Frank Launder
Personal Info
Known for
Writing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1906-01-28
Day of Death
1997-02-23 (91 years old)
Place of Birth
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK
Frank Launder
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat.
He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and worked briefly as a clerk before becoming an actor and then a playwright. He began working as a screenwriter on British films in the 1930s, contributing the original story for the classic Will Hay comedy Oh, Mr Porter! (1937). After writing a number of screenplays with Gilliat, including The Lady Vanishes (1938) for Alfred Hitchcock, and Night Train to Munich for Carol Reed; the two men wrote and directed the wartime drama Millions Like Us (1943).
After founding their own production company Individual Pictures, they produced a number of memorable dramas and thrillers including I See a Dark Stranger (1945) and Green for Danger (1946), but were best known for their comedies including The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) and most famously, the St Trinians series, based on Ronald Searle's cartoons set in an anarchic girls school. He was married to actress Bernadette O'Farrell from 1950 until his death in Monaco. The couple had two children.
Known For
Crew
(1980)
The Wildcats of St. Trinian's
Director
(1972)
Ooh...You Are Awful
Executive Producer
(1972)
Endless Night
Executive Producer
(1966)
The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery
Director, Writer
(1965)
Joey Boy
Director, Screenplay
(1964)
Ring of Spies
Writer
(1960)
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
Director, Writer, Producer
(1959)
The Bridal Path
Director, Screenplay
(1959)
Left Right and Centre
Producer
(1957)
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
Director, Writer, Producer
(1957)
Fortune Is a Woman
Screenplay, Producer
(1956)
The Green Man
Producer, Theatre Play, Screenplay
(1955)
Geordie
Producer, Director, Screenplay
(1955)
The Constant Husband
Producer
(1954)
The Belles of St. Trinian's
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1952)
Folly to Be Wise
Director, Producer, Screenplay
(1951)
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Director, Writer
(1950)
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Director, Producer, Screenplay
(1950)
State Secret
Producer
(1949)
The Blue Lagoon
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1948)
London Belongs to Me
Producer
(1947)
Captain Boycott
Director, Writer, Producer
(1946)
I See a Dark Stranger
Director, Story, Screenplay, Producer
(1946)
Green for Danger
Producer
(1945)
The Rake's Progress
Screenplay, Producer
(1944)
Two Thousand Women
Director, Screenplay
(1944)
Soldier, Sailor
Screenplay
(1943)
Millions Like Us
Director, Screenplay
(1942)
The Young Mr. Pitt
Screenplay
(1942)
Partners in Crime
Director, Writer
(1941)
Kipps
Screenplay
(1941)
(1940)
Night Train to Munich
Screenplay
(1940)
Crook's Tour
Characters
(1939)
(1939)
A Girl Must Live
Writer
(1938)
The Lady Vanishes
Screenplay
(1937)
Oh, Mr. Porter!
Original Story
(1936)
Seven Sinners
Writer
(1936)
Where's Sally?
Script
(1936)
Twelve Good Men
Writer
(1936)
Educated Evans
Writer
(1935)
Emil and the Detectives
Scenario Writer
(1935)
Get Off My Foot
Writer
(1935)
The Black Mask
Writer
(1935)
Rolling Home
Writer
(1935)
So You Won't Talk
Screenplay, Dialogue
(1935)
Mr. What's-His-Name?
Script
(1934)
A Southern Maid
Writer
(1933)
Hawleys of High Street
Writer
(1933)
You Made Me Love You
Writer
(1933)
Happy
Writer
(1932)
After Office Hours
Writer
(1932)
The Last Coupon
Screenplay
(1932)
For the Love of Mike
Writer
(1932)
Old Spanish Customers
Scenario Writer
(1932)
Josser in the Army
Writer
(1931)
How He Lied to Her Husband
Scenario Writer
(1931)
The Woman Between
Script
(1931)
Lucky children
Screenplay
(1931)
Hobson's Choice
Writer
(1931)
Keepers of Youth
Writer
(1930)
The W Plan
Writer
(1930)
The Middle Watch
Script
(1930)
Children of Chance
Writer
(1930)
Song of Soho
Writer
(1929)
Under the Greenwood Tree
Scenario Writer, Dialogue