AllMovie

Born in Hungary and educated in Vienna, John H. Auer was a juvenile actor in European films. After the collapse of the Hapsburg empire, Auer entered the European business world, then moved to Hollywood in hopes of scaring up movie work. His fluency in several languages enabled Auer to secure directing jobs in Mexico before making his U.S. directorial bow in 1934's Frankie and Johnny. This Helen Morgan vehicle was filmed at Mascot Studios, which metamorphosed into Republic a year later. Auer remained at Republic as producer, director and scriptwriter until his last moviemaking days in the 1950s, turning out some of the best and most polished "little" films on the market. Occasionally, John Auer ventured to RKO (Gangway for Tomorrow) or Universal (Johnny Doughboy), but it is for such Republic endeavors as Angel on the Amazon (1948), Thunderbirds (1952) and Hell's Half Acre (1954) that Auer is most fondly remembered by "B"-movie buffs.