Rowland Brown

Before coming to Hollywood in 1928, American filmmaker and screenwriter Rowland Brown worked as a fashion illustrator and sports cartoonist. He first worked for Fox as a laborer. After working as a property boy and gag man over the next two years, Brown was promoted to screenwriter. He made his directorial debut in 1931 with Quick Millions. The critics loved Brown for his originality, eye for detail, and his ability to make his characters and their situations come alive on the screen. Brown's next two films, Hell's Highway (1932) and Blood Money (1933) were just as well-received and his future seemed assured. Unfortunately, behind the scenes, the iconoclastic Brown was constantly warring with the rigid studio system. He began many films that were never finished. On others, the studios replaced him with other more malleable directors. When he struck a producer during a heated argument, his career instantly disintegrated. Brown went on to try directing in England. He was assigned to helm production of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but after less than 30 days he was suddenly replaced. Brown returned to the U.S. and began writing short stories and screenplays. He also tried writing plays and working as a Broadway producer in the early 1940s before vanishing completely from the entertainment industry.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide