Hal E. Chester facts for kids

Hal E. Chester, born Harold Ribotsky, was an American film producer, writer, and director. He also started his career as a child actor. He was born on March 6, 1921, and passed away on March 25, 2012.

Hal E. Chester's Early Life and Acting Career

Hal E. Chester was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He was the youngest of seven children. His family had moved from Poland, and his father worked as a property developer. After the Great Depression hit in 1929, his family faced financial difficulties. To help out, young Hal worked as a magician's assistant.

When he started acting, he used the name "Hally Chester." He took this name from his step-mother. At just 14 years old, he appeared in the first show of a play called Dead End. This play was on Broadway, which is a famous theater district. He played a character named Dippy, who was part of a group of kids known as The Dead End Kids.

Hally toured with the play for 22 weeks. Then, he got a chance to act in a movie. This movie was a follow-up to the film version of Dead End. It was called Crime School (1938) and featured the famous actor Humphrey Bogart. As a teen actor, Hally often worked on the Little Tough Guys series for Universal. He also appeared in Juvenile Court (1938) with Rita Hayworth. He was also in the East Side Kids series for Monogram Pictures. His last role in this series was in Sea Raiders (1941).

Becoming a Film Producer and Director

By 1945, Hal E. Chester convinced Monogram Pictures to hire him as a producer. This was a big step for him. He also made a deal with Ham Fisher, who created the Joe Palooka comic strip. Between 1946 and 1951, Hal Chester produced eleven movies based on the Joe Palooka character. These films starred Joe Kirkwood, Jr and began with Joe Palooka, Champ (1946).

Hal Chester also produced other movies during this time. These included Smart Woman (1948) and The Underworld Story (1950). He also produced The Highwayman (1951) and Models Inc (1952).

Working with Special Effects

In 1953, Hal Chester worked with a stop-motion animator named Ray Harryhausen. Together, they produced The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. This movie was based on a story by Ray Bradbury. It was about a monster created by atomic bomb tests that attacked Manhattan. The movie was very successful. It cost $250,000 to make but earned $5 million.

After that, he produced Crashout (1955), a film about convicts who escape. He also helped write and produced The Bold and the Brave (1956). This movie starred Nicole Maurey and Mickey Rooney. Mickey Rooney and the screenplay writer even received Academy Award nominations for their work on the film.

Moving to Britain and Later Career

In 1955, Hal Chester moved to Britain with his wife, Virginia, and their two young sons. They sailed on a ship called The Liberte. They were able to use special tax laws that encouraged international film projects. Hal and Virginia had married in 1948, and they soon had a third son in Britain. The family loved living in Britain so much that they made London their permanent home. Hal lived there until he passed away.

He produced The Weapon (1956) as a co-production. He also helped write and produced Night of the Demon (1957). The famous director Martin Scorsese has called this film "one of the scariest films ever made." It starred Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins and was directed by Jacques Tourneur.

More British Films

Hal Chester continued to produce successful films in Britain. These included The Two Headed Spy (1958) and School for Scoundrels (1960). School for Scoundrels was a comedy starring Terry-Thomas, Ian Carmichael, Alastair Sim, and Janette Scott. It was a big hit at the box office. However, it was also the last major hit of Hal Chester's career.

He later produced His and Hers (1961) and The Comedy Man (1964). He also helped write the screenplay for Father Goose (1964), which starred Cary Grant. Other films he produced include The Double Man (1967), a spy thriller with Yul Brynner and Britt Ekland. He also produced The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968) starring Paul Newman.

Hal Chester's last film as a producer was Take A Girl Like You (1970). This movie was based on a novel by Kingsley Amis. It starred Hayley Mills and Oliver Reed. For the remake of School for Scoundrels (2006), Hal Chester was credited as an executive producer.

Later Life

Sadly, Hal Chester's second son passed away in a car accident in 1978. His wife, Virginia, also passed away in 1980. In 2003, Hal E. Chester had a stroke, which made it difficult for him to move and speak. He passed away in London on March 25, 2012.

Filmography