Alexander Mackendrick

Alexander Mackendrick

1912-09-08

Biography

Alexander Mackendrick (September 8, 1912 – December 22, 1993) was an American-born Scottish film director and screenwriter. He directed nine feature films between 1949 and 1967, before retiring from filmmaking to become an influential professor at the California Institute of the Arts. Born to Scottish immigrant parents in Boston, he was raised in Glasgow from the age of 6. He began making television commercials before moving into post-production editing and directing films, most notably for Ealing Studios where his films include Whisky Galore! (1949), The Man in the White Suit (1951) - which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay, The Maggie (1954), and The Ladykillers (1955). In 1957, Mackendrick directed his first American film Sweet Smell of Success, which was a critical and commercial success. However, his directing career declined throughout the following decade, and he was fired or replaced from several projects, owing in part to his perfectionist approach to filmmaking. Mackendrick retired from directing in the late 1960's after completing A High Wind in Jamaica (1965) and Don't Make Waves (1967), becoming the founding Dean (and later a Professor) of the CalArts School of Film/Video.

Also appears in

Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios

Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios

5.0

Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away

Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away

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Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema

Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema

6.7

The Ealing Comedies

The Ealing Comedies

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Mackendrick on Film

Mackendrick on Film

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