John H. Auer

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

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.

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.

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.

Filmography

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

External links

John H. Auer at IMDb