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Pen Tennyson was an English film director. He only directed three films before his accidental death at age 28. He had previously served as an assistant director to Alfred Hitchcock in several 1930s films.

In 1912, Tennyson was born in London. He was the eldest son of the civil servant and academic Charles Bruce Locker Tennyson (1879-1977) and his wife Ivy Pretious. Through his father's side of the family, Tennyson was a great-grandson of the famous poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 -1892). Alfred served as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom (term 1850-1892). He is mostly remembered for writing the "Idylls of the King" (published in updated editions, 1859-1885), a collection of narrative poems based on Arthurian legends. The work was the most famous Victorian era-version of the legends, and it remains popular.

Tennyson received his secondary education at Eton College, an independent boarding school for boys between the ages of 13 and 18. He entered the film industry in 1932, at age 20. His mother introduced him to film distributor Charles Moss Woolf (1879-1942). Woolf in turn introduced him to film producer Michael Balcon (1896-1977), who helped him get his start in the industry. Balcon became his mentor, and reportedly treated Tennyson as a surrogate son.

Tennyson started working as a camera assistant at the Gaumont British Studios, located at Shepherd's Bush.in West London. In 1934, Tennyson was promoted to the position of assistant director. His first assignment was the film" The Man Who Knew Too Much", with Hitchcock serving as the main director.

Temnyson next worked with Hitchcock in the film "The 39 Steps" (1935). While Hitchcock helped in Tennyson's training, their relationship was not without its problems. During this film. Hitchcock played a cruel prank on Tennyson. He convinced him that they needed a double for actress Madeleine Carroll, and that there was nobody available. He then had Tennyson dress in drag for one of the film's scenes. Carroll herself was actually available for the scene, but Hitchcock had a laugh at Tennyson's expense.

In 1938, Michael Balcon became the new head of the Ealing Studios. This was a successor company to the Associated Talking Pictures (ATP). Tennyson followed his mentor to this company, and was finally given his chance at becoming a director. His directing debut was the boxing-themed sports film "There Ain't No Justice" (1939). In the film, a small-time boxer learns that his recent fights were fixed and that his career is controlled by gambling syndicate.

Tennyson's first film was well-regarded by critics due to its "realistic portrayal of the boxing world", though certain scenes of graphic violence had been censored at the film's production phase. Film historians credit the film as one of the first British sound films to attempt a realistic portrayal of working-class life in London.

The following year Tennyson directed his second film, "The Proud Valley" (1940). It depicted the life of an African-American immigrant who works as a miner in the South Wales coalfield. The film was intended as a comeback for American actor Paul Robeson (1898-1976), who had not appeared in films since 1937. However, Robeson's outspoken political views had angered the British press baron Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (1879 - 1964). Beaverbrook both ensured that the film received little actual publicity and had Robeson blacklisted throughout the British film industry. Robeson left the United Kingdom shortly following the film's release.

In 1940, Tennyson started his service in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). He created the propaganda feature film "Convoy" (1940) in order to lionize the Royal Navy's activities in World War II. According to "Kinematograph Weekly", this film was the most popular British film of 1940 in its domestic market. It was Tennyson's third and last film as a director.

Later within 1940, Tennyson was commissioned in the Royal Navy. In June 1941, he was transferred to a unit that created instructional films for the Admiralty, the British government department responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. His experience in the film industry likely made him ideal for this role.

On July 7, 1941, Tennyson completed a filming session at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands. Scapa Flow served as the United Kingdom's chief naval base during World War II. Following the filming, Tennyson boarded a airplane that was supposed to transport him to Rosyth. The airplane accidentally ploughed into a hillside, killing Tennyson and everyone else aboard. The accident took place during fine weather conditions. Tennyson was 28-years-old at the time of his death.

Tennyson was survived by his wife, the actress Nova Pilbeam (1919-2015). He had no known children. He is remembered as a promising film director, who died prematurely.

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

When he was commissioned into the Navy, his wife <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0683345/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Nova Pilbeam</a> helped him to learn the Morse code by signalling decidedly un-nautical messages.

Eldest great-grandson of the poet <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0855139/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Alfred Lord Tennyson</a>.

Attended Oxford University. Left in 1932 to work with Michael Balcon first as camera assistant and later as assistant director at Gaumont-British. Subsequently with MGM&#39;s British section, then under Balcon at Ealing as full director. Joined the Royal Navy to make training films but was killed in a plane crash aged just 28.

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Pen Tennyson

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