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Hal Roach

Highest Rated: 100% March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934)

Lowest Rated: 20% Turnabout (1940)

Birthday: Jan 14, 1892

Birthplace: Elmira, New York, USA

A director and film producer who was at the forefront of early Hollywood, Hal Roach became one of the most powerful filmmakers of the silent era before making the successful transition to sound features and later television. He was also responsible for launching several prominent careers, most notably Harold Lloyd and the comic duo Laurel and Hardy, while also introducing the world to "Our Gang," later known as "The Little Rascals." Under the auspices of his Hal Roach Studios, Roach competed with fellow producer Mack Sennett with comedy shorts that focused on narrative and characterization as opposed to Sennett's reliance on stereotypes and crude slapstick. With the success of Lloyd's "Lonesome Luke" series, Roach made the successful transition to features with some of the comic's most acclaimed films, including "A Sailor-Made Man" (1921), "Grandma's Boy" (1922) and "Safety Last" (1923). Meanwhile, Roach paired comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy together, creating one of the most famous comedy duos in Hollywood history and churning out some 100 films with the pair like "Sons of the Desert" (1933), "Babes in Toyland" (1934) and "Way Out West" (1937). In the late 1930s, Roach made the surprising turn from comedy to drama, most notably releasing "Of Mice and Men" (1939), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Following service in World War II, he again adapted to the times and entered the nascent television business, only to hand the reigns of his studio to son Hal Roach, Jr. Nonetheless, Roach remained one of the most influential producers who played a significant part in shaping modern Hollywood.

