Marcel Varnel (16 October 1892 – 13 July 1947) was a French film director, notable for his career in the United States and England as a director of plays and films.

Biography

He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris, France.

Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage, soon becoming a director of musical comedies. In 1925, he moved to New York City, working as director in several Broadway operettas, musicals and dramas for the Shubert family. This was followed by a move to Hollywood, where he directed three low budget thrillers.

In 1934, he moved to England and it was as a director of British comedies – initially working at British International Pictures, Elstree, then moving in 1936 to Gainsborough Pictures – where he produced his best films. Among the performers he worked with were Will Hay, The Crazy Gang, Arthur Askey and George Formby.

He died on 13 July 1947 in a car crash near Rake, West Sussex.

Films

• The Silent Witness (1932) (U.S.A.) – Director
• Chandu the Magician (1932) (U.S.A.) – Director
• Infernal Machine (1933) (U.S.A.) – Director
• Freedom Of The Seas (1934) – Director
• Girls Will Be Boys (1934) – Director
• I Give My Heart (1935) – Director
• Dance Band (1935) – Director
• Royal Cavalcade also known as Regal Cavalcade in the U.S.A. (1935) – Director
• No Monkey Business (1936) – Director
• Public Nuisance No. 1 (1936) – Director
• All In (1936) – Director
• Okay For Sound (1936) – Director
• Good Morning, Boys (1937) – Director
• Oh, Mr Porter! (1937) – Director
• Convict 99 (1938) – Director
• Hey! Hey! USA! (1938) – Director
• The Loves of Madame Dubarry (1938) – Director
• Old Bones of the River (1938) – Director
• Alf's Button Afloat (1938) – Director
• Ask a Policeman (1939) – Director
• Where's That Fire? (1939) – Director
• The Frozen Limits (1939) – Director
• Band Waggon (1940) – Director
• Let George Do It! (1940) – Director
• Gasbags (1940) – Director
• The Ghost of St Michaels (1941) – Director
• Turned Out Nice Again (1941) – Director
• Hi, Gang! (1941) – Director
• South American George (1941) – Director and Producer
• I Thank You (1941) – Director
• Neutral Port (1941) – Director
• King Arthur Was a Gentleman (1942) – Director
• Much Too Shy (1942) – Director
• Get Cracking (1943) – Director
• Bell Bottom George (1943) – Director
• He Snoops to Conquer (1944) – Director and Producer
• I Didn't Do It (1945) – Director and Producer
• George in Civvy Street (1946) – Director and Producer
• This Man Is Mine (1946) – Director and Producer

External links

• Marcel Varnel at IMDb
• Marcel Varnel at the BFI's Screenonline