Arthur Greville Collins Explained

Arthur Greville Collins
Birth Date:	5 September 1896
Birth Place:	London, England
Occupation:	Director
Spouse:	Betty Ross Clarke (1921 - ?) Rhoda Shepherd (1934 - ?)

Arthur Greville Collins (September 5, 1896 - September 1, 1980) was a British-born film director.

Career

Collins was born in London, and began directing for the stage, including productions of Fata Morgana, No Man's Land, and Tarnish.

In 1921, he married actress Betty Ross Clarke^[1] and accompanied her in her theatrical career in Great Britain, the United States, and Australia.^[2] In 1934 he wed Rhoda Shepherd.

He moved to Los Angeles and directed some plays there, then moved into movie making as a dialogue director for Warner Bros. He worked in that capacity for two years then became a director, making several B pictures.^{[3] [4]}

He moved to Australia in May 1939 to make Seven Little Australians (1939)^[5] and decided to stay there. He served in the RAAF during World War II, being discharged as a squadron leader. He also was stationed as administrative officer for two years at Port Pirie and Mount Gambier.^{[6] [7]}

In 1947 Collins managed to source funding to make another movie, Strong Is the Seed (1949).^[8] He later announced plans to make a film about Cobb and Co but this did not eventuate.^[9] In 1950, Collins travelled to New Zealand where he produced the musical comedy Chu Chin Chow for the Christchurch Operatic Society to favourable reviews.^{[10] [11]}

Partial filmography

• They Can't Be Snookered (1932 short) – producer^[12]
• The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935) – director
• Personal Maid's Secret (1935) – director
• Nobody's Fool (1936) – director
• Thank You, Jeeves! (1936) – director
• Paradise Isle (1937) – director
• Shots and Shots (1937 short) – co-director^[13]
• Saleslady (1938) – director
• Seven Little Australians (1939) – director
• Strong Is the Seed (1949) – director
• Port of Escape (1960) – producer, incomplete

External links

• • • Arthur Greville Collins at National Film and Sound Archive

Notes and References

1. News: D. Cupid makes double play and wedding bells now ring for four . The Seattle Sunday Times. June 19, 1921.
2. News: Eriksmoen, Curt. Successful Hollywood actress came from Bismarck. Bismarck Tribune. April 4, 2009.
3. News: "GRAND GUY" OF FILMS. . . Brisbane . 29 December 1939 . 22 March 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: ANTIDOTE TO NERVE-WARS. . . 14 December 1939 . 21 November 2012 . 29 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: FILM PRODUCTION. . . 31 May 1939 . 21 November 2012 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Austns. should get film chance. . . Adelaide . 26 February 1949 . 19 March 2012 . 35 . National Library of Australia.
7. http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=1043806 World War II nominal roll
8. News: Advertising. . . Melbourne . 11 November 1947 . 22 March 2012 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: New Australian film for release soon. . . Melbourne . 24 March 1948 . 19 March 2012 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: 10 August 1950 . Chu Chin Chow . LXXXVI . 3 . Press . 26187 .
11. News: 5 October 1950 . Chu Chin Chow . LXXXVI . 3 . Press . 26235 .
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003317/http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Person%3A%22%2FPerson%2Fkey%2F17186-1%22;querytype=;rec=1;resCount=10 They Can't Be Snookered
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003403/http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=3;parentid=;query=Person%3A%22%2FPerson%2Fkey%2F17186-1%22;querytype=;rec=2;resCount=10 Shots and Shots