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A former short story writer, novelist, and playwright, Denison Clift entered the film industry in 1918, penning the screenplay for William S. Hart's Wolves of the Rail. A contract writer with Fox, Clift was promoted to director in 1920. Less than a year later, he became one of several American directors imported by British firms who hoped that a bit of Hollywood magic would help change the rather staid reputation of domestic silent films. Clift went on to direct such successful British melodramas as Demos (1921) featuring fellow American expatriate Evelyn Brent and The Love of Mary, Queen of Scots (1923), with Fay Compton in the title role. He remained in Great Britain after the changeover to sound, helming the odd low-budget melodrama -- including a 1935 version of The Mystery of the Marie Celeste, which he also wrote -- but was busier as a freelance screenwriter.