He was considered for the director's chair on "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935). When James Whale's "The Invisible Man" (1933) became such a big hit, Universal insisted that Whale, who directed the original "Frankenstein" (1931), take the helm.
His biggest boxoffice hit was "The Fly" (1958) but he didn't know it. He died a month after the premiere, and a week before it went into general release.