Basil Wrangell (born Basilio Petrovich von Wrangell) was an Italian-born film and television editor and director who worked in Hollywood from the 1920s through the 1970s.[1][2]
Basil Wrangell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Basilio Petrovich von Wrangell June 19, 1906 |
| Died | April 26, 1977 (aged 70) |
| Occupation(s) | Film editor, Film Director |
| Spouses | Isabelle Fair (divorced)
|
Biography edit
Basil was born at the Russian embassy in Ponte a Moriano, Italy, to Peter von Wrangell and Marussia Sasso-Ruffo. On his father's side, his family line had reportedly served as court attaches of old Russia since 1200 A.D.[3] Basil's brother, George Wrangell, was a society columnist in New York City.[4]
Basil attended the elite Grosvenor School in Nottingham, England, as a young man, until his family lost their wealth during the Russian Revolution. A chance opportunity to serve as an interpreter for Fred Niblo on Ben-Hur led to Basil traveling to America to take an entry-level job in a cutting room at a studio.[3][5] He ended up becoming a proficient editor, eventually earning the chance to direct shorts and features.[4] For television, he edited many episodes of I Spy, Peyton Place, Combat!, and Adventures in Paradise.
Selected filmography edit
As editor:
- The Only Way to Spy (1978)
- Tobor the Great (1954)
- Love Happy (1949)
- The Good Earth (1937)
- Whipsaw (1935)
- Shadow of Doubt (1935)
- Hide-Out (1934)
- Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934)
- Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933)
- Midshipman Jack (1933)
- Bed of Roses (1933)
- Gabriel Over the White House (1933)
- Ladies They Talk About (1933)
- Freaks (1932)
- Sidewalks of New York (1931)
- Min and Bill (1930)
- Love in the Rough (1930)
- Let Us Be Gay (1930)
- The Woman Racket (1930)
- Marianne (1929)
- The Voice of the City (1929)
- All at Sea (1929)
- The Cameraman (1928)
- The Cardboard Lover (1928)
- A Certain Young Man (1928)
- The Latest from Paris (1928)
- In Old Kentucky (1927)
- Twelve Miles Out (1927)
- California (1927)
As director:
- South Seas Adventure (1958)
- Heartaches (1947)
- Philo Vance's Gamble (1947)
References edit
- ^ Drew, Bernard A. (2013-12-04). Motion Picture Series and Sequels: A Reference Guide. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-92893-5.
- ^ Golden, Eve (2013-03-29). John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-4163-3.
- ^ a b "When Royalty Comes to Hollywood". The Decatur Herald. 25 Aug 1935. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ a b "Basil Wrangell Directs First Feature-Length Film". Valley Times. 20 Dec 1946. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ Eyman, Scott (2008-06-23). Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4391-0791-1.