Cromwell, John, 1886-1979

A stage actor, film actor, screenwriter, director. John Cromwell, born in 1886, was a man of many talents. He made his Broadway debut in 1912, headlining in thirty-seven productions, including The Racket in 1927. He often directed and produced, as well. In 1929, he made his Hollywood film debut as an actor and director. By the early 1930s he was in high demand as a director, producing - among many others - The Silver Cord, Spitfire, Of Human Bondage. The WWII period saw classics like The Prisoner of Zenda, The Enchanted Cottage, and Anna and the King of Siam but he would soon run afoul of anti-communist fervor in Hollywood.

After directing The Racket for the now Howard Hughes owned RKO, Cromwell was blacklisted and would not return to directing until 1958. He would direct only three more films and act in several more before his death in 1979.

Source:

The New York Times. "John Cromwell, 91; Directed 42 Movies". New York City, New York. September 28, 1979, Section D, pg. 15