Leslie Fenton
Leslie Fenton was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945.
Early life
Fenton immigrated to America with his mother, Elizabeth Carter Fenton, and his brothers when he was six years old. They sailed as steerage passengers on board the R.M.S. Celtic, which departed from Liverpool, 11 September 1909, and arrived at New York and New Jersey|New York], where they were ferried over to Ellis Island for "U.S. Immigrant Inspection" on 19 September. They were quickly admitted and continued their journey by rail to join his father, shoe manufacturer's representative Richard Fenton, in Mifflin, Ohio.Career
As a teenager, Leslie worked as an office clerk. He moved to New York and began a career on the stage. His film career began later with Fox Studios. He also directed 19 films between 1938 and 1951.In 1945, Fenton and actor Fred MacMurray established "Mutual Pictures", producing one film, "Pardon My Past". MacMurray starred in a dual role and Fenton directed.
Military service
Fenton saw active service during the Second World War. In spring 1941, he was commissioned into the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. In 1942, as commander of a Motor Launch vessel, he took part in the St Nazaire Raid. He was injured in the raid and spent months convalescing in Devon, England. Unable to return to sea, he was assigned to a desk job at the War Office.Personal life
He married American actress Ann Dvorak in 1932. Dvorak moved to Britain with Fenton while he served in the British armed forces during the Second World War. The union was childless and ended in divorce in 1945. Fenton died 25 March 1978 in Montecito, California, aged 76. Some sources, including IMDb, incorrectly cite Frank Fenton, the noted screenwriter and novelist, as his younger brother. Frank Fenton's parents were actually John Fenton and Eveline Edgington, as evidenced by the ship's manifest for the RMS Caronia, aboard which Frank Fenton arrived in the US on 21 April 1906.Selected filmography
As actor:Gentle Julia Havoc as BabeThunder Mountain as Sam MartinLazybones as Dick RitchieEast Lynne as Richard HareThe Ancient Mariner as Joe BarlowThe Road to Glory as David HaleSandy as Douglas KeithThe Shamrock Handicap as Neil RossBlack Paradise as James CallahanWhat Price Glory? as Lt. MooreThe Gateway of the Moon as Jim MortlakeThe Showdown as Kilgore SheltonThe Drag Net as ShakespeareThe [First Kiss (American film)|The First Kiss] as Carol TalbotThe Office Scandal as Andrew 'Andy' CorbinGirls Gone Wild as BoogsA [Dangerous Woman (1929 film)|A Dangerous Woman] as Peter AllertonThe Man [I Love (1929 film)|The Man I Love] as Carlo VesperBroadway as 'Scar' EdwardsParis Bound as Richard ParrishWoman Trap as Eddie EvansThe Last Performance as Buffo BlackDynamite as Young 'Vulture'The Man Who Came Back as Baron le DucThe Public Enemy as Samuel 'Nails' NathanKick In as CharlieMurder at Midnight as Walter GraysonThe Pagan Lady as Gerald 'Gerry' WillisThe Guilty Generation as Joe PalmeroThe Hatchet Man as Harry En HaiThe Famous Ferguson Case as Jim PerrinThe Strange Love of Molly Louvain as Nicky GrantThunder Below as WebbAir Mail as Tony DresselF.P.1 as Capt. B.E. DrosteNight Flight as Jules' Radio Operator / Co-PilotLady Killer as DukeI Believed in You as Russell StormFugitive Road as Frank RikerTake the Stand as Hugh HalliburtonMarie Galante as Gen. Saki TenokiStrange Wives as SvengaartWhite Lies as Dan OliverThe Casino Murder Case as Dr. KaneStar of Midnight as Tim WinthropStolen Harmony as Joe Harris Chinatown Squad as Su QuongMen Without Names as MonkEast of Java as Captain Wong BoTwo in the Dark as Stuart EldredgeMurder on a Bridle Path as Don GreggSworn Enemy as Steve ShermanThe [Longest Night (1936 film)|The Longest Night] as Carl BriggsHouse of Secrets as Barry WildingChina Passage as Anthony DurandBoys Town as Dan FarrowAs director:Tell No Tales The Man from Dakota The Saint's Vacation Whispering Smith Streets of Laredo