One of the more prolific American directors, Charles Lamont entered
films as an actor in 1919 and became a director in 1922. He churned out
numerous one- and two-reel comedies for various producers, including
Mack Sennett and
Al Christie, and began directing features in
the mid-'30s. Lamont was a staple of such independent studios as
Chesterfield and Republic, for whom he turned out many action, western
and comedy films, but he found his niche at Universal in the late
1930s, and directed several comedies for Universal's top comedy team of
Bud Abbott and
Lou Costello, including one of
their best, Abbott und Costello auf Glatteis (1943).
Lamont also handled a number of Universal's
Yvonne De Carlo Technicolor adventure
extravaganzas, and helmed many entries in the studio's successful "Ma
and Pa Kettle" series.
