Biography
Richard Thorpe (February 24, 1896 - May 1, 1991) was an American film director. Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred and eighty films. The first full length motion picture he directed for MGM was Last of the Pagans (1935) starring Ray Mala. After directing The Last Challenge in 1967, he retired from the film industry. He died in Palm Springs, California in 1991.
Thorpe is also known as the original director of The Wizard of Oz. He was fired after two weeks of shooting, because it was felt that his scenes did not have the right air of fantasy about them. Thorpe notoriously gave Judy Garland a blonde wig and cutesy "baby-doll" makeup that made her look like a girl in her late teens rather than an innocent Kansas farm girl of about thirteen. Both makeup and wig were discarded at the suggestion of George Cukor, who was brought in temporarily. Stills from Thorpe's work on the film survive today.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Thorpe has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Filmography
all 146
Movies 146
Director 143
The Last Challenge (1967)
The Scorpio Letters (1967)
That Funny Feeling (1965)
The Golden Head (1964)
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
Follow the Boys (1963)
How the West Was Won (1962)
The Tartars (1961)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957)
Quentin Durward (1955)
The Prodigal (1955)
Bedevilled (1955)
Athena (1954)
The Student Prince (1954)
Ivanhoe (1952)
Carbine Williams (1952)
It's a Big Country (1951)
The Unknown Man (1951)
The Great Caruso (1951)
Vengeance Valley (1951)
Three Little Words (1950)
Black Hand (1950)
Malaya (1949)
The Sun Comes Up (1949)
Big Jack (1949)
A Date with Judy (1948)
This Time for Keeps (1947)
Fiesta (1947)
Thrill of a Romance (1945)
Cry 'Havoc' (1943)
Above Suspicion (1943)
White Cargo (1942)
Apache Trail (1942)
Joe Smith, American (1942)
Barnacle Bill (1941)
The Bad Man (1941)
Wyoming (1940)
20 Mule Team (1940)
The Earl of Chicago (1940)
The Crowd Roars (1938)
The Toy Wife (1938)
Love Is a Headache (1938)
Man-Proof (1938)
Double Wedding (1937)
Lest We Forget (1937)
Night Must Fall (1937)
Dangerous Number (1937)
Tarzan Escapes (1936)
Last of the Pagans (1935)
Strange Wives (1934)
Cheating Cheaters (1934)
Green Eyes (1934)
City Park (1934)
Stolen Sweets (1934)
The Quitter (1934)
Murder on the Campus (1933)
A Man of Sentiment (1933)
Notorious But Nice (1933)
Strange People (1933)
I Have Lived (1933)
Love Is Dangerous (1933)
Forgotten (1933)
Women Won't Tell (1932)
Slightly Married (1932)
The King Murder (1932)
Thrill of Youth (1932)
Beauty Parlor (1932)
Forbidden Company (1932)
The Midnight Lady (1932)
Escapade (1932)
Probation (1932)
Murder at Dawn (1932)
Cross-Examination (1932)
The Devil Plays (1931)
Forgotten Women (1931)
Neck and Neck (1931)
Grief Street (1931)
The Sky Spider (1931)
Wild Horse (1931)
The Lawless Woman (1931)
King of the Wild (1931)
The Utah Kid (1930)
Under Montana Skies (1930)
The Thoroughbred (1930)
Wings of Adventure (1930)
The Dude Wrangler (1930)
The Lone Defender (1930)
Border Romance (1929)
The Bachelor Girl (1929)
The Fatal Warning (1929)
The Flyin' Buckaroo (1928)
The Vanishing West (1928)
Vultures of the Sea (1928)
The Ballyhoo Buster (1928)
The Ridin' Rowdy (1927)
Tearin' Into Trouble (1927)
Josselyn's Wife (1926)
College Days (1926)
Twisted Triggers (1926)
Double Daring (1926)
Easy Going (1926)
Ridin' Rivals (1926)
The Fighting Cheat (1926)
The Roaring Rider (1926)
Tearin' Loose (1925)
On the Go (1925)
Thundering Romance (1924)
Flames of Desire (1924)
Fast and Fearless (1924)
Three O'Clock in the Morning (1923)
Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1921)
The Bonanza Buckaroo
Information
Known ForDirecting
GenderMale
Birthday1896-02-24
Deathday1991-05-01 (95 years old)
Birth PlaceHutchinson, United States
ChildrenJerry Thorpe
CitizenshipsUnited States
Also Known AsFrank L. Inghram, Frank Inghram, Rollo Smolt Thorpe
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame, National Board of Review Award for Best Film
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