Wissenswertes

Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat worked as a team (Director/Producer/Writer) on 40+ films from 1930-1966.

Had a penchant for comedy, highlighting the talents of Britain's best female stars and character players like Margaret Rutherford, Joyce Grenfell and Alastair Sim. Moreover, he is perhaps best remembered for the anarchic St. Trinian's films of the 1950's and 60's.

Co-founded (with Gilliat) the independent production company Individual Pictures, which turned out solid box office hits, including I See a Dark Stranger (1946) and Achtung: Grün (1946). In the late 1950's, Launder and Gilliat were also directors of British Lion.

Launder first worked in the office of the Official Receiver of Bankruptcy and subsequently acted with the Brighton Repertory Company. His film work began as a title writer for Elstree in the late 1920's. He subsequently joined Gaumont-British/Gainsborough. Launder's partnership with Sidney Gilliat commenced in the mid-30's.

Considered Die blaue Lagune (1949) as his antithesis to Das zauberhafte Land (1939).

Frank and wife Bernadette O'Farrell met while Frank was filming Capitän Boykott (1947) in which Bernadette played Mrs. Fagan.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 629-633. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.