Biography
An actor and casting director for
Hal Roach in the early '30s, Gordon Douglas appeared in the "Boy Friends" comedy series. He began directing in 1936, guiding the Little Rascals in some of their best two-reelers, including
Bored of Education and
Rushin' Ballet, and their only feature,
General Spanky (co-directed with
Fred Newmeyer). After directing
Oliver Hardy and
Harry Langdon in
Zenobia, he worked with Laurel and Hardy in
Saps at Sea. A series of low-budget comedies followed in the '40s, but by the '50s Douglas was an admired action director with such credits as
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, a gangster film with
James Cagney;
Only the Valiant, a western with
Gregory Peck; and Them!, a science fictioner with giant ants. Comedy and action remained Douglas' specialties in the '60s and '70s: he directed
Bob Hope (
Call Me Bwana) and
Jerry Lewis (Way... Way Out), as well as the
Frank Sinatra police thrillers
Tony Rome,
The Detective, and
Lady in Cement. ~ All Movie Guide