Albert Pierre de Courville (26 March 1887 – 15 March 1960) (born in Croydon, England) was a writer and director of theatrical revues, many of which featured the actress and singer Shirley Kellogg, whom he married in June 1913.

Albert de Courville
Albert de Courville in 1916
Born(1887-03-26)26 March 1887
Croydon, England
Died15 March 1960(1960-03-15) (aged 72)
London
NationalityEnglish
Occupations
  • Writer
  • journalist
  • film director
Spouses
(m. 1913; div. 1924)
(m. 1927⁠–⁠1960)

Career

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In about 1907 he began work in London as a journalist with the Evening News.[1] A good reporter, he was soon earning as much as £20 a week, but thought there were more possibilities, and money, in the theatre. He joined forces with London impresario Sir Edward Moss and staged revues at the London Hippodrome. In 1914 his revue Business as Usual featured several patriotic numbers following the outbreak of the First World War including "Are we Downhearted?" and "When We've Wound Up the Watch on the Rhine".

In the 1930s he turned to making films. His two most famous films, both featuring Jessie Matthews were There Goes the Bride (1932) and The Midshipmaid (1932). He also directed The Wrecker, an adaptation of Arnold Ridley’s play of the same name, and Seven Sinners (1936).[2]

Personal life

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In June 1913, he married actress and singer Shirley Kellogg.[3]

He and the actress Edith Kelly married in 1927. There were fears that this marriage would not happen as de Courville was in hospital before the marriage. De Courville recovered sufficiently to allow the marriage to happen on 26 May at a registry office.[4]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Notes
1930 Wolves Yes
1931 77 Park Lane Yes
77 Rue Chalgrin Yes
1932 Entre noche y día Yes
Under the Leather Helmet Yes Original title:Sous le casque de cuir
There Goes the Bride Yes
The Midshipmaid Yes
Between Night and Day Yes
1933 This Is the Life Yes
1934 Wild Boy Yes Yes
1935 Things Are Looking Up Yes Yes
The Case of Gabriel Perry Yes
Charing Cross Road Yes
1936 Seven Sinners Yes
Strangers on Honeymoon Yes
1937 Clothes and the Woman Yes
1938 The Rebel Son Yes uncredited
Star of the Circus Yes
Oh Boy! Yes
Crackerjack Yes
1939 The Lambeth Walk Yes
1940 An Englishman's Home Yes

References

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  1. ^ Falk Bernard (1951), Bouquets for Fleet Street; memories and musings over fifty years, London, Hutchinson & Co, p.53
  2. ^ "Albert de Courville | Britmovie | Home of British Films". Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Ottawa Citizen – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  4. ^ "DE COURVILLE IS WED TO EDITH KELLY GOULD; Bridegroom Leaves Hospital in London and Returns After Ceremony at Registrar's. – The New York Times". The New York Times. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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