Thornton Freeland, a celebrated American film director, left an indelible mark on the British and American film industries during his illustrious career spanning from 1924 to 1949. Born on February 10, 1898, in Hope, North Dakota, Freeland's journey in the film world began in the silent era, where he started out as an assistant director, laying the groundwork for his future success.
Freeland's illustrious career commenced with a resounding splash, courtesy of the iconic Eddie Cantor Technicolor musical Whoopie! in 1930, which served as a harbinger for the majority of his subsequent work in the realm of musicals and comedies. This pivotal moment in his professional trajectory was followed by a string of notable films, including the 1933 musical comedy Flying Down to Rio, which catapulted the screen partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to international stardom, and the 1934 film adaptation of the Broadway revue George White's Scandals, a production that showcased his versatility as a performer and his ability to excel in a variety of genres.
In the year 1935, a significant event occurred in the life of Freeland, as he made the decision to relocate to the city of London, where he would go on to direct a musical comedy titled Brewster's Millions, starring the renowned Jack Buchanan, thus marking the beginning of his extensive work in Britain, which would continue throughout the remainder of the decade.
During this period, Freeland had the opportunity to collaborate with his fellow American, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., directing him in not one, but two films, both of which were produced at Isleworth Studios and released in the year 1936. These films were titled Accused and The Amateur Gentleman, respectively.
In addition to his work on these films, Freeland also directed a number of comedies that were designed to appeal to a local audience, including Skylarks and Hold My Hand. Furthermore, he was involved in the production of international projects, such as Jericho, which featured the talented Paul Robeson in a starring role.
During the period of significant growth and prosperity in the British film industry, Freeland maintained a prolific career, working for a variety of prominent companies, including the renowned Capitol Films, London Films, and the esteemed Associated British, where he showcased his skill and expertise by directing films such as the notable "The Gang's All Here".
As the industry's fortunes began to wane, Freeland, in response to the global turmoil of World War II, relocated to the United States, where he contributed to the war effort by producing two films in Hollywood before eventually returning to Britain in the late 1940s to conclude his remarkable filmmaking career with the direction of his final three projects.
Thornton Freeland's personal life was characterized by his union in matrimony to the accomplished American actress, June Clyde, who concurrently had a prolific career in British cinema throughout the 1930s.
With a career spanning a period of more than two decades, Thornton Freeland made a lasting and profound impact on the film industry, directing a total of 26 motion pictures during the course of his lifetime.
