Basil Dean

Basil Dean

Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 — 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, film producer/director and theatrical producer/director.

Born in Croydon, Surrey, Dean started his career in showbusiness in London as a West End stage actor, and then later became a theatrical producer. He later moved into the film industry and in the early 1930s founded Associated Talking Pictures, which later became Ealing Studios. He publicised and worked alongside Gracie Fields and George Formby, among other entertainers. When the war started he left the film industry and became the head of ENSA, the government-sponsored body responsible for bringing live performances to the armed services. He was awarded the CBE for his work with ENSA.

His wives included Lady Mercy Greville and Esther Van Gruisen. From August 1934 until 1939 he was married to British stage and film actress, Victoria Hopper. Dean had a relationship with one of his theatre and film stars Meggie Albanesi and after her death in 1923 continued to be obsessed with her.

Dean died in Westminster, London from a heart attack at the age of 89.

Producer filmography

• The Constant Nymph (1928)
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929)
• Escape (1930)
• Birds of Prey (1930)
• Sally in Our Alley (1931)
• Nine Till Six (1932)
• Love on the Spot (1932)
• Looking on the Bright Side (1932)
• The Impassive Footman (1932)
• The Water Gipsies (1932)
• The Sign of Four (1932)
• A Honeymoon Adventure (1932)
• Three Men in a Boat (1933)
• Skipper of the Osprey (1933)
• Loyalties (1933)
• Autumn Crocus (1934)
• Love, Life and Laughter (1934)
• Java Head (1934)
• Sing As We Go (1934)
• Lorna Doone (1935)
• Look Up and Laugh (1935)
• Midshipman Easy (1935)
• No Limit (1936)
• The Lonely Road (1936)
• Laburnum Grove (1936)
• Keep Your Seats, Please (1936)
• Whom the Gods Love (1936)
• Queen of Hearts (1936/I)
• The Show Goes On (1937)
• Keep Fit (1937)
• Feather Your Nest (1937)
• Penny Paradise (1938)
• It's in the Air (1938)
• When We Are Married (1938) (for television)
• 21 Days (1940) (associate producer)
• I Believe in You (1952) (co-producer)
• The Gentle Gunman (1952) (co-producer)

Director filmography

• The Constant Nymph (1928)
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929)
• Escape (1930)
• Birds of Prey (1930)
• Nine Till Six (1932)
• Looking on the Bright Side (1932)
• The Impassive Footman (1932)
• Loyalties (1933)
• The Constant Nymph (1933)
• Autumn Crocus (1934)
• Sing As We Go (1934)
• Lorna Doone (1934)
• Look Up and Laugh (1935)
• Whom the Gods Love (1936)
• The Show Goes On (1937)
• 21 Days (1940)

Writer filmography

• The Constant Nymph (1928) (play)
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929)
• Escape (1930)
• Birds of Prey (1930)
• Looking on the Bright Side (1932)
• The Water Gipsies (1932)
• A Honeymoon Adventure (1932)
• The Constant Nymph (1933) (play) (dialogue)
• Autumn Crocus (1934)
• Sensation (1936) (play Murder Gang)
• The Show Goes On (1937)
• Penny Paradise (1938) (story)
• The Constant Nymph (1938) (TV) (play)
• 21 Days (1940)
• The Constant Nymph (1943) (play)

External links

• Basil Dean at the Internet Movie Database
• Basil Dean at the British Film Institute's Screenonline