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David MacDonald

Director, Actor, Producer, Writer, Additional Credits
Born May 9, 1904Died June 22, 1983 (79 years)
David MacDonald (9 May 1904 in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire – 22 June 1983 in London) was a Scottish film director, writer and producer.

MacDonald was the son of a wealthy landowner. His intention was to become a doctor but changed his mind and aged 17 went to Malaya to work on a rubber plantation for seven and a half years. When he had leave to return to Scotland, he travelled via Hollywood and became interested in filmmaking. He returned to Malaya and worked at a plantation in Kedah. According to one story, while in Malaya he met Douglas Fairbanks who encouraged MacDonald to try his luck in Hollywood.

MacDonald broke into Hollywood by getting a job as technical adviser on a film Prestige. After that he was out of work for nine months.

He eventually gained a job working for Cecil B. DeMille. MacDonald worked as DeMille's assistant on The Sign of the Cross (1932), Four Frightened People (1934), Cleopatra (also 1934) and The Crusades (1935). He worked on Lives of a Bengal Lancer (also 1935) with Henry Hathaway. He also worked for King Vidor and Raoul Walsh. He returned to England with Walsh when the latter came to direct O.H.M.S. (1937) and elected to stay.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Desert Victory
Known For
  • Cleopatra
  • Devil Girl from Mars
  • Christopher Columbus
  • Big Brown Eyes
  • The Moonraker
  • Desert Victory
  • Snowbound
  • Alias John Preston
  • It's Never Too Late to Mend
  • Cairo Road
  • Small Hotel
  • The Brothers
  • Fortune in Diamonds
  • The Bad Lord Byron
  • Tread Softly
  • Boris Karloff's The Veil
  • The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
  • The Vise
  • Petticoat Pirates
  • Law and Disorder
  • A Lady Mislaid

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