1. Ralph Philip Thomas was an English film director who directed the Doctor film series.
28 Facts About Ralph Thomas
1. 2.
Ralph Thomas often worked with the producer Betty E Box, who was married to Carry On producer Peter Rogers.
3.
Ralph Philip Thomas was born on 10 August 1915 in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire.
4.
Ralph Thomas entered the film business as a clapper boy at Shepperton Studios in 1932 during his summer vacation while at college.
5.
From 1932 to 1934, Ralph Thomas worked predominantly on "quota quickies".
6.
Ralph Thomas discovered he loved editing the most and worked predominantly as an editor for the next few years, including a period working alongside David Lean.
7.
Ralph Thomas returned to editing before joining the army in 1939.
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Ralph Thomas took part in the Battle of El Alamein.
9.
Ralph Thomas left the army in 1945 and re-entered the film industry, although he could only gain work as an assistant editor.
10.
Ralph Thomas assisted editing Odd Man Out then began making film trailers for the Rank Organisation.
11.
Ralph Thomas worked his way up to becoming head of Rank's trailer department as well as writing films.
12.
Ralph Thomas made a two more comedies for Sydney Box: Helter Skelter then Traveller's Joy.
13.
In 1949 it was announced Betty Box, Muriel Box and Ralph Thomas had formed Feature Film Facilities, to make six or seven films, starting with an adaptation of several Guy de Maupassant stories.
14.
However, when Ralph Thomas left Sydney Box to go under contract with the Rank Organisation to make The Clouded Yellow, he brought Betty with him as a producer.
15.
Ralph Thomas then made several comedies, A Day to Remember, The Dog and the Diamonds and Mad About Men.
16.
Ralph Thomas made a war film, Above Us the Waves, before doing a second "Doctor", Doctor at Sea.
17.
Ralph Thomas followed them with the less popular Checkpoint, a noir crime thriller concerning car racing starring Anthony Steel and featuring location filming in Europe.
18.
The success of Doctor in the House saw Ralph Thomas offered to direct the Cold War comedy, The Iron Petticoat with Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn.
19.
Ralph Thomas returned to "Doctor" series with Doctor at Large, the second most popular movie at the British box office in its year of release.
20.
Ralph Thomas returned to comedy with the smaller budgeted Upstairs and Downstairs, starring Michael Craig.
21.
Ralph Thomas did some uncredited work on Carry On Cruising, before making a university drama with Box, The Wild and the Willing, an "angry young man"-style melodrama which was the first film for Ian McShane, John Hurt and Samantha Eggar.
22.
None of these were particularly popular at the box office so Ralph Thomas returned to "doctor" films with Doctor in Distress.
23.
Ralph Thomas returned to more sure-fire material with a sixth "Doctor", Doctor in Clover.
24.
Ralph Thomas then made two Bulldog Drummond films, both starring Richard Johnson, Deadlier Than the Male and Some Girls Do.
25.
Ralph Thomas shot the last "doctor" film, Doctor in Trouble in 1970.
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Ralph Thomas's last feature was A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
27.
Ralph Thomas was the brother of Gerald Ralph Thomas, who later became a film director on the Carry On.
28.
Ralph Thomas is commemorated with a green plaque on The Avenues, Kingston upon Hull.