Jack Turner
FranceBiography of Jacques Turner
Jacques Turner was a French film director known for his work in the "film noir" and horror genres. He was born on November 12, 1904, in Paris. He was the son of director Maurice Turner. In 1913, he moved to New York, where he began working as a clerk at MGM under his father.
In 1928, Turner returned to France and made his directorial debut in 1931. However, four years later, he went back to Hollywood and started directing low-budget B-movies, which were paired with another film for the price of one. While working as an assistant director on the film "A Tale of Two Cities" (1935), he met writer Val Lewton.
In 1942, Lewton became the head of the horror film division at RKO Pictures and offered Turner the opportunity to direct "Cat People" (1942) and "I Walked with a Zombie" (1943). Their other collaboration was the horror film "The Leopard Man" (1943). These films became hits for the studio and solidified Turner's reputation as a director who could handle higher-budget productions.
In 1947, Turner directed one of the classic films in the film noir genre, "Out of the Past". His horror film "Night of the Demon" (1957) is also considered one of the best in its genre. Turner passed away in 1977 in Bergerac, France.
Filmography
- 1942 - Cat People
- 1943 - I Walked with a Zombie
- 1943 - The Leopard Man
- 1947 - Out of the Past
