Directing
Richard Thorpe
EN, IT cinema · 157 credits
Born
24 February 1896
Died
1 May 1991 (aged 95)
Birthplace
Hutchinson, Kansas, USA
Also known as Frank L. Inghram · Frank Inghram · Rollo Smolt Thorpe
Richard Thorpe (February 24, 1896 - May 1, 1991) was an American film director. Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred and eighty films. The first full length motion picture he directed for MGM was Last of the Pagans (1935) starring Ray Mala. After directing The Last Challenge in 1967, he retired from the film industry. He died in Palm Springs, California in 1991. Thorpe is also known as the original director of The Wizard of Oz. He was fired after two weeks of shooting, because it was felt that his scenes did not have the right air of fantasy about them. Thorpe notoriously gave Judy Garland a blonde wig and cutesy "baby-doll" makeup that made her look like a girl in her late teens rather than an innocent Kansas farm girl of about thirteen. Both makeup and wig were discarded at the suggestion of George Cukor, who was brought in temporarily. Stills from Thorpe's work on the film survive today. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Thorpe has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known for
Filmography
The Last Challenge
Director, Producer
The Scorpio Letters
Director, Producer
That Funny Feeling
Director
The Golden Head
Director
Fun in Acapulco
Director
Follow the Boys
Director
How the West Was Won
Special Guest Director
The Tartars
Director
Jailhouse Rock
Director
Tip on a Dead Jockey
Director
Quentin Durward
Director
Bedevilled
Director
The Prodigal
Director
The Student Prince
Director
Athena
Director
Ivanhoe
Director
Carbine Williams
Director
Vengeance Valley
Director
The Unknown Man
Director
It's a Big Country
Director
The Great Caruso
Director
Black Hand
Director
Three Little Words
Director
Challenge to Lassie
Director
Malaya
Director
The Sun Comes Up
Director
Big Jack
Director
A Date with Judy
Director
This Time for Keeps
Director
Fiesta
Director
Thrill of a Romance
Director
Above Suspicion
Director
Cry 'Havoc'
Director
Joe Smith, American
Director
White Cargo
Director
Apache Trail
Director
The Bad Man
Director
Barnacle Bill
Director
The Earl of Chicago
Director
Wyoming
Director
20 Mule Team
Director
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Director
The Toy Wife
Director
Man-Proof
Director
Love Is a Headache
Director
The Crowd Roars
Director
Double Wedding
Director
Night Must Fall
Director
Dangerous Number
Director
Lest We Forget
Director
Tarzan Escapes
Director
Last of the Pagans
Director
Green Eyes
Director
City Park
Director
Stolen Sweets
Director
Strange Wives
Director
The Quitter
Director
Cheating Cheaters
Director
Forgotten
Director
Murder on the Campus
Director
Notorious But Nice
Director
A Man of Sentiment
Director
I Have Lived
Director
Strange People
Director
Cross-Examination
Director
Murder at Dawn
Director
The King Murder
Director
The Midnight Lady
Director
Probation
Director
Women Won't Tell
Director
Slightly Married
Director
Beauty Parlor
Director
Thrill of Youth
Director
Escapade
Director
King of the Wild
Director
Wild Horse
Director
Grief Street
Director, Editor
The Lady from Nowhere
Director, Editor
Forgotten Women
Director
The Devil Plays
Director, Editor
Neck and Neck
Director
The Sky Spider
Director
The Lawless Woman
Director
The Lone Defender
Director
The Utah Kid
Director
Wings of Adventure
Director
Under Montana Skies
Director
The Thoroughbred
Director
The Dude Wrangler
Director
Border Romance
Director
The Fatal Warning
Director
The Bachelor Girl
Director
The Vanishing West
Director
The Ballyhoo Buster
Director, Writer
Vultures of the Sea
Director
The Valley Of Hunted Men
1928
The Valley Of Hunted Men
Director, Writer
The Flyin' Buckaroo
Director, Writer
The Desert of the Lost
Director, Writer
The Ridin' Rowdy
Director, Writer
Between Dangers
Director, Writer
Roarin' Broncs
Director, Writer
The Obligin' Buckaroo
1927
The Obligin' Buckaroo
Director, Writer
Skedaddle Gold
Director, Writer
College Days
Director
Easy Going
Director
Josselyn's Wife
Director
Double Daring
Director, Writer
The Interferin' Gent
Director
Tearin' Loose
Writer, Director
On the Go
1925
On the Go
Director, Writer
Red Clay
1925
Red Clay
Scenario Writer
The Desert Demon
Director
Galloping On
1925
Galloping On
Director, Scenario Writer
Flames of Desire
as Dick Langton
Fast and Fearless
Director
Thundering Romance
Director
Three O'Clock in the Morning
as Clayton Webster
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
as Stephen Thompson