Born in South Africa, Henry Cornelius embarked on a remarkable journey to Europe, where he pursued a successful career in the performing arts, working as an actor and director in various stage productions across Germany, France, and England.
As the Nazi regime seized power in Germany in 1933, Cornelius fled to France, where he enrolled at the prestigious Sorbonne University. During his time in France, he collaborated with renowned director René Clair, and together they traveled to England to work on the film "The Ghost Goes West" (1935) as an assistant editor.
Cornelius's talent and dedication eventually led to his promotion to editor, and he returned to his native South Africa, where he wrote, produced, and directed documentaries and feature films. Following the end of World War II, he returned to England, taking on the roles of associate producer and writer.
Cornelius made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy "Passport to Pimlico" (1949),a Ealing Studios production that tells the charming story of a London neighborhood that, after the war, discovers it is not actually part of England and declares its independence.
He also directed the delightful comedy "Genevieve" (1953),a heartwarming tale about an auto club's annual race between Brighton and London.
Tragically, Cornelius's life was cut short when he passed away at the age of 44 in London in 1958, leaving behind a legacy of only four films as a director.
