Compton Bennett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Compton-Bennett, better known as Compton Bennett (born January 15, 1900 – died August 13, 1974) was an English film director, writer and producer. He is probably best known for directing the 1950 version of the film King Solomon's Mines, an adaptation of an Allan Quatermain story.
Bennett was born in Tunbridge Wells, England. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a band leader and a commercial artist before trying his hand at amateur filmmaking. One of these early films helped him land a job at Alexander Korda's London Films in 1932. There, he became a film editor; later he would help make instructional and propaganda films for the British armed forces during World War II.
Bennett's films tended to be somber and almost humorless, but were very popular with the moviegoing public. In 1947, Bennett accepted an invitation to come to Hollywood, but his directing style appeared to suffer in the American studio system of the era. It was, however, during this time that he co-directed King Solomon's Mines.
Bennett eventually returned to the UK. From 1954 to 1957, he left film work to pursue interests in theatre and television, but produced four films in 1957, After the Ball, Man-Eater, That Woman Opposite and The Flying Scot. Although he continued to write and direct for film and television, his subsequent productions were not as well received.
Bennett died in London at the age of 74.
