Mary Field

Biography

British director and screen writer, she is not to be confused with the American actress of the same name. Mary Field is best known for directing short educational and nature films.

Field became the series director of Secrets of Nature in 1929. Previously a history teacher, she joined the film industry as an historical consultant in 1925, working for British Instructional Films. Although she had no training in science or filmmaking, Field quickly proved herself to be a first-class film director, developing a unique style that fused education and instruction.

Field insisted that nature films were more than just a series of impressive images: they were the result of a painstaking process that...