John Farrow was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter who worked in Hollywood for more than three decades. He directed about 50 films, including classics such as The Big Clock, Hondo, and Around the World in 80 Days. He was nominated for two Oscars and won one for his screenplay adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel. He was also the father of actress Mia Farrow and the grandfather of journalist Ronan Farrow. But how did he die, and why is he so overlooked in film history? Here is a brief overview of John Farrow’s cause of death and his legacy.
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Farrow’s Early Life and Career
Farrow was born in Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, on February 10, 1904. He claimed to have run away to sea at the age of 17, and traveled around the world, participating in various adventures and revolutions. He arrived in Hollywood in 1927, and started working as a script consultant and technical adviser for Cecil B. DeMille. He soon became a successful screenwriter, working for Paramount, Warner Bros, and RKO. He wrote scripts for stars such as Clara Bow, Pola Negri, Gary Cooper, and Fay Wray.
Farrow made his directorial debut in 1937, with Men in Exile, a crime drama starring Dick Purcell and June Travis. He quickly established himself as a versatile and prolific director, working in various genres such as westerns, thrillers, comedies, and war films. He collaborated with actors such as John Wayne, Bette Davis, Ray Milland, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Alan Ladd. He also served in the US Navy during World War II, and made several documentaries and propaganda films for the war effort.
Farrow’s Later Years and Death
Farrow reached the peak of his career in the 1950s, when he directed some of his most acclaimed and popular films. He directed The Big Clock (1948), a suspenseful noir starring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton; Hondo (1953), a western based on a story by Louis L’Amour and starring John Wayne; and Around the World in 80 Days (1956), a lavish adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, featuring an all-star cast and locations around the world. Farrow won an Oscar for his screenplay for the latter film, which also won the best picture award.
However, Farrow’s career declined in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as he struggled to adapt to the changing tastes and trends of the film industry. He directed some low-budget and forgettable films, such as The Unholy Wife (1957), John Paul Jones (1959), and The Plunderers (1960). His last film was Wives and Lovers (1963), a romantic comedy starring Janet Leigh and Van Johnson.
Farrow died of a heart attack on January 27, 1963, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 58. He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, alongside his wife, actress Maureen O’Sullivan, whom he married in 1936 and had seven children with, including Mia Farrow.
Farrow’s Legacy and Recognition
Farrow’s legacy as a film director is largely overshadowed by his personal and family life, as well as by the lack of critical and academic attention to his work. He is often remembered as the husband of Maureen O’Sullivan, the father of Mia Farrow, and the grandfather of Ronan Farrow, rather than as an accomplished film-maker in his own right. He is also neglected by film historians and critics, who rarely mention or analyze his films, despite their quality and diversity.
However, some of Farrow’s films have been rediscovered and appreciated by film fans and scholars, who recognize his skill and style as a director. Some of his films, such as The Big Clock, Hondo, and Around the World in 80 Days, are considered classics of their respective genres, and have been restored and re-released on DVD and Blu-ray. Farrow has also been the subject of a documentary, John Farrow: Hollywood’s Man in the Shadows, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2021. The documentary explores Farrow’s life and career, and attempts to restore his reputation as one of the most prolific and versatile directors of Hollywood’s golden age
John Farrow cause of death was a heart attack, but his legacy lives on through his films and his family. He was a remarkable film-maker, who deserves more recognition and appreciation for his contribution to cinema. He was also a fascinating person, who lived a life full of adventure and drama. He was, in the words of his grandson Ronan Farrow, “a man of many worlds”