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Highest rated movies

100% 78% March of the Wooden Soldiers
Watchlist
100% 91% Way Out West
Watchlist
100% The Devil Horse
Watchlist
100% 86% Sons of the Desert
Watchlist
97% 93% Safety Last
Watchlist
89% 81% Topper
Watchlist
83% 72% Grandma's Boy
Watchlist
80% 33% One Million B.C.
Watchlist
60% 54% Swiss Miss
Watchlist
20% 23% Turnabout
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Little Rascals Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1955
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Hal Roach Comedy Carnival Executive Producer - 1947
No Score Yet No Score Yet Yanks Ahoy Producer - 1943
No Score Yet No Score Yet Two Mugs From Brooklyn Producer - 1942
No Score Yet No Score Yet Flying With Music Producer - 1942
No Score Yet 17% All-American Co-ed Producer - 1941
No Score Yet No Score Yet Miss Polly Producer - 1941
No Score Yet 0% Road Show Director,
Producer
- 1941
80% 33% One Million B.C. Director,
Producer
- 1940
No Score Yet 84% A Chump at Oxford Producer - 1940
No Score Yet 72% Saps at Sea Producer - 1940
20% 23% Turnabout Director - 1940
No Score Yet 56% The Housekeeper's Daughter Director - 1939
No Score Yet No Score Yet Captain Fury Director - 1939
No Score Yet 58% Zenobia Producer - 1939
60% 54% Swiss Miss Producer - 1938
No Score Yet 80% Merrily We Live Producer - 1938
No Score Yet No Score Yet Came the Brawn Producer - 1938
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hide and Shriek Producer - 1938
No Score Yet No Score Yet Feed 'em and Weep Producer - 1938
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little Rascals: Our Gang and Pete the Pooch Producer - 1938
100% 91% Way Out West Producer - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nobody's Baby Producer - 1937
89% 81% Topper Producer - 1937
No Score Yet 50% Movie Struck Producer - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Our Gang Follies Producer - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night 'n' Gales Producer - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hearts Are Thumps Producer - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mail and Female Producer - 1937
No Score Yet 31% General Spanky Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mister Cinderella Producer - 1936
No Score Yet 54% The Bohemian Girl Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Divot Diggers Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Count Takes the Count Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Lucky Corner Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bored of Education Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Spooky Hooky Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pay as You Exit Producer - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hill-Tillies Producer - 1936
No Score Yet 86% Tit For Tat Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Tin Man Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Top Flat Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little Papa Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sing, Sister, Sing Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Public Ghost 1 Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hot Money Producer - 1935
No Score Yet 68% The Fixer Uppers Producer - 1935
No Score Yet 67% Thicker Than Water Producer - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sprucin' Up Producer - 1935
100% 78% March of the Wooden Soldiers Writer,
Producer
- 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Four Parts Producer - 1934
No Score Yet 20% Going Bye-Bye! Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet One Horse Farmers Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hi'-Neighbor! Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Another Wild Idea Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Opened by Mistake Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mike Fright Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Babes in the Goods Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Ballad of Paducah Jail Director,
Producer
- 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Soup and Fish Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Apples to You! Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Washee Ironee Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Oliver the Eighth Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fate's Fathead Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mixed Nuts Producer - 1934
No Score Yet 86% Them Thar Hills Producer - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet The First Round-Up Producer - 1934
100% 86% Sons of the Desert Producer - 1933
No Score Yet 69% The Devil's Brother Director,
Producer
- 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maids a la Mode Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bargain of the Century Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mush and Milk Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fallen Arches Producer - 1933
No Score Yet 64% Dirty Work Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Asleep in the Feet Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Beauty and the Bus Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sherman Said It Producer - 1933
No Score Yet 73% Busy Bodies Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bedtime Worries Producer - 1933
No Score Yet 20% The Midnight Patrol Producer - 1933
No Score Yet 29% Me and My Pal Producer - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Show Business Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 67% Any Old Port! Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 66% Towed In A Hole Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Birthday Blues Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 71% Pack Up Your Troubles Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Choo-Choo! Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Too Many Women Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet First in War Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet What Price Taxi Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Readin' and Writin' Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 71% County Hospital Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 57% Scram! Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 67% Their First Mistake Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet You're Telling Me Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 91% The Music Box Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Tabasco Kid Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 55% The Chimp Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 74% Helpmates Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Young Ironsides Producer - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Red Noses Producer - 1932
No Score Yet 68% Pardon Us Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Catch as Catch Can Producer - 1931
No Score Yet 56% One Good Turn Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Let's Do Things Director - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little Daddy Producer - 1931
No Score Yet 17% Be Big! Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet High Gear Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Love Business Producer - 1931
No Score Yet 73% Chickens Come Home Producer - 1931
No Score Yet 69% Our Wife Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Air-Tight Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dogs Is Dogs Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Pip From Pittsburg Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Call a Cop! Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Helping Grandma Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bargain Day Producer - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Girl Shock Producer - 1930
No Score Yet 70% Hog Wild Director - 1930
No Score Yet 12% Below Zero Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fast Work Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet All Teed Up Producer - 1930
No Score Yet 62% Laughing Gravy Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet When the Wind Blows Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Real McCoy Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet Men of the North Director - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet High C's Producer - 1930
No Score Yet 29% The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet Whispering Whoopee Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dollar Dizzy Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pups Is Pups Producer - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet The King Producer - 1930
