Richard Thorpe
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
Known for
DirectingBirthday
February 24, 1896Deathday
May 1, 1991Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
143Place of birth
Hutchinson, Kansas, USAAlso known as
Frank L. Inghram, Frank Inghram, Rollo Smolt ThorpeCast credits
Crew credits
Double Wedding
DirectorAbove Suspicion
DirectorIvanhoe
DirectorKing of the Wild
DirectorThe Honeymoon Machine
DirectorTarzan Finds a Son!
DirectorTarzan's New York Adventure
DirectorTarzan's Secret Treasure
DirectorThe Prisoner of Zenda
DirectorBlack Hand
DirectorThe Thin Man Goes Home
DirectorThree Little Words
DirectorVengeance Valley
DirectorChallenge to Lassie
DirectorOn an Island with You
DirectorThrill of a Romance
DirectorThat Funny Feeling
DirectorCarbine Williams
DirectorMalaya
DirectorFiesta
DirectorJailhouse Rock
Director