Ivan Hall's illustrious film career began with KavalierFilm Productions, where he produced the Anglo Boer War drama/musical "The Kruger Millions" in 1967, starring Leon Le Roux, Helga van Wyk, Carel Trichardt, and Dirk de Villiers. This sequel to the earlier film "Die Kavaliers", directed by Elmo de Witt and released in 1966, marked the beginning of Hall's remarkable journey as a filmmaker.
As director in residence at the Kavaliers Studios, situated on Aasvoelkop, Randburg, Hall went on to direct a string of successful films across various genres, including "Dr Kalie" (1968) with Siegfried Mynhardt and Brian O'Shaughnessy, "Lied In My Hart" (1970) with Ge Korsten and Mitsi Stander, "Vicki" (1970),the police procedural dramas "Flying Squad" and "Gold Squad" (both released in 1971),"Lokval in Venesie" (1973) with Ge Korsten, "Karate Olympia" (the first African martial arts film, released in 1976),and the political thriller "Funeral For An Assassin" with Vic Morrow.
Aside from his work with Kavaliers, Hall also directed the film "Aanslag Op Kariba" in 1973, the sequel to Brigadiers Films' successful film Kaptein Caprivi.
Ivan Hall's greatest success as a filmmaker came in 1981 with his martial arts film "Kill & Kill Again", the sequel to his earlier film "Karate Olympia", which became a major international box-office success in the USA and the Far East, reaching number one on the USA Variety box-office list and making an instant star out of its lead actor, James Ryan.
Hall went on to make the films "The Riverman" with Michael Parks, "Skollie" with George Ballot, and "Trackers" with Craig Wasson and Henry Cele.
Ivan Hall was honored by the National Film, Video and Sound Archives, the Volksbladfees Directorate, and the Mimosa Film Productions Directorate in June 2007 for his invaluable contributions to the South African film industry.
Hall passed away on October 11, 2008, and will be greatly missed by all his colleagues and friends in the South African film industry.
