John H. Auer (August 3, 1906 in Budapest, Hungary – March 15, 1975 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles) was a Hungarian-born child actor who, on coming to the Americas in 1928, became a movie director and producer, initially in Mexico but, from the early 1930s, in Hollywood.

Costume designer Renié and John H. Auer on the set of Pan-Americana (1945)

Career

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Auer was a child actor in Vienna from the age of 12. After he grew up, he had some business experience in Europe, but decided to emigrate to the United States in 1928. He first sought work as a director in Hollywood but luck did not seem to favour him. Next, he tried his hand at directing some Mexican films, which did quite well as they not only brought him critical acclaim but also fared well in box office receipts; some even brought him awards from the Mexican government.[1][2]

His success in Mexico helped Auer to make a re-entry into Hollywood and direct films. Although he worked mostly for the Republic Pictures who specialized in Westerns and B films, he stuck to crime thrillers and musicals. Besides directing, he also produced most of his directed films.[1]

The year 1934 saw Auer's Hollywood directorial venture, Frankie and Johnny, filmed at the Mascot Studios. His later years were spent mostly with the Republic Pictures. It was in the late 1940s and early 1950s when some of his B-rated movies such as Angel on the Amazon, Thunderbirds, and Hell's Half Acre were well accepted by the film lovers. He also did a film with RKO Pictures's Gangway for Tomorrow and Universal Studios's Johnny Doughboy.[2]

Filmography

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Selected Filmography
Title Year Role Notes
U.S. Marshals 1959-1960 Producer 10 episodes
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse 1959 Producer 1 Episode "Ballad for a Bad Man"
Whirlybirds 1957-1960 Producer 35 episodes
Johnny Trouble 1957 Producer & Director
Sheriff of Cochise Producer 1 Episode "Apache Kid"
The Eternal Sea 1955 Associate Producer
Hell's Half Acre 1954 Director & Producer
City That Never Sleeps 1953 Director & Producer
Thunderbirds 1952 Producer
The Wild Blue Yonder 1951 Producer
Hit Parade of 1951 1950 Producer
The Avengers Producer
Angel on the Amazon 1948 Director & Producer
I, Jane Doe Director & Producer
The Flame 1947 Director & Producer
Beat the Band Director
Pan-Americana 1945 Director & Producer
Music in Manhattan 1944 Director & Producer
Seven Days Ashore Director & Producer
Gangway for Tomorrow 1943 Director & Producer
Tahiti Honey Director & Producer
Johnny Doughboy 1942 Director & Producer
Moonlight Masquerade Producer & Director
The Devil Pays Off 1941 Director
A Man Betrayed Director
Women in War 1940 Director
Hit Parade of 1941 1940 Director
Smuggled Cargo 1939 Producer & Director
Thou Shalt Not Kill Director
Calling All Marines Director
S.O.S. Tidal Wave Director
Forged Passport Director & Producer
Outside of Paradise 1938 Director
Orphans of the Street Director
I Stand Accused Director & Producer
A Desperate Adventure Director & Producer
Invisible Enemy Director & Producer
Rhythm in the Clouds 1937 Director
Under Strange Flags 1937 Story
A Man Betrayed 1936 Director
The Crime of Dr. Crespi 1935 Director & Producer

References

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  1. ^ a b "John H. Auer". IMDb. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "John H. Auer Movies". Blockbuster. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
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John H. Auer at IMDb