4

The Count of Monte Cristo

(1956) Director
Our Mother's House
Average
7

Our Mother's House

(1967) Assistant Camera
Devil Girl from Mars
Average
5

Devil Girl from Mars

(1954) Director
Christopher Columbus
Average
6

Christopher Columbus

(1949) Director

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1939 Clerk (Uncredited)
1936 Goodwin
Year Character Movie/Tv

Camera

Year Role Movie/Tv
1982 Director of Photography
1967 Assistant Camera
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1961 Director
1959 Director
1958 Director
Director
Director
Director
1957 Director
1956 Director
1955 Director
Director
Director
1954 Director
Director
1953 Director
1952 Director
Director
1951 Director
1950 Director
1949 Director
Director
Director
1948 Director
Director
1947 Director
1943 Director
1941 Director
1940 Director
Director
Director
1939 Director
Director
Director
1938 Director
Director
Director
Director
1937 Director
1936 Assistant Director
1934 Assistant Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
1955 Producer
1943 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1953 Writer
1947 Writer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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