AKA: Richard O Fleischer
Nationality: American
Birthdate: 12/08/1916
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Death Date: 03/26/2006
Veteran director with a knack for action and suspense; his exciting film noir, "The Narrow Margin" (1952) is regarded by many critics as a model B-film. A rapid, efficient director in several genres who has often filmed real-life crime stories such as "The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing" (1955), "Compulsion" (1959), "The Boston Strangler" (1968) and "10 Rillington Place" (1970), Fleischer has also helmed such big-budget extravanzas and epics as "The Vikings" (1958) and the disastrous "Doctor Doolittle" (1967) and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970) as well as the contemptible "Mandingo" (1975).
1937
Formed stage troupe The Arena Players, directing and producing all their shows
1940
Joined RKO as production assistant
1942
Became newsreel editor
1942
Made editor, co-writer and director on RKO's Pathe Newsreel series, "This Is America" (from 1942) and director-producer on "Flickers Flashback" silent film compliations
1943
First short as screenwriter, "Air Crew"