No Score Yet 80% Big Business Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 52% Double Whoopee Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 62% Perfect Day Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 77% Liberty Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 75% The Finishing Touch Producer - 1929
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bouncing Babies Producer - 1929
No Score Yet No Score Yet Boxing Gloves Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1929
No Score Yet 50% That's My Wife Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 65% Unaccustomed as We Are Director - 1929
No Score Yet 61% They Go Boom! Producer - 1929
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cat, Dog & Co. Producer - 1929
No Score Yet 31% Should Married Men Go Home? Producer - 1928
No Score Yet 40% Flying Elephants Director,
Writer,
Producer
- 1928
No Score Yet 62% Leave 'Em Laughing Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1928
No Score Yet 70% You're Darn Tootin' Producer - 1928
No Score Yet 57% Their Purple Moment Producer - 1928
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pass the Gravy Producer - 1928
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barnum & Ringling, Inc. Producer - 1928
No Score Yet No Score Yet Spook Spoofing Producer - 1928
No Score Yet 68% Two Tars Producer - 1928
No Score Yet 47% We Faw Down Producer - 1928
No Score Yet 47% Do Detectives Think? Writer,
Producer
- 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Forgotten Sweeties Producer - 1927
No Score Yet 50% Why Girls Love Sailors Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1927
No Score Yet 33% Love 'Em and Weep Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Olympic Games Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sailors Beware Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1927
No Score Yet 64% The Battle of the Century Producer - 1927
No Score Yet 31% Putting Pants on Philip Producer - 1927
No Score Yet 33% Sugar Daddies Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fluttering Hearts Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Should Men Walk Home? Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jewish Prudence Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Call of the Cuckoo Producer - 1927
No Score Yet 47% Duck Soup Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet Anything Once! Producer - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet 45 Minutes from Hollywood Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bromo and Juliet Producer - 1926
100% No Score Yet The Devil Horse Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thundering Fleas Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet What's the World Coming To? Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Buried Treasure Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet There Ain't No Santa Claus Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Long Fliv the King Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shivering Spooks Writer,
Producer
- 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Good Cheer Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Be Your Age Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dog Shy Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crazy Like a Fox Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Charley My Boy Producer - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chasing the Chaser Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hello Baby! Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the Grease Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Big Town Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Innocent Husbands Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Big Red Riding Hood Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mary, Queen of Tots Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fighting Fluid Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Looking for Sally Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet No Father to Guide Him Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet His Wooden Wedding Producer - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Smithy Director,
Producer
- 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The King of the Wild Horses Writer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Mysterious Mystery Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Zeb vs. Paprika Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Cowboy Sheik Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Buccaneers Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet High Society Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet One of the Family Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Every Man For Himself Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Young Oldfield Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet It's a Bear Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Big Business Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Powder and Smoke Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet At First Sight Producer - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Great Outdoors Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet White Wings Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Frozen Hearts Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Man About Town Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Noon Whistle Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Soilers Producer - 1923
No Score Yet 60% Why Worry? Producer - 1923
97% 93% Safety Last Writer,
Producer
- 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Big Show Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Derby Day Writer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet No Noise Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Collars and Cuffs Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Courtship of Miles Sandwich Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet July Days Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet It's a Gift Producer - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Cobbler Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Little Rascals: The Best of Pete the Pooch Screenwriter - 1923
No Score Yet 73% Dr. Jack Writer,
Producer
- 1922
83% 72% Grandma's Boy Writer,
Producer
- 1922
No Score Yet No Score Yet Saturday Morning Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1922
No Score Yet No Score Yet Young Sherlocks Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1922
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fire Fighters Screenwriter - 1922
No Score Yet No Score Yet Our Gang Screenwriter - 1922
No Score Yet 58% I Do! Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1921
No Score Yet 50% A Sailor-Made Man Producer - 1921
No Score Yet 73% An Eastern Westerner Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet 81% High and Dizzy Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet 53% His Royal Slyness Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet 83% Number, Please? Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet 29% Nomads of the North Producer - 1920
No Score Yet 45% Haunted Spooks Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet 79% Get Out and Get Under Director,
Producer
- 1920
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fresh Paint Producer - 1920
No Score Yet No Score Yet Captain Kidd's Kids Director,
Producer
- 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet Do You Love Your Wife? Director - 1919
No Score Yet 29% Just Neighbors Producer - 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet Spring Fever Director - 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Sammy in Siberia Director - 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chop Suey & Co. Director,
Producer
- 1919
No Score Yet 36% Billy Blazes, Esq. Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1919
No Score Yet 72% From Hand to Mouth Director,
Producer
- 1919
No Score Yet 81% Ask Father Director - 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet Don't Shove Producer - 1919
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Non-Stop Kid Producer - 1918
No Score Yet No Score Yet Two-Gun Gussie Producer - 1918
No Score Yet No Score Yet Are Crooks Dishonest? Producer - 1918
No Score Yet No Score Yet Look Pleasant, Please Producer - 1918
No Score Yet No Score Yet That's Him Producer - 1918
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lonesome Luke, Messenger Director - 1917
No Score Yet No Score Yet All Aboard Producer - 1917
No Score Yet No Score Yet Over the Fence Producer - 1917
No Score Yet No Score Yet Luke's Movie Muddle Director,
Producer
- 1916
No Score Yet No Score Yet Luke's Shattered Sleep Director - 1916
No Score Yet 33% The Patchwork Girl of Oz The Cowardly Lion/Tottenhot (Character) - 1914