After a career as stage actor and director in England and later the USA, apprenticed at Paramount and directed his first feature film in 1943, the chilling, subdued ghost story, "The Uninvited". Although British, Allen filmed two slices of Americana: "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" (1944), and "Those Endearing Young Charms" (1945) early in his career. He later added an exciting aura of menace to several films noir: "Desert Fury" (1947) and the tautly suspenseful "Suddenly" (1954). Allen spent most of his career after the mid-1950s directing for TV.
Family
FATHER: William Vincent Allen. Wool trader, clothing manufacturer.
MOTHER: Sarah Allen.
SON: Jon Lewis Allen. Survived him.
Companion
WIFE: Dorothy Skinner. Literary agent. Married until her death in 1969.
WIFE: Trudy Allen. Second wife; survived him.
Milestone
Served as executive in charge of New York and London production for stage producer Gilbert Miller
Worked as actor and stage director in NY and England
Apprenticed at Paramount for two years
1943: Feature film directorial debut, "The Uninvited"
1963: Made last feature film, "Decision at Midnight"
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