Ellis R. Dungan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellis R. Dungan
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| Born |
Ellis Roderick Dungan
May 11, 1909 |
| Died | December 1, 2001 (aged 92) Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
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| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1935–87 |
| Spouse(s) | Elaine Dungan |
Ellis Roderick Dungan (born May 11, 1909 – died December 1, 2001) was an American film director. He became very famous for making movies in India, especially in Tamil cinema, from 1936 to 1950. He studied at the University of Southern California and moved to India in 1935. During his time making films in South India, Dungan helped many popular Tamil actors start their careers. For example, he directed the first film of M. G. Ramachandran, who later became a Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Contents
Ellis Dungan's Life Story
Growing Up
Ellis Dungan was an Irish-American, born in Barton, Ohio, on May 11, 1909. He went to St. Clairsville High School in St. Clairsville, Ohio. There, he played quarterback on the school football team. He bought his first camera to take pictures for the school yearbook, where he was the main editor. Later, in 1932, he joined the University of Southern California. He studied in their new department for making movies and cinematography.
His Film Career in India
In 1935, Ellis Dungan traveled to British India with his college friend, Michael Ormalev. They were invited by another student from their university, Manik Lal Tandon. Tandon's family wanted to start making movies. When their plans didn't work out, Tandon invited Dungan and Ormalev to Calcutta. There, Tandon was directing a Tamil film called Nandanar.
Tandon introduced Dungan to A. N. Marudhachalam Chettiar, a film producer. Chettiar was making a film called Sathi Leelavathi. Tandon suggested that Dungan direct it, as he was busy with his own film. This is how Dungan started his directing career with Sathi Leelavathi. This movie was also the first film for M. G. Ramachandran, who would later become a very important political leader.
From 1936 to 1950, Dungan made many Tamil films and one Hindi film, Meera (1947). He didn't know any Indian languages, but this didn't stop him from directing films in them. He brought many new ideas to Indian cinema, even with the limited technology back then. Many of his movies were about characters from the Hindu religion. He often had to film in Hindu temples, where non-Hindus were not allowed at that time. Dungan managed to film in these temples by pretending to be a Kashmiri pundit.
Dungan is known for bringing modern make-up, the mobile camera, and dance numbers to Tamil Cinema. He helped move Tamil films away from looking too much like stage plays. For some scenes in his 1950 film Ponmudi, Dungan faced criticism. Some people felt he was introducing "too modern" scenes and "corrupting the population with American ways."
His last Tamil film was Manthiri Kumari in 1950. After that, he went back to America and settled in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1958. There, he started his own company, "Ellis Dungan Productions." For the next thirty years, he made documentary movies for a Hollywood producer named Duke Goldstone.
Later Life and Death
Ellis Dungan passed away in Wheeling, West Virginia on December 1, 2001. He was 92 years old.
Ellis Dungan's Impact
Ellis Dungan is remembered for changing Indian cinema. He brought many new ideas from Western filmmaking. In 2013, an Indian filmmaker named Karan Bali made a one-hour documentary about Dungan. It was called An American in Madras. Bali found information about Dungan in the West Virginia State Archives. He also interviewed people who had known Dungan.
Ellis Dungan's Movies
Tamil Films
- Bhakta Nandanar (1935) (uncredited)
- Sathi Leelavathi (1936)
- Seemanthini (1936)
- Iru Sahodarargal (1936)
- Ambikapathy (1937)
- Surya Puthri (1941)
- Sakuntalai (1940)
- Kalamegam (1940)
- Daasi Penn (1943)
- Valmiki (1945)
- Returning Soldier (1945)
- Meera (1945)
- Ponmudi (1950)
- Manthiri Kumari (1950)
Hindi Films
- Meera (1947)
English Films and TV Shows
- The Jungle (1952) (as associate producer)
- Smilin' Ed's Gang (1951–1954) (TV show)
- Andy's Gang (1955–1960) (TV show)
- Harry Black and the Tiger (1958)
- Wheeling 1959: Wheels to Progress (1959)
- The Big Hunt (1959)
- Tarzan Goes to India (1962) (as second unit producer)
- For Liberty and Union (1977)
- A Ride of the Future (1977)
- Fox - Architect of the United States First Navy (1987)
