Robert Hartford-Davis

Robert Hartford-Davis (born William Henry Davis, 23 July 1923 – 12 June 1977) was a British born producer, director and writer, who worked on film and television in both in the United Kingdom and United States. He is also sometimes credited as Michael Burrowes or Robert Hartford.

Hartford-Davis was born in Ramsgate in 1923 as William Henry Davis; he changed his name on becoming a television director in 1955. His television career encompassed drama, comedy and entertainment shows. Bob, as he liked to be called, started his career as an electrician in a South London film studio, where he went on to develop his skills as a cameraman. During the fifties he made a number of short films. These were innovative with the choice of cast and script content. In the late fifties he became an agent and worked for Roy Rogers, amongst others (in England). His talents included co-writing many scripts for 'exploitation' movies and he used media events and people to forward his career. The Yellow Teddy Bears is a prime example of his vivid imagination, using an article in a national newspaper as fodder. Robert Hartford-Davis dealt with the downturn of the film industry in the UK by investing his own money in two movies, The Fiend and Nobody Ordered Love. He married Betty Hale in 1943 and there were three children from this marriage; Jean, Marian and Penelope were born during in the next ten years. Betty was a partner in many ways and she co-wrote I'm Not Bothered and an innovative play on the trial of Christ We the Guilty. Robert and Betty were divorced in 1957. Robert went on to marry three/four more times. There was also a son Scott Hartford-Davis born in the late fifties.

Davis died of a heart attack in 1977 at age 53. Dog and Cat was dedicated to him before it aired.

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