Erle C. Kenton (August 1, 1896 – January 28, 1980) was an American film director. Kenton was director of B films, with his most famous film being Island of Lost Souls starring Charles Laughton.
Biography Before filmwork, Kenton was a school teacher and later decided to become an animal exhibitor. After working with various dog, pony and other animal shows, he entered the vaudeville circuit as a comedian. This led to him entering the film industry working on the Keystone Cops series of films making various short comedies.
Kenton began as a writer for Mack Sennett in 1914, and he directed feature films for Columbia Pictures, Tiffany Pictures, Paramount Pictures, RKO Pictures, Republic Pictures. He worked for Universal Pictures between 1941 and 1946 making films such as The Ghost of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula and The Cat Creeps and several films featuring comedians Abbott & Costello. Kenton was replaced by Charles Lamont on Hit the Ice after problems with Lou Costello.
Producer Paul Malvern stated later that Kenton and him "got along beautifully" and that "He was one director who thought everything out and made sure that he came in on budget and on time. He wasn't real fond of directing the Abbott and Costello films so he got a kick out of the monster films." Kenton spoke about directing horror films in a 1944 interview, stating "They give us a chance to let our imagination run wild. The art department can go to town on creep sets. Prop men have fun with cobwebs. The cameraman has fun with trick lighting and shadows. The director has fun. We have more fun making a horror picture than a comedy."
Kenton and Edward Ludwig were the principal directors of the 1958–1960 television series The Texan. Kenton died on January 28, 1980, of Parkinson's disease in Glendale, California. Malvern recalled that when he visited Kenton before his death, Kenton did not recognize him.
Selected filmography
Title Year Credited as Notes Director OtherDown on the Farm1920 Love, Honor and Behave1920 1921 Tea – With a Kick1921 1922 1925 Red Hot Tires1925 1926 Other Women's Husbands1926 1926 1926 Wedding Bill$1927 1927 1927 Bare Knees1928 1928 Golf Widows1928 Name the Woman1928 Screenwriter1928 Companionate Marriage1928 Nothing to Wear1928 The Sideshow1928 Father and Son1929 Trial Marriage1929 Song of Love1929 Mexicali Rose1929 1930 1931 Lover Come Back1931 Left Over Ladies1931 X Marks the Spot1931 Guilty as Hell1932 Stranger in Town1932 Island of Lost Souls1932 From Hell to Heaven1933 Disgraced1933 Big Executive1933 Search for Beauty1934 You're Telling Me!1934 1935 Party Wire1935 1935 Devil's Squadron1936 Counterfeit1936 End of the Trail1936 Actor, as Theodore Roosevelt1937 Racketeers in Exile1937 She Asked for It1937 1938 Little Tough Guys in Society1938 Everything's on Ice1939 Escape to Paradise1939 South of Pago Pago1940 Associate producerRemedy for Riches1940 Petticoat Politics1941 Melody for Three1941 Naval Academy1941 They Meet Again1941 Flying Cadets1941 North to the Klondike1942 1942 Frisco Lil1942 Pardon My Sarong1942 Who Done It?1942 How's About It1943 It Ain't Hay1943 Always a Bridesmaid1943 Crazy House1943 Associate producer1944 She Gets Her Man1945 House of Dracula1945 1946 Little Miss Big1946 Bob and Sally1948 One Too Many1951 Secrets of Beauty1951
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